Do you find it hard to maintain a stable weight no matter how much you workout? It’s frustrating to push yourself through gruelling gym sessions and have nothing to show for it. The key to having sustainable long-term results is by changing your diet and implementing a clean eating plan.

You can get in shape by being conscious of whatever you eat and by sticking to a simple way of eating over the long haul.

If you’ve been in the health and fitness space for any amount of time, then “clean eating” is a term you’re familiar with. The easiest advice you can give to anyone who’s looking to get in shape is to tell them to start eating clean.

But, what is clean eating?

Clean eating focuses on consuming whole foods such as whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, veggies and healthy fats. At the same time, you work on limiting processed foods, packaged foods and sugary snacks.

What it entails

The most effective way to start eating clean is to eat foods that have only one ingredient such as apples, fish, cabbage and oats. Steer clear of processed packaged foods that have a long list of ingredients with names you can’t even pronounce.

It’s also important to avoid foods that look different from their natural form. Go for fresh fruits instead of juices. Eat beef instead of processed sausages.

Another thing is to eat more meals prepared at home than take-home food. Restaurant food is good but since you are not aware of the ingredients used in their preparation, you’ll end up eating what you’re not sure of.

Plan your meals for the week over the weekend. Boil steam or grill and then store in airtight containers in your fridge. You’ll save time having to cook each meal every day and eating a clean diet will be easy to put in place.

The effects of clean eating

Clean eating is a habit like any other habit. When you get used to eating clean by avoiding added sugar, salt and fat, it will be difficult to go back to eating junk.

You can snack on the sugary stuff once in a while but you’ll have trained your taste buds to appreciate the taste of nutritious food. Also, clean eating has the following benefits:

  •  You’ll lose weight. Like I said at the beginning of this article, the easiest way to stay lean and shed fat is to cut out processed foods from your diet. In fact, fat loss will be effortless if you apply this.

The first action step I need my clients to take is to cut or reduce processed foods, added sugar and salt from their diet. The results are usually mind-blowing. They start losing fat and building lean muscle with little effort on their part.

  • You’ll have more energy. A healthy diet that nourishes your body and gives you all the nutrients provides you with a steady flow of energy throughout the day. Processed foods that are high in sugar cause fatigue resulting from the blood sugar spikes.
  • Better cardiovascular health. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables means you’ll be getting Vitamin C that’s vital for maintaining the strength of your blood vessels. Eating foods that are rich in good fats like olive oil, nuts, and avocado helps lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.
  • Disease prevention. Fruits and veggies provide your body with vital antioxidants and phytonutrients. These protect you from free radicals that cause serious ailments.
  • No more cravings. When you experience cravings, it shows you have become dependent on certain foods which are high in sugar.

Sugar is very addictive and when you have a crash, you go looking for more sugary foods to fix your addiction like a drug addict. This cycle goes on and on and you pile on unwanted pounds without even realizing.

The moment you switch to clean eating, your body goes through a detoxing phase. All the hormones balance out and you start enjoying and appreciating food more. Your body goes back to digesting real nutritious foods, your hormones stabilize, and your cravings stop.

How to start eating clean

It’s easy to complicate things when changing the way you eat. Don’t over think anything. You can start eating clean by following the action steps below:

  1. Eat foods with one ingredient only.
  2. Prepare your own meals at home and only eat out if necessary.
  3. Cut out processed foods and don’t keep them in the house.
  4. Reduce added sugar, salt and vegetable oils.
  5. Eat your food, don’t drink it. You are more likely to overeat by drinking calories than by chewing and tasting the food.

Do you practice clean eating?  And how has it changed your health and fitness?  I’ve created a Free 7 Steps Guide to Healthy Eating to help you clean up your diet and to start eating clean.

Grab your copy HERE.