OK folks, it’s Monday and that means a whole new week for
you to work towards your fitness goals.
It’s kind of like a do-over if you feel like you haven’t been great over
the past week or weekend. By now we know
that diet is a key to your weight loss, so let’s take a look at a buzzword in
being healthy: clean eating.
I searched and searched for some sort of formal definition
for clean eating and couldn’t find an official one. So I’ll discuss what the general idea is and
what it may or may not include. Clean
eating typically results in weight loss and you’ll see why once I explain some
of the details.
First, let’s look at what it includes. Clean eating is eating fresh or unrefined
foods, typically in five or six small meals throughout the day. These fresh foods include produce such as
fruits and vegetables, in an unrefined state ie not fried or processed. Your small meals should include a lean
protein, complex carbohydrates such as brown rice or oats, and heart healthy
fats like avocado or almonds. People who
eat clean drink a ton of water. The fewer
ingredients in a food item, the better. Label
reading is big in clean eating, to ensure that minimal preservatives and
additives are included in each food eaten.
Now let’s take a peek at what wouldn’t be considered clean
eating. Clean eaters avoid refined and
processed foods. Examples are refined
sugars like soda, sugar, baked goods, white flour, and white rice. The stereotypical junk foods and other high calorie
foods are left out. By this list, I’m
sure you can see why this approach works well to help with weight loss.
Clean eating isn’t without its own struggles. It takes more time and preparation. Food labels need to be read. Meals must be prepared, and often planned
ahead of time to allow for grocery shopping and preparation. It can mean more trips to the grocery store,
since fresh items spoil quicker than canned or frozen items. Cost is a factor as well, clean eating can be
pricier in the checkbook than prepared foods.
For me, it’s worth the cost, since I notice a huge difference in my
body, from higher energy levels to more efficient workouts and, yes, fat loss.
Clean eating is good for anyone, even if you don’t need to
drop a few pounds. If you are scared,
try doing it a couple days a week and gradually add days as you go along. You’ll
feel better!
