Why does it feel good to eat bad food

fitness63

I eat healthy most of the time. Every month I find my self eating junk for a week or two. I stop logging and weighting myself because I know its worse than I think. I feel some sort of accomplishment (like I cheated and got away with it) when I eat the food my mind is craving. Cheese salsa and tortilla chips, skor candy bars, hershey kisses and yes Fliet o Fish meal from McDonalds. I have came to terms that the more I eat of this junk the more I crave it. I guess I am addicted. I can't just have it once. Why can't I crave Spinach lettuce and goat cheese, chicken and rice or a meal replacement shake. I hope writing this will make me realize how strange it all is. If you have any healthy easy few ingredient meals I am listening.

chevy88grl

Have you thought about allowing yourself to have a small treat each and everyday? I find that if I don't let myself have something sweet/salty/etc each day (when i want it) I turn resentful and in the past that would lead to a day long binge. By allowing myself to eat it when I want it - it has all but eliminated the urge to binge. If I want chocolate - I count out the serving size and I eat it. If I want chips and salsa - I could out a serving size and I eat it. I think it really helps with the binge feelings. I don't know if it'll work for you - but it has definitely worked for me.

emma1488

Junk food is chock full of sugars and salts that are addictive, not to mention the additives and preservatives.

Though i know what you mean about the sense of accomplishment thing. LIke if i open a packet of chips and stuff hoeing into them, rather than stop half way and pull my head in, theres a little voice inside my head saying 'just finish the whole thing, then they are gone...just DO IT...redrum redrum....'

I figure i can't really control myself too well around them, so i just don't start eating them:)

reneelee

You are so close to goal weight . Are you still lossing weight? If not maybe you should start eating maintenane calories for a few months. Adding one bad item a week, and eating healthy the rest of the week . Maintenance is your weight times 12, 13 or 14 depeding on how active you are and how much muscle you have.
So if you weight 150 you would multiplye 150 x 12 = 1800 calories a day

Our bodys adjust to exercise and calorie restiction so give it some calories and treat yourself to one bad food a week untill you gain three pound then start your diet again and no more bad food durring the calorie restiction phase.

nicothepotato

Think of how we evolved. In cave man days, sugar, salt and fat were rare but necessary. We had to evolve an urge to get it or die. This is not helping us in our present day humans as this stuff is cheap and easy to get our hands on.

ladybarometer

If I don't have a treat when I want, it triggers a binge later.

sakus32

I think most women go through the crazy cravings. If most women are honest, we give into those cravings. I know I do. I justify it by buying my "kids" some snacks and the next thing I know the crumbs are on my shirt and the box is empty. The first way to combat this is to LOG IT. If you don't fully acknowledge the splurge, you can't keep it at a minimum. When I crave, I want sweet and salty. When that hits, I try and make sure I have a variety of fruit and Skinny Cow sundae cones (my fav) for the sweet and hummus and these corn pop puff (they look like tortillas, but with only 16 calories) for the salty. I also have popcorn, nutella, fiber plus bars that taste like samoa's, and Emerald chocolate dusted almond 100 calorie packs. When I get into craving mode, convenience is a must and portion control is also a must. I also will make an effort to eat salads for two reasons. First, I eat it with a balsamic vinagrette (60 cal/2TBS) that is unbelievable and satisfies my salt craving. Second, the salad justifies my ability to splurge (in my mind). If you want, you can friend me and check out my food log. I think just being honest during those times and logging your food will help you to curb the craziness and keep it manageable. Good luck!!