Its getting hard!!

sandyrrt

Tanya,
Cravings can come from just not getting enough calories in your daily diet. I took a peek at your diary. What I am seeing is missed meals and way too few calories consumed. I don't know your stats, but you should be eating at least 1200 cals/day, a little more if you are active/exercise. Also drinking plenty of water can help with the cravings. Spacing your calories over the day can help keep your blood glucose levels from dipping too low which can cause cravings (example: 300 cals each for 3 meals and then (3) 100 calorie snacks). Also try to get protein at each meal. Hope this helps--I know McDonald's can be hard to say "no" to:) Good luck!

Tanya_IP

wow lots of feedback
I agree with most others...don't deprive yourself or you will just set yourself up for failure.
If you want to eat out, then do it. Try to eat the healthier choices. I stay completely away from any french fries.
Last week, my craving was for Wendy's Root Beer Frosty Floats. I indulged but I counted it towards my calories as well.

French Fries are my FAVE!!! lol but im doing good with out them!

Tanya_IP

Tanya,
Cravings can come from just not getting enough calories in your daily diet. I took a peek at your diary. What I am seeing is missed meals and way too few calories consumed. I don't know your stats, but you should be eating at least 1200 cals/day, a little more if you are active/exercise. Also drinking plenty of water can help with the cravings. Spacing your calories over the day can help keep your blood glucose levels from dipping too low which can cause cravings (example: 300 cals each for 3 meals and then (3) 100 calorie snacks). Also try to get protein at each meal. Hope this helps--I know McDonald's can be hard to say "no" to:) Good luck!

Thank you!!! I havent been skipping meals there was one day i didnt finish everything I thought i did but didnt! I need to learn to enter it as i consume it not at the end of the day. I will get on the calories

dstsur5or

I still eat fast food but I order a kids meal.

Raddichio

All this discussion about McDonald's reminded me of when my kids were small and would beg to go to McDonald's because they saw the toy advertised with the Happy Meal. All I had to say was, "If you get a Happy Meal, you have to eat the food," and they would decide they'd rather go home and have lunch. Every once in a while, I would surprise them with some small gift (toy, coloring book, an interesting rock---whatever I had hidden away as small surprises) with their lunch as further reinforcement for their good choice to come home and eat.

Needless to say, McDonald's isn't high on my list of food I would crave, but I understand the craving. I'm not bothered by too many cravings now, as now that I'm eating mindfully instead of mindlessly, I'm eating higher quality foods and foods I genuinely enjoy. However, I know all too well that could change tomorrow. Right now I'm coexisting with the remainders of a box of Hostess chocolate donettes (haven't eaten any of them). Not craving them so far, and plan to be rid of them before they start calling to me.

Tanya_IP

All this discussion about McDonald's reminded me of when my kids were small and would beg to go to McDonald's because they saw the toy advertised with the Happy Meal. All I had to say was, "If you get a Happy Meal, you have to eat the food," and they would decide they'd rather go home and have lunch. Every once in a while, I would surprise them with some small gift (toy, coloring book, an interesting rock---whatever I had hidden away as small surprises) with their lunch as further reinforcement for their good choice to come home and eat.

Needless to say, McDonald's isn't high on my list of food I would crave, but I understand the craving. I'm not bothered by too many cravings now, as now that I'm eating mindfully instead of mindlessly, I'm eating higher quality foods and foods I genuinely enjoy. However, I know all too well that could change tomorrow. Right now I'm coexisting with the remainders of a box of Hostess chocolate donettes (haven't eaten any of them). Not craving them so far, and plan to be rid of them before they start calling to me.

Way to go on not eating the Hostess's! That would be hard for me too i love chocolate! I eat like 5 dark chocolate almonds every 2 hours or so...that seems to help with that craving!

masterofktulu

I try hard to just cheat a little. I have a problem where if I cheat it gets hard for me not to over due it. This has been my downfall. Im doing surprisingly well so i like to reward myself with those naughty cravings lol

I am in no way trying to be rude but I heard this great quote that made me laugh and there is some element of truth to it.

" Do not reward a good job with food. You are not a dog."

I think that binging once a week is not the answer, but by all means have a cheat day and have something small like small fries or maybe some ice cream!!

Tanya_IP

I try hard to just cheat a little. I have a problem where if I cheat it gets hard for me not to over due it. This has been my downfall. Im doing surprisingly well so i like to reward myself with those naughty cravings lol

I am in no way trying to be rude but I heard this great quote that made me laugh and there is some element of truth to it.

" Do not reward a good job with food. You are not a dog."

I think that binging once a week is not the answer, but by all means have a cheat day and have something small like small fries or maybe some ice cream!!

Totally not thinking that quote is rude...it is very true! Id rather have just a small cheat with a meal rather than a whole cheat day though. Those are tough for me to go back to eating healthy the next day.

steeniehart

We have a cheat "day". Fridays, we drink as much wine as we want, and either Sat. or Sun. dinner we cook something "forbidden" if we feel like it, or get take out. No counting calories or points. It helps us to feel like we're not depriving ourselves

FrancineC514

McDonald's isn't even real food. I have not had it in 8 years!!!! Think about what you're putting in your body. You might as well make yourself a homemade hamburger with FRESH meat and vegetables and remember, lighter the cheese the better it is for you

bugbeenz

I try hard to just cheat a little. I have a problem where if I cheat it gets hard for me not to over due it. This has been my downfall. Im doing surprisingly well so i like to reward myself with those naughty cravings lol

I am in no way trying to be rude but I heard this great quote that made me laugh and there is some element of truth to it.

" Do not reward a good job with food. You are not a dog."

I think that binging once a week is not the answer, but by all means have a cheat day and have something small like small fries or maybe some ice cream!!

Hmm, I agree for the most part, but personally my having gelato, going out for pizza, having a dessert etc. isn't rewarding myself.. it's me thinking towards to future. Once I'm maintaining I know I will be eating these things every now and again, I'm not going to turn down these things forever, so I incorporate them into my week.

I don't have a 'cheat day' as such, rather if there is dessert, I'm not about to turn it down. (perhaps if it's more than twice a week) For me it's been about portion sizes and cutting back that rather than cutting all these foods out. But this is what works for me, if cheat days work for others and helps them to keep on track in the long run, then awesome! Great for them!

JimandLin

watch the youtube video. 'how nasty are McDonalds fries '. I'll make my own. home cooked food anyday.....

psuLemon

My body won't allow me to eat fast food anymore. After I didn't eat it for 3 months, my body started to reject it. In fact, I can barely even have a soda after eating clean for so long.


Here is something to think about with McDonalds that might scare you away. My brother-in-law is doing an experiment where he bought a McD's happy meal and put it on top of his frig. After a year, the burger still has not grown mold or even attracts bugs. The patty shrank a little but other than that, it looks brand new. Scary isn't it, lol

You're kidding right????? OMG. I was just going to suggest that the OP have a McDouble with half the bun and no fries... that always kills my cravings for McD, for only 315 calories.

But really?

It's sad but it's true. He post pictures on Facebook every few months to show the progress, lol.

missyh1

Like others have said, you will find it easier to avoid fast food the longer you go without eating any. It doesn't take long before it stops sounding appetizing. For me, though, it is a Pandora's box. I can go a long time without a stop at McDonald's, but one "slip" and I am having the frequent cravings again and have to go through a period of fighting to avoid it all over again.

You can't deny yourself completely, though, or your efforts will fail. Usually in a mad binge kind of way. You are better off to get a kids meal and give in to your craving in gentle way than to hold out and make yourself miserable until you go in and order the double quarter pounder with cheese and the biggest fry they make.

I also have to agree with the poster who allows her one indulgence of a Lindt chocolate every day. I do the same except with one square of Ghiradelli chocolate. I get dark chocolate of a high cocoa percentage (because of the researched health benefits), and I have one everyday. Usually holding out until I am having a craving for something unhealthy. I also don't count it in my tracker. Yup. That one tiny indulgence I allow myself as a "freebie." It doesn't amount to much, one square is 55 calories and 4 grams of fat, but having that little treat that I allow as a cheat somehow really works for me mentally.

Good luck to you!