How did you stop your junkfood habit?

lucysposaro

Hi everyone i wanted to post this because i wanted to hear from anyone who used to eat junkfood maybe once or twice a week maybe more and felt the need to always have it at least once a week? Im only starting to diet rite and im in the first week this week iv had mcdonalds twice just due to the kids and everything.I feel like if i dont get it i get really pissed off even though i know its bad for you After i have been starting to exersice this week and enerting my food in the diary im starting to relise the things that have alot of calories and what dont and whats good and whats bad.After i had mcdonalds i felt yuk and the need to jump on the treadmill so i did but i want to completeing get out of the habit of wanting to eat junk food just because it taste good.How can i walk into a take away store with ym kids without me having to order.I know its all about the thinking etc but sometimes i think im addicted even though its a once a week thing with the family.

beccyleigh

if you want to crack the habit you have to just avoid having access to it.

You say you had mcdonalds twice this week due to the kids...why are you giving your kids mcdonalds twice in one week?

you say how do i walk into a takeaway store with your kids....again, is it a legal requirement to give takeaway food to your kids.? :happy:

Is this not something YOU Have control over? You are the parent, you decided what they eat, they aren't putting a gun to your head & forcing you to buy them burger & fries so just start a new regime, you aren't buying that stuff anymore & the kids & you will eat the new healthier food that you will learn to make or buy.

Cause if you are serious about making dietary changes then you will be doing your kids a huge favour by including them in your changes.

I used to love KFC, McD, burger king, anything greasy basically, one day I just stopped going into those shops & do you know what, I didn't miss it & felt tons better for not having all that salty greasy crap in my body.

If you are out for the day, there are alternatives you can chose for them & you, instead of burger & chips order panini with salad & the kids can have sandwiches & crisps or else check out the receipt section here for lower fat, healthier alternatives & take them with you.

You can still have burger & chips or fried food but this site will help you make better choices or learn how to portion control. My son still has mcdonalds but it is a treat, once maybe twice a month, sometime we all get KFC & I have chicken with chips but I take off half the chip & remove some of the skin from the chicken. It's not about denying yourself everything, it' about making informed choices.

good luck with it all.

BobbyClerici

Cold turkey - except on "free day" - that allowance is what keeps me good all week.

Nikki582

I banned "eating at places that are associated with drive thrus" hahahaha
So that meant all the bad ones, left one or two for me to have if I needed to (subway and pizza)
It worked quite well. I did two weeks at a time, first fortnight I said absolute ban on them, and thereafter I allow 1 meal a f/n... and even then I don't bother. I think since i started I went from have 2 - 3 meals a week to having 2 or 3 in the last 12 weeks.. and I don't even eat what I used to.. I scour for a healthier choice if there is one, or make the best of a bad situation.

Setting small, achievable goals is the key - just go for 2 weeks without anywhere with a drive thru and see how you go

Libbyly

I'm a junk food addict too - I'll use any excuse. I've even had a sneaky McDonald's alone at home so no-one can judge me. Silly.

But I think you have to accept that that's what it is, an EXCUSE.

I agree with Beccy - kids shouldn't be getting junk food twice a week - then they too will develop a habit. if it helps, think of them - you don't want them having weight and body issues when they grown up. And if they insist - remember who the parent is.

It's so hard to always plan ahead but bringing out a sandwich or wrap when you're out or going for noodles or sushi is so much healthier and cheaper. You just have to say Mind over matter - I AM THE BOSS OF ME.

lucysposaro

In regards to saying my kids had junk food twice this week this was because of kinder birthday partys not random visits lol

jsteffen80

A good level of personal accountability works wonders. Tell yourself you won't do it, and then don't do it.

And Bobby is right... Cheat days or cheat meals are good to keep you motivated, and not worried about the day to day. You shouldn't put any food that you like completely off limits, but be smart about it.

stylistchik

Find ways to make alternatives at home. For time constraints, start with having things like frozen burger patties, chicken patties or boca burgers on hand with fries you can bake in the oven. My husband and I always keep stir fry veggies in the freezer for a 10-minute meal.

When you get used to eating at home more, you can make things even better by buying bulk ground meat and making a bunch of hamburger patties ahead of time and freezing them. It's much cheaper, and without all the fillers, preservatives and junk. At the same time, you can cut up potatoes, season them and freeze those too under the same theory.

You just have to get used to planning ahead which is what this site is great for. Don't give yourself the option to eat out, and if you do let it be a treat. Soon that nasty fake food won't even be appealing.

Check out Hungry-girl.com for healthier alternatives to almost everything and once you get that down, you can cut down on ALL the processed food (like sugar free, low fat, etc.) not just the high calorie stuff.

Hope that helps! I eat clean most of the time but it's taken me several years to get here so feel free to ask questions and best of luck!

jwaitman

Most fast food places do have healthy options. You just have to order them. I am admittedly a junk food eater too, but my downfall is sweets.

groomchick

After you quit eating it for a while.... you can't go back to it! It just plain and simple makes you sick. maybe try a challenge to get yourself off for a month... youll never go back!

rlysrh

I read that once you've eaten fatty/junk food for the next few days your body craves it more than before, but after those few days your body stops craving it as much. So if you just try avoiding it for a week or two it gets MUCH easier after that.

emergencytennis

My downfall was crisps/chips. I did not intend the result, but this is what happened.

I did not want my children to crave crisps like I did, and so I emphasised to them how bad they could be. How a single packet could equal almost my adult calorie needs for the whole day, and how much salt they contained. They knew I loved them, though, so they jokingly started taunting me if they were with me in the supermarket - muuum, look, criispss, buy criiissps. I played along with get thee behind me, imps, etc., but it shamed me, having my lack of self control mocked by my children, however lightly and playfully. Wasnt I the adult, to set the example and get some nutrients along with my calories?

Short story, the kids were my motivation. I dont buy crisps and I dont miss them.

Sul3i

Planning helps! But take what u already love and modify so its healthier... eating out was a biggie for me so now I only eat what I feel I must have! I don't care for fries but of course I used to eat them. I was a chronic overeater! But since I don't have to have em & can live without them I pass... also I chose takeout places that everyone likes but also have healthy options I do like. At first I would stick to a favorite salad like mcdonalds chicken blt with light ranche *grilled chicken* not too bad on cals at all or grilled chicken sandwich with fruit parfait *still a fav* at home when making meals its easier cuz I sneak in low fat ingrediants and make more steamed veggies as fillers use lean meats whole wheat or flatout pita bread whole wheat pastas that type of thing. But I say everything in moderation I still eat pizza when I want but I try to workout 5 x per week. This month has been the hardest since I started in june! Christmas cookies! but I'm not giving up I know once the holiday is over ill keep the crap outta the house get more exercise & my scale with start the decline again. Lucky for me its maintained this month..love this new metabolism!

Sul3i

Most fast food places do have healthy options. You just have to order them. I am admittedly a junk food eater too, but my downfall is sweets.

This* sweets r my downfall too! :embarassed:

zuyddyk98

I substituted my love for mountain dew..(unhealthy ) to black coffee. I get the caffeine but way less calories a day.

InfamousQ

I just went cold turkey...I still want some every once in a while but normally don't crave it anymore.....

Naomi_84

Do you want your kids to have the same problems you have now when they're older? An addiction/uncontrollable cravings for fast food? Just think about them and their future health and happiness, they shouldn't be eating it as much as you shouldn't. Limit it to once a week for all of you, after you're truly on your way to better health you may be ready to cut it out all together.

akaMrsmojo

I didn't, just ate less of it.

bshedwick

Cold turkey and lots of self control

KyleB65

For me it was easy. My Doctor told me I was going to DIE if I did not lose weight!

Okay, so this is a trite answer. The reality is that I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and I needed to drop my sodium intake to a range of 1000 - 1200 mg per day. A Big Mac & Large Fries have more sodium than that in one serving! Not to mention the chips & pop along with pizza - poutine - steamies - donuts - etc. - etc. - etc.!

I still have good and bad sodium days but compared to my pre-MFP lifestyle I figure I have cut down on my average sodium intake by 3/4!

So basically I went cold turkey! Figured that seeing my 50th birthday was more important than a yummy Bic Mac :-0

lulabellewoowoo

Frozen grapes

Chairless

How did you stop your junkfood habit?

Didnt. Learned to moderate it, much more important.

oneIT

You won't be able to stay away from it in todays society. Have the salad instead, no soda, eat smaller portions like get a happy meal for yourself.

Go to subway instead of mcdonalds.

deja_blu

I exchanged them out with something better, one at time. Cookies for 100 calories cookies, chips for pop chips, add fruits and veggies to my life. I cut the carbonated stuff cold turkey and it has made the difference.

I know for women it's easier said than done but you'll learn to adjust and be thankful for it.

MommaFuhrer

I eat anything I want as long as it fits in my calorie goal!

NoAdditives

I just stopped buying it all the time. I still indulge once in a while but I'm more likely to buy a single serving bag of chips, cookies or candy instead of a big bag. I also shop at Trader Joe's where there isn't as much junk food to tempt me. Plus, their much cheaper than the regular grocery stores in my area so I save a ton of money on groceries!

stylistchik

fun facts:

humans naturally crave salt, fat, and sugar because in the caveman days, these were hard to find and would keep our bodies running when food was harder to find. Now, food is engineered to key into these sensations. Food created in a lab (yes, even the mickey D's grilled chicken) is amplified so it tastes "better." Once we get accustomed to these "better," more intense tastes, real food has no taste. If you let your body detox from all the lab-created flavors, colors, textures, smells, etc. regular food will taste so good you won't want to eat the fake stuff.

devilwhiterose

Pictures like these kicked my junk food.

I could have "one" milkshake, OR all of this food. (see pic)

http://www.glamour.com/images/health-fitness/2011/09/0901-calorie-math_aw.jpg

ninerbuff

There is nothing wrong with having junk food occasionally if you are eating right about 90% of the time. If people who are trying to lose weight completely cut out everything that they actually enjoy eating, they will normally gain back the weight they initially lost. This is why yo yo dieting prevails in American society. Get your essentials in from good sources (macronutrients/micronutrients), exercise, get enough rest and stay within calorie limits and you should be able to have that junk food every once in awhile.


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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition