never thought I'd be this person

20carrots

I have started eating fast food every day...and I'm on a so-called diet! We moved to a BIG city and there is takeout everywhere. Everyone at work gets take out for lunch. Well I discovered a TB a few blocks away, and I haven't had it for months (it's like the only one in the city), it's cheap and delicious.

For a long time I brown bagged it and can't believe I'm eating fast food every day. Please help me snap out of this!! Short of not bringing my wallet with me to work (which I have done before), what else can I do/say to break me of this terrible habit??

BrianSharpe

Only you can snap yourself out of this cycle.

Cheap, abundant fast food combined with our evolutionarily developed love of salt and fat is, metaphorically, the perfect storm. Treat yourself occasionally but don't go every day (personally I hate the food at Taco Bell - I love real tacos) - 540 cal & 32g of fat for fries supreme, 550 cal & 24g fat for a Crunchwrap Supreme.............you could easily have a 1000+ cal lunch.

Just give your head a shake and stop going, it's a thing call will power.

zoeluiisa

Just because there are fast-food outlets in your city, doesn't mean you have to eat at them! Think of how much hard-earned money you're handing over, let alone the fact that you have no idea what you're eating or how it's prepared.

Bring your lunch in to work with you - if you've already gone to the effort of making lunch for yourself, you won't want to go out and buy another one.

ZugTheMegasaurus

You need to own your choices. Your body is not autonomously going to Taco Bell, ordering food, and eating it. That is all you, all conscious decisions.

In the morning (or the night before if there's more time), say to yourself, "I will need to eat lunch at work. What am I going to have?" Either pack yourself a lunch or admit to yourself that you want fast food instead. It's not doing you any good to pretend you're a slave to your habits here.

melsinct

You need to own your choices. Your body is not autonomously going to Taco Bell, ordering food, and eating it. That is all you, all conscious decisions.

In the morning (or the night before if there's more time), say to yourself, "I will need to eat lunch at work. What am I going to have?" Either pack yourself a lunch or admit to yourself that you want fast food instead. It's not doing you any good to pretend you're a slave to your habits here.

I agree. This is all on you to make the right decision. Choose to bring your lunch, then follow through.

I am surrounded by fantastic non-chain restaurant and take-out places at work, as well as fast food joints. I make the decision every day to bring my lunch. If I do order out, it is never more than once a week and realistically, more like once every few weeks.

ErinBeth7

I had this problem when I first started my job last September. I didn't move to a new town, but I was driving to a different town everyday. I was eating out all the time and finally started feeling like crap for it. If you fail to plan, then you're planning to fail. I started getting my lunch ready in the mornings and taking it to work. Since I had my lunch here, I didn't feel the need to hit the drive-thru. It helped a lot.

choirgirl1130

put the burger down and pack your lunch! PLEASE!!! :0) fast food is NOT nutritious and you are depriving your body of precious nutrients it needs. remember, the stuff they put in fast food-additives, fillers, CHEMICALS- can be addicting and make your body crave food when you aren't really hungry, which in turn will cause weight gain. stuff i am sure you probably already know. do yourself and your wallet a favor, invest 5min. the night before into your health and PACK THAT LUNCH!!! xoxox all in love!

thomassd1969

Even if you choose to eat fast food make the right choices there. Most places have acceptable choices you just have to make them.

mkmacf

Start making extra of whatever you have for supper. I always have some sort of leftover I enjoy so I just grab it for lunch. If it's that easy sometimes it trumps the temptation of fast food.

megteg

Everyone at work gets take out for lunch.

This is the part that is the hardest! Missing out on socializing with coworkers and getting a break from the office... I can understand you'd want a good reason not to go.

My recs - say you are training for something (and need a better diet for it), or that you're giving up fast food. If your coworkers know they might be willing to go places that have healthier options for you. Otherwise, pick one day a week and join them, on a day when you can make it to the gym after work, and try to limit yourself to the basics where you go. None of this SUPER BURRITO or Double-Triple Angus with cheese and special sauce! Just a hamburger without fries, or a hardshell taco, and supplement later with a healthy snack.

jaxbeck

Plan, plan, plan! I plan my entire work day's food. I seriously bring a huge tote bag of food. I don't always eat it all but I know the more I have, the less likely I will be to hit the snack bar or the cafe in my building. Today I have turkey bacon, hummus, pita bread, raw veggies, nuts, grilled chicken with cooked broccoli & tons of water. I won't go hungry!

AllTehBeers

Plan, plan, plan! I plan my entire work day's food. I seriously bring a huge tote bag of food. I don't always eat it all but I know the more I have, the less likely I will be to hit the snack bar or the cafe in my building. Today I have turkey bacon, hummus, pita bread, raw veggies, nuts, grilled chicken with cooked broccoli & tons of water. I won't go hungry!

This this this. I work at a convenience store with every kind of sweet, salty, yummy junk thing you can think of and over the last few years its not helped me at all. So I've started packing my food. Anything I could possibly want for the whole day. Fresh fruits fresh veggies, fat free snacks, nuts, light popcorn ect. It really keeps me on track and has saved me lots of money.

20carrots

Well it's lunchtime and even though it's gorgeous out I am forcing myself to stay inside and eat a Smart Ones. Not the best option I know but I had it in the freezer and it will keep me from eating fast food! Maybe after my tummy is nice and full I'll trust myself with a walk out in the fresh air...we'll see...