feel better on a "clean diet"

[JaredPunch]

I know there's no such a thing as a "clean diet" and I have posted many times those exact same words
so I will use the word "clean" to describe certain standard foods and meals in the bodybuilding comunity (i.e broccoli and chicken breast)

I know there's no difference between a clean diet or a whatever diet as far as body composition is concerned
and I know there are no unhealthy foods per se

But after eating in a IIFYM way and hitting macros with foods like lasagna, ravioli, pizza, hamburger, fried fish, waffles and so on
I have to say that more and more, my body is attracted to foods like rice and lean meat, chicken breast salad, oatmeal and fresh fruits, cottage cheese
expecially on workout days, my body craves those food more than other heavier and fanciers foods

not only, but I noticed I feel better on those foods, like crockpot meat and rice, makes me feel more alert, light, more energy

have you experienced something similar, like you know you can eat anything as long as you hit your macros but certain foods make you
feel better expecially on training days?

[765]

pretty sure its a general consensus that you will perform/feel better on foods like sweet potatoes/brown rice/fruits/veggies/any produce as opposed to processed/fast foods

[layarph]

pretty sure its a general consensus that you will perform/feel better on foods like sweet potatoes/brown rice/fruits/veggies/any produce as opposed to processed/fast foods

This ^^^ Nobody that understands and advocates IIFYM would ever say eat mostly foods low in micronutrient value.

[Mabo19]

I experienced this all the time. Although I think it may be more psychological for me than anything else. I get my macro's and micro's in, but at the end of the day if I have room left to spare, I tend go for things like veggies, fruits, nuts, etc. as opposed to chips, chocolate, ice cream, etc. I know it doesn't make a difference (as long as it fits your macro's), but I always opt for the "clean" stuff.

[BeingPaid]

It could be psychological, but as layarph said:

Nobody that understands and advocates IIFYM would ever say eat mostly foods low in micronutrient value.

Micros are important!

[WonderPug]

"IIFYM's is an IQ test for the fitness world." JasonDB

[RRJ]

I experience this too. Perhaps it's somehow related to a dopamine crash, I don't know. All I know is that when I eat a whoopie pie, it tastes so damn good and I enjoy it much more than the various healthy foods I eat. Then 20-30 minutes later I actually feel worse than if I had ate the "clean" foods. And I WANT it to be true that I feel equally as good getting fats and carbs from a whoopie pie as I do from almonds and fruits. But I don't.

[JaredPunch]

I experience this too. Perhaps it's somehow related to a dopamine crash, I don't know. All I know is that when I eat a whoopie pie, it tastes so damn good and I enjoy it much more than the various healthy foods I eat. Then 20-30 minutes later I actually feel worse than if I had ate the "clean" foods. And I WANT it to be true that I feel equally as good getting fats and carbs from a whoopie pie as I do from almonds and fruits. But I don't.

could also be a digestion thing
eating certain foods I feel lighter as opposed to having stones in my stomach, and when I feel lighter as I didn't remember I have a stomach at all, I have more energy, strength and better mood

[StackingPlates]

"IIFYM's is an IQ test for the fitness world." JasonDB

LOLOL...so much truth! It's amazing how hard of a concept it is for many to grasp....

[BeingPaid]

LOLOL...so much truth! It's amazing how hard of a concept it is for many to grasp....

You'd be surprised at how powerful the brain is... if one perceives something to be 'healthy', it can psycho****ticly produce results based on their perception (especially in the cases of energy and self-esteem/guilt). Therefore, if Billy eats a plate of broccoli one day, he'll feel good and it will produce beneficial results. If the next day Billy eats a theoretical burger with EXACTLY the same macros and micros in it, he'll feel crappy and it will produce poor results.

http://www.nutrociencia.com.br/uploa...f-reported.pdf

If one fully and completely understands IIFYM and advanced nutrition, they probably won't get the psycho****tic results... but I think it's safe to say most people don't fully understand nutrition and how their bodies work.

[megdaig]

I complied 100% to my comp prep diet for 3 months and that first bit of sugar after the comp made me feel like hell. Makes it easy to not want to eat sh!tty food.

[WonderPug]

I complied 100% to my comp prep diet for 3 months and that first bit of sugar after the comp made me feel like hell. Makes it easy to not want to eat sh!tty food.

The funny part is that you were consuming saccharides both during and after your "comp prep". It's just when you thought explicitly that "I ate sugar", you felt bad.

For an understanding of why, please see post #10.

[StackingPlates]

If one fully and completely understands IIFYM and advanced nutrition, they probably won't get the psycho****tic results... but I think it's safe to say most people don't fully understand nutrition and how their bodies work.

Repped for a post that more folks should be aware of...

[Makween]

IIFYM, as it's normally referred to on here, is just the idea that you have a discretionary calorie allowance after ensuring macronutrient and micronutrient sufficiency which can be made up of whatever you want. No-one's denying that you'll feel better, perform better and be healthier on a diet made up mainly of nutrient dense foods; it's just about using your common sense, basically. It's about thinking in terms of 'healthy diets' rather than 'healthy foods'.

[Nexxus]

if you feel better and prefer eating on a ''clean diet'' then do that. Jesus, nobody who supports IIFYM and eats ''dirty'' for every meal is gonna tell another person to eat the same way as them if they know what they're talking about. Different people react differently to different foods, that should be pretty obvious, IIFYM is made so that you can eat from the food choices you prefer eating. If you prefer bacon and poptarts, then go for it, if you prefer chicken and brown rice, go for it. In the end the only difference will be the food choices made when following IIFYM.

[megdaig]

The funny part is that you were consuming saccharides both during and after your "comp prep". It's just when you thought explicitly that "I ate sugar", you felt bad.

For an understanding of why, please see post #10.

Naturally occurring sugars in whole foods is not exactly the same as eating super concentrated refined sugar...how they effect insulin response in your body is quite different.

Eating no diary or fruit for months, therefore the only sugars are coming from whole grains and veggies...much different than eating a dessert full of table sugar.

[WonderPug]

Naturally occurring sugars in whole foods is not exactly the same as eating super concentrated refined sugar...how they effect insulin response in your body is quite different.

That's simply not true.

[afrosamurai04]

I definitely agree with this, it's all just "using common sense" I guess. In college right now, and my diet hasn't been that "clean" for most of the semester and I decided I should "clean up" my diet after thanksgiving, eating more foods like vegetables, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, oats, etc. and I'm performing much better, especially could feel the improvement this week.

I still incorporate foods like a couple slices of pizza or a few cookies but that's only like I'd say 10-20% of my diet; I guess all in moderation

[Makween]

Naturally occurring sugars in whole foods is not exactly the same as eating super concentrated refined sugar...how they effect insulin response in your body is quite different.

Eating no diary or fruit for months, therefore the only sugars are coming from whole grains and veggies...much different than eating a dessert full of table sugar.

I never eat diary at all, personally. I just don't feel like I have anyone to confide my deepest secrets in when I do that, plus I keep forgetting birthdays and stuff.

[joeyddi]

not only do i feel better but I perform better and my brain is a lot sharper. However, I believe getting the proper nutrients is essential. If you do you'll never be hungry. If you don't you'll always be craving that junk food...

[megdaig]

That's simply not true.

Care to elaborate?

So are you arguing that there is no difference in glycemic index values for different foods? That all foods are metabolized and increase blood glucose levels by the same amount at the same rate?

Or are you arguing that insulin response isn't different due to each individuals physiological differences? Like a diabetic versus someone with excellent insulin sensitivity? Which in that point you would be correct.

Maybe my statement was incorrect and what I should've said was that different types of sugars increase blood glucose levels differently. A rapid rise in blood glucose causing a flood of insulin and a subsequent rapid decline in blood glucose can cause a person to later feel like crap...

[AlwaysTryin]

The funny part is that you were consuming saccharides both during and after your "comp prep". It's just when you thought explicitly that "I ate sugar", you felt bad.

For an understanding of why, please see post #10.

I know what you're saying and I understand what he's getting at having competed numerous times and having had the most "bro" diet imaginable in one of my first years.

I couldn't stand the smell let alone the taste of anything someone might consider "junk" (open to individual interpretation). McDonald's etc made me feel sick from the smell alone, upon consuming them I felt crap for hours, days even

[WonderPug]

^^^ The psycho****tic reaction can be powerful. The problem is he doesn't acknowledge that it's psycho****tic.

Care to elaborate?

So are you arguing that there is no difference in glycemic index values for different foods? That all foods are metabolized and increase blood glucose levels by the same amount at the same rate?

Or are you arguing that insulin response isn't different due to each individuals physiological differences? Like a diabetic versus someone with excellent insulin sensitivity? Which in that point you would be correct.

Maybe my statement was incorrect and what I should've said was that different types of sugars increase blood glucose levels differently. A rapid rise in blood glucose causing a flood of insulin and a subsequent rapid decline in blood glucose can cause a person to later feel like crap...

You have a few straw men in your paragraphs, but what's clear is that you're incredibly confused about nutriton. So confused I don't know where to begin.

GI of a specific ingredient is largely irrelevant, even for diabetics who would be more concerned about GL.

If there's a rapid decline in blood glucose, then you're in a diseased state.

Individual ingredients are not the main determine of the rate of insulin release, as that depends on the load (total caloric intake) and the composition of those calories.

Heck, did you even know that protein can be more insulinogenic than carbs?

Anyway, now let's get specific. You claimed that the "sugar" you spoke of previously was "different". Please indicate the specific saccharides your are speaking about and explain what you think the difference in chemical structure is.

[BeingPaid]

So are you arguing that there is no difference in glycemic index values for different foods? That all foods are metabolized and increase blood glucose levels by the same amount at the same rate?

There is no difference in insulin spikes of foods with the same types of sugars, whether whole or not. The term "refined sugars" means nothing. Sucrose is sucrose, regardless of where it's found. Fructose from a banana is no different from fructose you get from a processed dessert.

Or are you arguing that insulin response isn't different due to each individuals physiological differences? Like a diabetic versus someone with excellent insulin sensitivity? Which in that point you would be correct.

For healthy people, insulin spikes act nearly identical based on what types and the amount of sugars consumed.

You said getting sugars from veggies and whole grains is different from getting sugars from desserts.. that's where you're wrong. Sucrose from carrots is exactly the same as getting sucrose from cake.

EDIT: also read the post above .. would rep but I 'need to spread rep around' first :S

EDIT 2:

Here's proof:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/o...04/mq28791.pdf

[KevJr88]

Maybe there is hope for this sub-forum after all.

[Scoper50]

I think many people are confused as to what iifym truly is. Iifym doesn't require you to eat "junk" food. One can practice iifym eating nothing but your typical "bro" foods. If you feel better and perform better eating 100% "clean" (i hate that word), than do it. It's still iifym. I just hate this misconception that you NEED to eat ice cream and doughnuts, otherwise it's not iifym.

[AlwaysTryin]

I think many people are confused as to what iifym truly is. Iifym doesn't require you to eat "junk" food. One can practice iifym eating nothing but your typical "bro" foods. If you feel better and perform better eating 100% "clean" (i hate that word), than do it. It's still iifym. I just hate this misconception that you NEED to eat ice cream and doughnuts, otherwise it's not iifym.

If people stopped using the acronym fullstop (including replies) it would eventually stop and there'd be no confusion

[WonderPug]

If people stopped using the acronym fullstop (including replies) it would eventually stop and there'd be no confusion

I'm sure people would find DCA, rational dieting, or whatever terms is used equally confusing as the underlying program is the uncommon nature of common sense.

[AlwaysTryin]

I'm sure people would find DCA, rational dieting, or whatever terms is used equally confusing as the underlying program is the uncommon nature of common sense.

I'd rather moderation. Everyone has a dictionary available

[Thewix]

"IIFYM's is an IQ test for the fitness world." JasonDB

Ha ha ha, did he really say that?

That is perfect.