Not sure if I'll ever eat "clean"--is there any hope?

G

gonnabthin06

Member
I do want to be healthy, I really do. Mostly I'm just focusing on the exercise aspect--my aunt has lost 48lbs. almost solely because of upping the exercise.

The problem that still exists is food. I eat a fairly balanced, healthy diet, at least when compared to the American "fast food and cheetos" diet. I just love to cook and have a passion for food: for nice cuts of meat, imported cheeses, breads/baking, and yes, dessert. In other words, my diet is far from "clean." I've tried, but anytime I BEGIN to fix the clean-type meals with brown rice or plain yogurt or grilled chicken breasts and green beans, I feel my world is upside down. Eating well and exercising is supposed to make you feel good, right? I just don't feel the same cooking chicken breasts and broccoli as I do tearing a lovely salad to go along with a CL meal.

Is it just a case of precedence? It just seems like so many people who do the major exercise and look as though they are fit eat "clean" and I'm just not sure if that's even a lifestyle choice for me.

I was just hoping someone could give me some pointers so that I could at least meet halfway, or give me idea, cookbooks, or recipes that might give me a better look on "clean" eating. Thank you so much--I'm really determined to get fit in '07.
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

I applaud your efforts! There are many people here who will jump in with some great clean-eating advice, so I think I'll just suggest to you that you pick up the version of Oxygen magazine called "Clean Eating." Not only does it explain the concept in great detail, the articles are great for offering motivation.

It's not easy to radically switch how you eat, and you shouldn't expect it to feel "right" immediately. I think for most people it's something that takes years of gradual and consistent experimentation. If you have a strong desire to change how you eat, then you're off to a great start.

Cheers,
Sandra
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

I too have eating problems, mostly with sugar. Once I start eating any sweet item, whether cookie, candy etc I can't stop. Is the Oxygen clean eating an article in one of their magazines or as you mentioned is it an actual whole magazine called Clean Eating? I went on thier website and there are articles in past magazines, but I wanted to be sure of which it was before ordering. Thanks for the input.:)
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

Hi Fox2star,

It's an actual separate edition, which they are calling a "Collector's Issue." I just bought it off the rack the other day. The date on it is Winter 2007.

In the magazine they're advertising a book by one of their editors that will be hitting the stores in January. It's by Tosca Reno, and called "The Eat Clean Diet Book." That might be interesting to read.

I have the same sugar problem you do: that first taste can create a whole list of rationalizations for why I need to have the rest of the cookie, and then the rest of the chocolate bar in the pantry. It's nasty stuff.

Cheers,
Sandra
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

I just wanted to pipe in and say that clean eating does not necessarily mean grilled plain chicken breasts and broccoli. I, too, love to cook, and have discovered some fabulous recipes that are clean, and delicious. You may need to be willing to step outside your comfort zone, though. Pick up some vegetarian/vegan cook books (Vegan Planet is incredible and delicious with all kinds of recipes and there are so many others out there) and start using those recipes as your main course. Add a lovely cut of meat (but smaller than you would normally eat) as a side dish. What has really helped me get on track is to start thinking about increasing my vegetable and fruit portions. I eat a salad before dinner (my biggest meal) and that helps me control my portions better. A lovely minestrone or other broth based soup can do the same thing. You don't need to be vegetarian by any means, but if you start thinking of meat as a side dish instead of the main course, you will find clean eating a bit easier.
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

You've received a lot of great advice already! I'm a lover of delicious food (& good wine) too so I just wanted to share what's worked for me & my DH in the past (we've taken a break from our modified clean eating plan for the holidays but will get back on track next week). We both enjoy yummy food so we eat clean/healthy Monday morning through Friday afternoon & take the weekends off, moderately. We usually go out to eat or cook a good meal Friday night, eat a healthy breakfast Saturday, then eat what we want the rest of the time, topping the weekend off with steaks & red wine Sunday night. Then, it's back to clean/healthy eating & exercise Monday morning. Okay, I know this isn't truly a completely clean & healthy eating program but this way, we don't feel like we're missing out on what we love & we're also not really dieting. Plus, we're eating clean/healthy about 3/4 of the time & that's a lot better that NONE of the time. Like you, we can't imagine completely giving up something that we enjoy so much. We've also had a lot of luck with following Kathy Smith's 5-Day Jump Start during the days we're focusing more on healthy/clean eating. It helps us make the right choices, but it's still not a "diet". Like I said, this is a program that has worked for us & I don't know if any of this will help or not but I wish you the best of luck. You can do it!

Kel
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

We also have had a number of threads about a terrific book by Dr. Furhman called, "Eat to Live." Get it and read it right away! Excellent advice and support sources for clean eating and why to do it. And I second the Vegan Planet cookbook. Excellent. You start to realize how GOOD you feel when you avoid certain foods, which makes you want to continue the clean eating. Check out the Eat to Live book, I think you really will like it.
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

> so I think I'll
>just suggest to you that you pick up the version of Oxygen
>magazine called "Clean Eating."

Hi Sandra,

What is this "Oxygen" magazine? When I hear "Oxygen", I think Oprah or "O" magazine (Oprah owns part of the Oxygen channel and O magazine). It's not the same thing is it?

Tracey
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
RE: Not sure if I'll ever eat

Hi Tracey! No, they are not the same thing. Oxygen Magazine is purely a fitness magazine. I always thought is was funny that Oprah would call her channel Oxygen.


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Kel!

That sounds like exactly the way I eat! Our weekends are always sooo full of family and friends that we tend to eat out more often then. We also try to make better choices while we are home so we break even! :7


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Kel!

It's good to know I'm not the only one who does this! I read so much about clean eating & how some people do it consistently but this seems to work well for us so I guess we'll just keep it up!

By the way, I love your quote, Debbie!

Kel
 
Kel!

Thanks! My quote actually goes back to how I met my DH! He came up and asked me to dance and I told him NO because I was not a good dancer. (Still NOT a good dancer! Ha!) He didn't give up...he came back and grabbed me by the arm and said, "Let's fake it!" He later came back and said "Let's fake it again!" The rest is history. http://bestsmileys.com/dancing/7.gif

I still don't like to dance! :7 But, I love dance aerobics...isn't that funny?


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Kel!

alieneyesa.gif
Feels like those aliens take over doesnt it?
I learned to eat clean by eating cleanER each day. Took a long time but even the 1 "free for all" day I allowed myself stopped becoming a weekly thing.
You can do simple things like adding 1 additional veggie to every meal and 1 additional fruit to every snack time. Then move onto something else after a few weeks... Maybe you eat Boxed this or that... try removing the "boxed" / processed food out of just 1 meal a day at first...then 2 etc.....
It really all depends on where you are starting from. I had already cut sugar and all other white stuff so I started w/ omitting processed foods. just take it one small step at a time.... IMO CleanER is better than nothing!
 
RE: Kel!

Oh Debbie, what a sweet story!

I'm not a good dancer either but I also love dance aerobics. I guess it just makes me feel good & I know nobody's watching... usually:p.

Kel
 
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