I’m EATING CLEAN, but…
It shouldn’t be a BIG secret by now that nutrition and “eating clean” is where 80% of the results are! The issue for many is the definition of what “eating clean” REALLY means. I could retire to Bora-Bora if I had a dollar for every email I received that said something to the effect: “I am eating really clean but…” What often comes after the BUT would make your jaw drop! I’m eating really clean, BUT I just love Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast! That one is a joke…but it is CLEAR that the definition of eating clean means different things to different people.
Top mistakes people make when “eating clean”
Not eating frequently enough throughout the day- Are you eating 5-6 mini meals each day? Lots of people are eating ‘healthy’ foods, but only eating 1-3 times per day. The key is to spread out your nutrition and calories for the day into 5-6 mini meals. This way your body can process and actually USE all of the nutrients from a given meal. If you do this correctly, you will have plenty of energy while your body will be able to maintain & repair itself, promote the growth of lean muscle mass; while at the same time minimizing fat storage.
Not eating balanced meals: Do your meals contain lean proteins, natural unprocessed healthy carbs (fruits, veggies, some whole grains) and healthy fats? Eliminating entire food groups (like carbs or fat) is NOT a long term solution.
Not eating natural foods: Do you eat unprocessed foods? If you do, they are NOT wrapped in a pretty box or package. Unprocessed foods are typically foods that you either know what they are (an apple), or something where you know exactly what each ingredient is. If you can’t pronounce it or don’t know what it is, odds are it is NOT a ‘natural’ food.
Not thinking like a Cave-man: Do you eat food that comes ONLY from a plant, an animal, the ground, or the ocean? If not, you SHOULD. Eating clean means eating how 
the”cave-man” ate. Think about what was available to them (nuts, plants, seeds, fruits, meats, fish, and oils). Technically, the cavemen did not eat natural grains such as brown rice or quinoa, but small amounts of these grains are ok!
Starving yourself and skipping meals: Do you skip meals or not eat because you’re “not hungry?” Or worse, do you ever starve yourself? STOP! Not eating is a big nutritional mistake! When you don’t eat, your metabolism slows down, and to make things worse, your body wants to hold onto and store fat.
Eating too much: Do you eat too much at given meals? Eating too much of even “healthy foods” at a given meal will cause you to store foods as fat.
Drinking your calories: Do you like to sip on soda, fruit juices, or sports drinks? Those extra calories will add up QUICKLY. Switching to water and unsweetened tea will help you eliminate those excess calories quickly.
Not drinking enough water: Many of us walk around chronically dehydrated without even realizing it! We think we are tired or hungry when we are actually dehydrated. Being dehydrated causes our bodies to retain water which can make you feel bloated and look ‘puffy’. By drinking more water consistently throughout the day, your body doesn’t have the need to retain water. In addition, being hydrated reduces fatigue and helps to remove that bloated feeling.
Giving up because of an underlying condition: If you have a food allergy, intolerance, auto-immune disease, type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or other underlying issues; losing weight is harder for you but it can still be done! There IS a formula for EVERYONE! It might take a little extra effort, it might take some trial and error, but it CAN be done. Eating as outlined above WILL help, but it is critical that you read up on your specific situation and if needed, get additional help so adjustments can be made to make your nutrition plan work for you!
Natalie Jill Fitness
Find solutions not excuses, -Natalie Jill
For help jump starting your weight loss with a plan that follows the guidelines above and will teach you plans to last a life time, look HERE for women and HERE for men.
About Natalie Jill
Natalie Jill helps people across the globe reach their health, fitness, life and business goals. Natalie is a well known Licensed Sports Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer who was diagnosed as having Celiac Sprue over 12 years ago, and that is why she specializes in weight loss consulting and helping people with food allergies and intolerance’s. Learn how Natalie handled adversity and find out how she "made her own luck". Ready to change your life today? Start by CLICKING HERE.
