Need help eating clean...

You always hear about taking a week off from the gym if you're getting burned out, why not take a 'food vacation'? I'm not saying binge for a week, but maybe allow yourself one food a day that you normally wouldn't eat for a week?

Yes, all the insulin helping diets and sugar addiction advisers say don't be spiking your blood sugar levels up and down all day with lots of meals and constant snacking. Just eat your 3 substantial meals a day. Works best for me although I find it hard not to eat during the afternoons even though I'm not hungry.

I actually have found that eating 5-6 small meals a day was ridiculous for me. Left me feeling hungry all the time and hard to stop eating once I started. I now eat three times a day. 2 large meals and a snack mid afternoon. Going for longer periods of time without food actually helps with insulin resistance. 5-6 small meals a day may temporarily help keep blood sugars even for a while, but what happens is your body becomes less efficient at regulating blood sugar.
I have also eliminated grain from my diet and also added coconut and coconut oil. Best thing I could have ever done for myself.

Pounds lost: 19.8

0 8 16 24

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I too have trouble with being 100% clean but it's worth the new lifestyle that I believe will serve me well. I find ont those days when I'm hungry, I realize I'm not getting enough protein or healthy fat. This is what fills me up for a longer period of time. I have been using coconut oil as part of the healthy fats suggested and can say I'm so pleased with the results. Also, I try to always eat a complex carb with a lean protein combination. When I just eat a complex carb without protein, I'm hungry right away.

Keep up your excellent work!

current weight: 125.8

128 127.25 126.5 125.75

125

Sounds like you need to break your plateau.

First, you say you don't feel full. Every once in a while, this is okay, but if you are consistently hungry, listen to your body. You may very well be in "starvation mode" - where your body stores everything it can because it's not getting enough on a regular basis. I know Tosca has coolers and some can be very restrictive, but I believe she suggests not staying on them for long periods of time. I am of the thought that when you are eating clean goods, eat enough and feel satisfied. I mean, an apple and some nut butter is great for you, or an extra bowl of oatmeal will fill you up. Don't be afraid of healthy calories.

I suggest either upping your daily intake for a few weeks to see what happens, or calorie cycling.

As for feeling deprived, why not experiment with having a small bit of what you are feeling deprived of? That will take away the feeling of missing out, and since you've been eating clean for awhile, you will probably experience a similar response to the other posters (you may not feel so hot afterwards) which will reinforce to you just how great it is to eat clean.

Then my suggestion is to find some new clean recipes and expand your menu to include some new, fun, clean things to eat...and enjoy!!

current weight: 144.5

144.5 138.375 132.25 126.125

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I have a mantra that I eat clean and health every day - that I am an example to others. I am proud of the weight that I have lost and proud of the way I look. I know that it is through the hard work of exercise and eating clean that gave me these results - I don't want to ruin all that I worked so hard for by eating something that doesn't make me feel good.

One thing that helps me is that as soon as I stop eating clean I don't feel well so I can see an immediate connection. I catch colds. My body rebels. So if I remember that it helps.

Also your tastes change so that genuinely a piece of grilled salmon tastes better than a chocolate/candy bar.

I used to be really good at eating clean(er) but after so many years of it now I feel like I am depriving myself all the time, how can I find that happy medium where I am not depriving and full, but am still losing weight. I have been the same weight now for a good year. I obviously need to be doing something different!!! How can I clean up my diet!!! HELP!!!!!

current weight: 213.0

225 206.25 187.5 168.75

150