Can you imagine a lifestyle that doesn’t require you to count calories or points in order to lose weight? You can live that life, and the secret to it is eating clean. What does clean eating really mean? It means eating fresh vegetables and fruits, lean protein, and healthy fats and carbs.
In addition to drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise, you need to carve out time to eat six times a day, and your portions have to be correct. This will essentially reset your metabolism and turn your body into a machine.
Typically, experts recommend a weight loss of a pound or two each week. However, eating clean can help you lose as much as three pounds every week. In addition to weight loss, eating clean will leave you feeling energized and healthier. Of course, there’s the added benefit of enjoying food and not feeling hungry all of the time.
Additionally, there are visible benefits. You will notice a difference in your hair, skin, teeth, gums, and even your eyes. Ultimately, the philosophy behind clean eating is that your nutrition is more important when it comes to shaping your body than genetics or exercise.
Does Eating Clean Work?
There’s nothing fancy involved in eating clean. That’s why it has so many good points. Essentially, you are enjoying a balanced diet that remains focused on healthy fats, proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. The crucial point, though, is the control of portion sizes.
For many of us, that is the biggest issue we have. We make the switch to healthy foods, but we keep feeding what feels like an empty hole and wonder why we can’t drop weight.
So, yes, it works. In addition to eating clean, you will need to keep up your physical activity, of course. There is no magic ingredient to successfully eating clean. It is what it is, and the most important factor here is that it’s a sustainable lifestyle choice. You won’t feel as though you’re stealing joy from yourself; it won’t feel like a punishment. It’s what we should all be doing.
The Principles of Eating Clean
- Enjoy six, small meals each day.
- Have breakfast within an hour of getting up.
- Include complex carbohydrates and lean protein at each meal.
- Include at least two (up to three) servings of healthy fats daily.
- Ensure your fresh produce provides you with the nutrients, fiber, and vitamins your body needs.
- Drink plenty of water daily, at least half of your body weight in ounces.
- Portion control.
It is fairly simple, but that doesn’t mean easy. There are some issues that will require effort. You’ll need to avoid certain foods, and there may be certain things you struggle to let go of. If that’s the case, cut them out gradually to make the process a bit easier on you and your body.
- Avoid sugar, white flour, and other processed food.
- Avoid sugary drinks like juice and soda, as well as artificial sweeteners.
- Cut alcohol out altogether.
- Don’t purchase foods that contain chemical additives like sodium nitrite or food dyes.
- Avoid artificial foods or foods loaded with preservatives.
- Don’t purchase calorie-dense food that offers no nutritional value.
There is flexibility with eating clean. Preparing your meals, you can save time and money on your supermarket visits. Stick to your shopping list to avoid temptation! Remember, the middle aisles of the grocery store are filled with temptation and often low nutrition, shop the outer edges to keep it fresh.