11 Feb Are you eating clean?
I’m EATING CLEAN, but…
Are you REALLY eating clean? It shouldn’t be a BIG secret by now that nutrition and “eating clean” is where a majority 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 of: “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 unprocessed 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. “Fat Free” and “artificially sweetened” foods are NOT natural foods and can wreak havoc on your weight loss efforts and health. My definition of eating clean is eating real, natural, unprocessed foods and eating a lot of them.
Not eating enough: Are you eating ENOUGH? A lot of people are eating ‘healthy’ foods, but not eating ENOUGH. You need enough food so your body can 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 starches) and fats? Eliminating entire food groups (like carbs or fat) is NOT a long term solution.
Not eating enough fruits and vegetable: I am a fan of eating a heavily plant based diet: tons of fruits and vegetables. And no this doesn’t mean that I am a vegetarian or am vegan. No one ever became obese eating too many carrots 🙂 You NEED the nutrients from fruits and vegetables for optimal health.
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 or quinoa, but small amounts of these grains are ok!
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, processed 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!
Be HAPPY… Be HEALTHY… BE FIT!
-Natalie Jill
Get help with YOUR clean eating plan HERE.
