Over the past few months, I have been eating INCREDIBLY clean. Whole foods mediterranean diet, daily homemade green juices, plenty of protein, plenty of fiber, absolutely nothing artificial. My diet consisted of vegetable’s, fruits, eggs, Sardines, Salmon, nuts, legumes. Gluten free, sugar free, mostly dairy free, and pescatarian.
I was not on a calorie deficit, I was neither attempting to lose nor gain weight; i simply wanted more energy and less lethargy.
My body has always been naturally hourglass, with a very skinny waist and fuller breasts and thighs.
Before I began this clean diet, my weight distribution began to change. I had a belly for the first time in my life, and it became the largest part of my body. I looked significantly worse, and with no known cause. After a doctor’s visit, they theorized PCOS, which made sense as my twin sister had it. I decided to start this diet, which focused more on the quality of my food rather than a calorie deficit of any sort.
After a few months, I was glowing. My skin was glowing, my hair was thick, and I had more energy than i had ever had previously. I felt great, and facially i looked great, but my body hadn’t budged. Yes, I had lost some weight, but the proportions were still ‘off’ in that my belly protruded beyond everything else, and my waist was very square in shape.
I began to notice that on the days after my cheat days, my body looked better. I didn’t think much of it, and continued to eat clean. This week, I had an important assignment coming up, and decided to let loose a little and eat unhealthy for a few days while my main focus was on the assignment.
I ate those massive 500kcal cookies, cakes, bread, butter, cheese - all foods that were usually restricted.
As the days progressed, my hourglass shape returned, and this morning, I awoke to probably the most perfect natural figure I have ever seen on myself. My energy levels are slightly worse, and my skin is duller than it was, but my body is perfect.
Can anyone explain this? Why does eating healthy box my waist out, and why does eating junk slim it down?