Quitting bad habit- PLease help!!

shapenerfiterratii
shapenerfiterratii Posts: 111 Member
edited November 15 in Food and Nutrition
So I need to lose weight (no duh).
I have a problem where I love hot fries and I'm weak enough to not resist the temptation to eat a bag twice a week. I would like some tips for cutting junk food for good- and liking healthy food?
Thanks

Replies

  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Or you could eat fries a couple times a week?

    Tips for not eating things you consider junk...don't buy them. Makes it easier if they aren't in the house.
  • fearlessleader104
    fearlessleader104 Posts: 723 Member
    Eat what you want but less of it than usual, and exercise more than usual. That's it. Good luck
  • shapenerfiterratii
    shapenerfiterratii Posts: 111 Member
    I get them at college... :/
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    shapenerfiterratii wrote: »
    I get them at college... :/

    Okay.

    So don't buy them? Or eat them. Potatoes are yummy.
  • zapslr
    zapslr Posts: 12 Member
    If you like the feeling of a fry, but obviously it's bad for you, try making rutabaga or turnip "fries".
    Basically, buy either one fresh, peel and chop into strips, like french fries. I then toss those strips in ziplock bag and add 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil (garlic olive oil or whatever flavor I want if I have it on hand). I add in different spices like onion or garlic powders, chili powder, red pepper, pepper, cumin, whatever you like. Then, spread on a cookie sheet lined w/ foil, bake at 350 for about 30-45 minutes, flip 1/2 way thru. They're both good with ketchup just like fries and I eat the left overs cold. Of course they're not a perfect substitution, but they get rid of the craving for me.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    zapslr wrote: »
    but obviously it's bad for you,

    There is nothing inherently unhealthy about fries.

  • shapenerfiterratii
    shapenerfiterratii Posts: 111 Member
    How can I enjoy healthy foods? I literally had a container of grapes and oranges to NOT eat hot fries, but sent it back with my sister. Then I ended up feeling hungry and ate crap.
  • shapenerfiterratii
    shapenerfiterratii Posts: 111 Member
    I know it probably doesnt make sense to you guys but I'm just mad at myself for not having enough self control.
  • noobletmcnugget
    noobletmcnugget Posts: 518 Member
    Maybe don't take money with you to college? Instead bring healthy snacks to eat instead? You know though, you can probably work it into your daily calorie allowance a couple of days a week. I know that doesn't work for everyone though.
  • sevader
    sevader Posts: 16
    I would say that you should buy a small bag for a few weeks and only eat it once a week, then cut down to half a bag and throw the other half away, and then start eating a small amount in moderation for the rest of the time it wont be more than 70-100 calories. its OK to enjoy a little bit of it xx
  • RaeBeeBaby
    RaeBeeBaby Posts: 4,246 Member
    zapslr wrote: »
    If you like the feeling of a fry, but obviously it's bad for you, try making rutabaga or turnip "fries".
    Basically, buy either one fresh, peel and chop into strips, like french fries. I then toss those strips in ziplock bag and add 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil (garlic olive oil or whatever flavor I want if I have it on hand). I add in different spices like onion or garlic powders, chili powder, red pepper, pepper, cumin, whatever you like. Then, spread on a cookie sheet lined w/ foil, bake at 350 for about 30-45 minutes, flip 1/2 way thru. They're both good with ketchup just like fries and I eat the left overs cold. Of course they're not a perfect substitution, but they get rid of the craving for me.

    This sounds pretty good! You can totally do this with regular potatoes or sweet potatoes, as well. Cuts down the calories quite a bit from regular fried fries and you're still basically eating the same thing. I make baked sweet potato fries with a spicy mix of cayenne pepper and other spices quite often and they are delicious!
  • htg20
    htg20 Posts: 116 Member
    Practice, practice, practice. The more you use your self control, the better you will get at it.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I have lots of experience with this. Here's some threads to get you thinking a little deeper about willpower, abstinence, resistance, and riding a craving.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10024090/willpower-is-overrated/p1

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/jgnatca/view/riding-the-elephant-736034

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/jgnatca/view/halting-a-binge-session-715131

    So here's some thoughts.
    • Consider changing your self-talk from "I'm too weak" to something stronger like, "Next time I'm out I will..."
    • Fries do taste great. Instead of banning them, consider limiting them, say, to once a week.
    • Willpower is a limited resource so if you are at the end of a stressful day, it might be all used up. Not a good time to visit the cafeteria.
    • Always have alternative snacks with you in case of emergency. This doesn't always work for me. I might end up eating my emergency snack AND the fries.
    • OF COURSE grapes don't taste anything like fries. They're not crunchy or salty. You are craving crunchy and salty. Try popcorn.

    Instead of denying my craves, I ride them and direct them. I am happy with a single fry some days.
  • LoupGarouTFTs
    LoupGarouTFTs Posts: 916 Member
    sevader wrote: »
    I would say that you should buy a small bag for a few weeks and only eat it once a week, then cut down to half a bag and throw the other half away, and then start eating a small amount in moderation for the rest of the time it wont be more than 70-100 calories. its OK to enjoy a little bit of it xx

    I've never understood this kind of advice.

    If you're really nervous about eating the hot fries (I'm assuming the crispy treats from a bag), then veggie fries do sound like a reasonable alternative; however, they are surprisingly high in sodium and calories and are not as "healthy" as you might think they are. I survived my college years on popcorn and pretzels from the vending machine--it was not until I had graduated college and had emergency surgery that I started to pack on a large number of pounds. Try buying the low sodium or snack packs from the grocery store and popping them at school (popcorn) or, as someone suggested, making your own veggie snacks.

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    What's wrong with tossing half? Some days I can't finish my meal. My servers are sad, but that's too bad. I do try and order sensibly.
  • shapenerfiterratii
    shapenerfiterratii Posts: 111 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    What's wrong with tossing half? Some days I can't finish my meal. My servers are sad, but that's too bad. I do try and order sensibly.

    I actually just dumped a bottle of root beer I had in front of me so I think that worked :p
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    *happy dance*
  • LoupGarouTFTs
    LoupGarouTFTs Posts: 916 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    What's wrong with tossing half? Some days I can't finish my meal. My servers are sad, but that's too bad. I do try and order sensibly.

    It's one thing to miscalculate and be unable to finish and entirely another to purchase something planning to waste half. If you're going to do that, it makes more sense to me to buy a large bag at the store and portion it out to snack-sized bags at home. I understand that not everyone feels this way, but I'm on food stamps and, to me, intentionally wasting any food is a crime.

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    My son spent some time on the street and he is similarly disturbed if he sees someone fail to finish their plate.
  • karensuegill
    karensuegill Posts: 67 Member
    I was addicted to sweets especially chocolate and I totally gave it up for a month. And now a whole year later I rarely have chocolate (like a candy bar) or any cookies, cakes, or pies. I have substituted fruit with Truvia on it or healthy muffins like my favorite carrot banana oat muffins. We get sugar in a lot of foods we don't realize such as breads, cereals, etc. On the occasion that I do have a piece of cake or a piece of pie, I have 1/2 a piece and I count it in my daily food journal. As time has gone on, I miss the sweets less and less. When I am eating out and see people eating the high calorie desserts, they are not healthy looking people. I do not buy sweets or keep them in my house. I have traded the sugar high I used to crave for the terrific healthy high I get from exercising and from buying much smaller clothes!
  • akirkman86
    akirkman86 Posts: 89 Member
    shapenerfiterratii wrote: »
    I know it probably doesnt make sense to you guys but I'm just mad at myself for not having enough self control.

    I think MOST people have that one food that they just can't seem to control themselves around. I know I have a few... like chips, ice cream, most sweets... so I just can't buy that stuff, period. I compromise by buying frozen yogurt bars that are prepackaged into individual portions. Try to come up with some ideas of compromises you can have instead, if you really can't control yourself with the hot fries. Or perhaps try having them just once a week as a special treat... so that you can still indulge in what you love but don't have to feel guilty about it.

    Hang in there, don't let anyone here make you feel bad about what you're trying to do, and know that it gets easier!
  • sevader
    sevader Posts: 16
    LoupGarouTFTs wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    What's wrong with tossing half? Some days I can't finish my meal. My servers are sad, but that's too bad. I do try and order sensibly.

    It's one thing to miscalculate and be unable to finish and entirely another to purchase something planning to waste half. If you're going to do that, it makes more sense to me to buy a large bag at the store and portion it out to snack-sized bags at home. I understand that not everyone feels this way, but I'm on food stamps and, to me, intentionally wasting any food is a crime.

    sorry for offending you. those hot chips become stale so quick so it makes a lot more sense to dump the half. But to be on the " safe " side you can just save them for the next week if you're prepared to eat crappy ones. Or give them to a friend or sibling idk
  • paradi3s
    paradi3s Posts: 343 Member
    there aren't tips to it. just don't buy them. there's a lot of junk they sell around my campus too (fries, hotdogs, anything deep fried and lots of shakes), but i never really did bother buying them because 1 i save money that way and 2 i have my own meals. best to plan your meals ahead and start incorporating fruits and vegetables to lessen the cravings. while i was losing weight, it worked for me. that being said, don't cut off the things you love to eat either. if your'e "addicted" to fries, you can buy some once or twice a week as a treat, or go for a healthy alternative like making your own baked fries.
  • paradi3s
    paradi3s Posts: 343 Member
    don't get mad at yourself for having 'no self control'. everyone does it at times and it's normal. just think of it as a learning experience to lessen your junk intake and eat healthier :-)
  • LORI35pittsburgh
    LORI35pittsburgh Posts: 17 Member
    college is hard enough as it is.....but so are addictions to certain foods...... try cutting back tell your mind not good for you they might make you sick you have a potato allergy lol i try to do that to talk my self out of my ice cream addiction cause i really am allergic to milk, but it doesnt do what it used to to to me anymore. :-( hoping after my surgery (9th) if i would dare even try but im not planning on it cause i hate to be sick... cause it will make me sick anything sweet or fried even if i eat to fast.... so im gonna stick to the rules cause im 46 and dont wanna call my mommy cause im sick lol/// seriously i have only threw up about 8?? times in my life and it scares me to death. wishing you luck... if it is a texture thing try similar healthier texture foods....chips crispy/// apples or carrots..
  • elainegladhill
    elainegladhill Posts: 2 Member
    RaeBeeBaby wrote: »
    zapslr wrote: »
    If you like the feeling of a fry, but obviously it's bad for you, try making rutabaga or turnip "fries".
    Basically, buy either one fresh, peel and chop into strips, like french fries. I then toss those strips in ziplock bag and add 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil (garlic olive oil or whatever flavor I want if I have it on hand). I add in different spices like onion or garlic powders, chili powder, red pepper, pepper, cumin, whatever you like. Then, spread on a cookie sheet lined w/ foil, bake at 350 for about 30-45 minutes, flip 1/2 way thru. They're both good with ketchup just like fries and I eat the left overs cold. Of course they're not a perfect substitution, but they get rid of the craving for me.

    This sounds pretty good! You can totally do this with regular potatoes or sweet potatoes, as well. Cuts down the calories quite a bit from regular fried fries and you're still basically eating the same thing. I make baked sweet potato fries with a spicy mix of cayenne pepper and other spices quite often and they are delicious!

  • elainegladhill
    elainegladhill Posts: 2 Member
    Do this with fresh green beans and asparagus!
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    If you don't want to waste half, find someone to split it with. I do this all the time with pizza. I only order a pizza when I'm with other people to eat it. Or, if my fiance and I stop at Arby's, only one of us gets the combo, and we split the fries. That way we get to eat and enjoy them, but it's half the calories for each of us.
  • shapenerfiterratii
    shapenerfiterratii Posts: 111 Member
    Thank you all for sharing and helping. I'm def gonna try that potatos thing and I think I'll stock up on some healthy stuff at home. Kudos to you all. :D
  • Chrysalid2014
    Chrysalid2014 Posts: 1,038 Member
    karensuegill wrote: »
    I have substituted fruit with Truvia on it or healthy muffins like my favorite carrot banana oat muffins. We get sugar in a lot of foods we don't realize such as breads, cereals, etc.

    Just curious as to how much sugar is in your healthy muffins? Would you mind sharing the recipe?

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