Get ready for a radically simple way to lose weight.
In case you haven’t noticed, weight has become a major problem for a lot of Americans. In the not-so-distant past, most people were lean—and they didn’t spend much time thinking about how to eat right or fit into a smaller pair of jeans. These days, many of us devote countless hours to thinking about diets (Paleo or vegan?), carbs (good or bad?), calories (to count or not?), and more in the name of trying to lose weight.
But it doesn’t seem to be doing us much good, because obesity rates are higher than ever. Yes, it’s a great thing to be conscious of our food choices and to try to make smart ones as often as possible. But if the scale continues to creep a little bit higher each year, and if you notice that you seem to be feeling less vibrant and energized instead of more, is all that effort really paying off?
Complicated, gimmick-filled, and ultimately useless diet plans are a dime a dozen. So if you’ve tried to slim down before—or have never actually stopped trying—another trendy weight-loss plan might sound like the last thing you need. And it is. You don’t need another fad diet that can’t teach you anything other than how to eat according to its weird, impossible-to-stick-with rules. That isn’t going to help you take control of your health, and it definitely isn’t going to help you get lean for the long haul.
But thankfully, what this book offers is not a trend, and not a fad. This is eating clean. It’s getting back to the basics of what people were eating for hundreds and hundreds of years before highly processed, packaged foods became the norm. These are the same foods that most people who maintain a healthy weight eat today: whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables; simple nuts, seeds, and beans; clean meats and fish; unrefined grains; and simple dairy products. You know—stuff that your grandma probably ate. In short, foods that are free (or mostly free) of added chemicals, pesticides, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
Right now you’re probably thinking, “Wait. That’s it? That’s what I need to do to lose weight and keep it off for good?” Like we said, it’s a radically simple idea. But it works. Diets rich in clean, unprocessed foods deliver loads of the vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals that your body needs to be healthy—and less of the unhealthy fats, sugars, and other junk that it doesn’t. Clean foods also satisfy your hunger, keep cravings at bay, and boost your mood and energy levels. Plus, they’re delicious, so they don’t leave you feeling deprived.
This book might reinforce some of the things you already know about eating to support your health and weight loss. But we guarantee that it will also surprise you with plenty of new information and smart advice that you can actually use. Most importantly, it lays out a practical 3-week meal plan and gives you tools, strategies, and motivation to help you achieve your goal: A lighter, stronger, leaner, and cleaner you, for life!
Once you start, there’s no stopping. Because when you begin eating clean, your body will actually start craving those nutritious, delicious foods instead of the ones you might have dreamt about before. You’ll be eating for the healthy size you are meant to be—once and for all.
How do we know for sure that the Eat Clean, Stay Lean plan will help you lose weight? Because we’ve watched people just like you succeed on it already. Our Clean Eater Test Panel tried following the menus, making the recipes, and sticking with our eat-clean guidelines out in the real world for 6 weeks. And every single one of them lost weight (as much as 22 pounds!), improved their health, ramped up their energy, and came away with the knowledge they needed to keep eating clean even after we said our farewells. Best of all, you’ll find their inspiring transformations, smart tips, insightful advice, and motivating experiences throughout this book. Keep your eyes peeled—and prepare to be seriously impressed by their achievements.