eating 'clean' and interval cardio

[healthnut]

1) remind me of what "eating clean" includes and excludes...
where do the following fall: yogurt (flavored), bran cereal, whole wheat (sugar-free) bread, ff cheese, canned veges.

2) btw - why eat clean? isn't all that matters # of cals and proportions of carb/pro/fat?

3) what is ideal food to eat right before bed? (besides ff cottage cheese - damn! it's getting old)

4) I keep reading advice about steady cardio, keeping heart rate at about 135-145 for 40-60 mins. What ever happened to intervals for weight loss?? is that crap? should that be incorporated once in a while??

thanks for all the GREAT advice on this board.
I'm a loyal and frequent reader!

 

[The_Monster]

To me "clean" is no sugars (including fruit), limited starches (i.e. early in the day) and a basic diet of protien, fiber and some complex carbs. Fat free yogurt is a nice treat, but Id hardly build a diet around it. Bran Cereal is ok to me, but again, it isnt that great of a choice. Whole wheat bread is a necessary evil as far as Im concerned. There are times when a piece of chicken on bread is just a must, so why not make it the healthiest bread you can, right? Canned vegtables are not worth it. The sodium is too high and the cooking is no more convienient than using frozen...

Sure the number of calories is all that matters, but when it comes time to diet its nicer to have less fat to get rid of (hmm, mabye I'll take that advice some day??)


I wouldnt eat ff cottage cheese before bed. I prefer a protien shake w/casien. Slow digestion and steady absorption.

I hear the same conflicting opinions on cardio. To me whatever works for you is the best. I do steady, mabye interval is more EFFICIANT, but I hate it and am more likly to find a reason not to do it, so I would say steady is better for me!

 

[The_Monster]

My knees have passed down an edict.

"Either sprint or squat."

The sprints I can do without, I couldnt live if I didnt squat.

 

[The_Monster]

Ok, and this will sound kind of odd, but the using the eliptical is the only thing left that cuases me to have asthma problems??? Nothing else bothers me anymore. It used to be that any running (or fast walking) would, but over the years that has changed... Mabye next time I diet down I'll try to slowly work into it and see how it goes.

 

[healthnut]

The evil of sugary or processed food is that you have a high and then a low, right? So, instead of a steady day, you're eating lots of empty cals and are hungry all day... did I miss something???
I just want to have it right- so that when I'm tempted, I've got the self-lecture straight !!

 

[Pink Space Biscuit]

Ok, and this will sound kind of odd, but the using the eliptical is the only thing left that cuases me to have asthma problems??? Nothing else bothers me anymore. It used to be that any running (or fast walking) would, but over the years that has changed... Mabye next time I diet down I'll try to slowly work into it and see how it goes.

Wow that's the total opposite of me. The elliptical gives me the least asthma problems.

 

[makedah]

Monster -- maybe you're pushing yourself harder on the elliptical. (What DOESN'T bother your asthma?)

I have asthma, too. I started back running after a long hiatus (weather, surgery) and it's murder!!! I'm glad I finally woke up and realized that I can NEVER be great at endurance.