Eating Clean

-Eating Clean

▪️ I’m sure that you’ve heard the phrases: “eat clean, train dirty” or “eat clean, train mean” or “you can’t expect to look like a million bucks if you eat off the dollar menu.”But what is the true meaning behind these phrases? If you were to ask 10 people what it means to “eat clean,” you’ll get 10 different responses.

▪️These phrase all have one thing in common: it’s exceptionally restrictive. Because of false information, we are often led to believe that some foods are good and other foods are bad. Not one person has ever dropped dead from eating one candy bar though—just like no one has ever woke up in the morning lean and healthy from eating a few servings of vegetables. This is not to say that we should choose chocolate chip cookies over apples and carrots. What I am directing towards is, being too restrictive on a diet is making it nearly impossible to consume the appropriate amount of nutrients that your body needs.

▪️If you try to get 3000 calories from chicken breasts and broccoli, you would know exactly what I’m talking about. However, I do recommend a minimally processed, whole food diet. I also advocate flexible eating. If 80-90% of your foods are minimally processed, whole foods, then don’t be worried if the other 10-20% is from strawberry ice-cream—assuming it fits into your overall macro and micronutrient goals.

▪️Keep in mind, that the longer you’ve been in a calorie deficit, the lower your calories will have to be. With that said, the lower your calorie intake, the less fun food you are able to eat. But that could be a good thing since minimally processed foods are more satisfying and provide more vitamins and minerals.