During my first consultation with a patient to discuss our weight loss program, I have had many patients lament “I am eating CLEAN and I do not know why I cannot lose weight”. When I delve into this further to find out exactly what the patient means by eating “CLEAN” I will hear such eating activities as:
- I have oatmeal and fruit for breakfast
- I eat a sandwich with 100 calorie bread slices
- I eat lots of salads but with no protein
- My snacks at night are low sugar ice cream and low fat cookies
- I have Lean Cuisine or Weight Watchers microwavable foods for dinner
- I only drink white wine
On the surface, these above mentioned eating/drinking behaviors do not sound deleterious to the weight loss process. It is not as if the people are driving through fast food restaurants, devouring lots of chocolate or slugging down Pina Coladas. HOWEVER, although these behaviors are construed as “Eating CLEAN”, if the person is not shedding weight these are not “CLEAN” for weight loss.
Eating “CLEAN” for weight loss includes:
- A breakfast of eggs and lean breakfast meat
- No bread at lunch….salads with a low calorie dressing and plenty of protein on the salad
- Dinners of high protein, high vegetables and low carbs
- Snacks of proteins or vegetables….do not be fooled by names such as ‘Weight Watchers”, “LEAN” and/or “No added sugar. Processed meals are NOT a “CLEAN” choice for a meal.
So, please take a step back and self-analyze your dietary intake and if you are not losing weight, the current approach is not “CLEAN” for weight loss. Make the necessary adjustments.
And here is Taylor Swift’s “CLEAN”.
