Start working at Mcdonalds, how to stop myself from overeating?

Solar_Cat

jlahorn wrote: »

There are a couple of studies that have shown that your attitude about the food can help ward off temptation. If you say/think, "I don't eat fried food", you are more likely to not have any than if you say/think "I can't eat fried food". (http://www.forbes.com/sites/heidigranthalvorson/2013/03/14/the-amazing-power-of-i-dont-vs-i-cant/)

So, you don't eat french fries

This is excellent, a must-read for anyone who thinks they're having trouble with willpower. It's almost exactly how I quite smoking 40 years ago, after a 10-year 2-pack-a-day habit. I said to myself "I'm a non-smoker," and that simple act compelled me to behave like a non-smoker. It works, folks.

Beckilovespizza

Good luck and stay away from early shifts, those left over bacon n egg mcmuffins would be gone in a flash if i worked there!!

flightybird

I worked at Sonic for 6 and a half years and at Chick-fil-A for 3 and a half years, so I definitely know what it's like to be constantly surrounded by food and temptation.

My best piece of advice is to bring your own food from home, if you can. If you can't, see if it's possible for you to prepare your own food at work (grilled chicken, no oil on the grill is something I did at both Sonic & Chick-fil-A) and salads. Lean towards dressings like Italian that aren't heavy and cream-based. Steer clear of the "add-ons" like croutons, tortilla strips, etc.

I gained the bulk of my weight (no pun intended) while working at Sonic, because I ate really calorie-heavy foods ALL THE TIME. It's not a road you really wanna go down, because it's a LONG journey to find your way back to healthy.

Just be mindful of what you're putting in your mouth. Keep using MFP to log EVERYTHING, and make good choices. Every once in a while, it's okay to splurge on something like one of those freaking DELICIOUS McFlurries, just try not to make it an everyday thing. Make it a special treat.

Edited to add: AVOID THE SODAS. Water, water, water! That's where I gained a lot of weight as well, was the sodas, ESPECIALLY at Sonic (who can turn down a Cherry Limeade?) They are empty calories that are so easy and quick to just throw back and not even think about. WATER! Water water water!

Tanie98

Nona240 wrote: »

So in about 3 weeks I will start working at McDonalds...

Before I worked at a supermarket and when I was hungry after work I often bought myself something to eat. At the supermarket choosing for healthy options was hard sometimes and at the McDonalds I think this will be ever harder....

So does anyone have any tips for me?

I agree with everyone who said pack your own lunch

jennifermcornett

I worked at McDonald's for five years as a teenager, and I still love the food. Hopefully you'll decide it's disgusting, but you won't actually see the food being prepared for a long while, unless they're hiring you exclusively to work in grill. You'll probably be a cashier, maybe the drink maker in the front drive-thru, maybe eventually work up to back drive order/money taker... Anyway, the point is, you won't find the food disgusting, most likely, because you won't see it being made. So good luck. Eat the southwest grilled chicken salad with southwest ranch. 390 calories total. Or eat a chicken nugget happy meal with a diet drink. 305 calories. They are pretty strict on what food you're allowed to get for your free meal, but just realize there are good choices. Also, you can fit anything into your target calories in a day if you just plan for it ahead of time.

Nona240

hrcc2000 wrote: »

Best scenario, eat a good meal before your shift. If you get stuck there longer than you were supposed to or you work a double, the grilled chicken sandwich without the bun or fries would probably be a good choice. It's only 150 calories and 3 carbs without the bun. Check out the meal builder website: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/full_menu/full_menu_explorer.html
You can pick and choose which items you want and what you want on those items. I find these sorts of tools are so handy when I'm trying to plan a fast food outing.

Thanks for the site! Very helpful!!

Nona240

Thanks again for all the tips everyone! I think it will help a lot!

onefortyone

I worked in McDonald's for 3 years and maintained my weight purely by accident. I got a grilled chicken sandwich (back when it was huge because they were trying to compete with subway), medium fries and a large diet soda almost every day. For double shifts I'd eat whatever I wanted on both breaks. The calories must have fit because I only started gaining after I quit to go to Uni lol.

You can fit it in - let yourself have one thing you LOVE from the menu (my friend had a large strawberry milkshake every day as her lunch, but she was a runner), but make the rest sensible. I personally LOVE the grilled chicken/bacon salads, and it is so delicious that I only really need 1/2 the ranch dressing packet. So I could eat that every day! Sadly they didn't have it when I worked there.

Don't try to tell yourself you 'can't have' something. The job is stressful, on your feet, and often quite long hours. You will be miserable if you don't feed yourself what you enjoy!

Nona240

@onefortone

Thanks that might be a good idea, just have one thing and plan the rest of my meals to so can fit it in!

CMcD1445

I might offer something slightly more specific than "Pack a lunch"... Although the best trick is will power, you need to have a trump card to pull out on a tough day. Ok, so you packed a lunch and ate it... You're still hungry, so now what? I recommend taking a protein bar, meal bar, or shake and putting it somewhere in case of emergencies. (If you have a locker, this would be a great spot)... I keep a survival kit of protein shakes and meal replacement shakes in my desk so if something is going wrong in my day, I don't have to give into temptation.

Beautifulbridgittlee7

Brush teeth, gum, eat before, watch all the nasty fat coming off, and the nauseating smell, yurgg

UmmSqueaky

I worked at McDonalds for several years in high school and college and still love it. Now I plan it into my week. I'm not going to eat it every day, but I'll have one day that I'll pencil it in and look forward to and savor when it finally arrives. Before you go to work, plan your daily food and do a pre-diary entry to see where you stand. If McDonalds food doesn't fit into your diary, then don't eat it.

Cathalain

I worked for Burger King long ago and far away, and I never had ANY trouble staying away from the food after doing a few manager shifts. I knew exactly how all of it arrived, how it had to be stored, how it was cooked; and I don't know about other locations, but the one I managed was downright awful. The freezers didn't work properly, the place was never up to code, it was on the health department's violation list quarter after quarter. I begged the franchise owner to do something about the place, but he was too cheap.

I wouldn't have let my dog eat there, and that's saying something.

Ever since, I've just shied away from most fast food in general because I have way too many memories of that awful Burger King (which has since FINALLY been shut down, long after I quit). Insider knowledge, after a while, will cure you of ever wanting any of the products you work with.

SonicDeathMonkey80

Take up endurance running

ikkinr20

Definitely bring your own food. Try to eat a meal at home before your shift. You could keep healthy snack baggies in your car or even a tiny cooler for fruits and stuff.

rileysowner

I would just decide on what I want, log it, and stay within my calories. Of course I am in Canada and from what I read on McDs in the US food regulations are much stricter here so YMMV on how to approach this. As long as their food is not the only thing you eat, in moderation it should not stall your weight loss at all, as long as you keep to your calories. That would mean avoiding fries, shakes, and most of the desert stuff since it is pretty calorie dense, but a burger and side salad shouldn't break the calorie bank. Here I will occasionally do a Big Mac and Side Garden Salad no dressing and that would only come to 580 calories. I even find it a satisfying meal that fills me up nicely.

brenn24179

I think that is one of the better of the fast food places. I love grilled chicken, salads, small burgers, bacon ranch salad, parfaits, egg mcmuffins. They have a lot of low calorie foods there.

Nona240

Hey everybody! Thanks again for all the great tips!

Nona240

magic267 wrote: »

I might offer something slightly more specific than "Pack a lunch"... Although the best trick is will power, you need to have a trump card to pull out on a tough day. Ok, so you packed a lunch and ate it... You're still hungry, so now what? I recommend taking a protein bar, meal bar, or shake and putting it somewhere in case of emergencies. (If you have a locker, this would be a great spot)... I keep a survival kit of protein shakes and meal replacement shakes in my desk so if something is going wrong in my day, I don't have to give into temptation.

Great idea! I will buy some protein bars before I start working there!

eldamiano

Dont eat it or go and find another job. There is no other way to stop overeating other than just not eating.