My name is Joseph and I need help. :/

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

I am twenty years old. 6'2". Large frame. I weigh uncomfortably too much. Not terrible but not where I'd like to be.

I am addicted to fast food. I have it once a day. That's seven times a week too many. I'd prefer to remove fast food from my diet entirely. I'm also trying to do the C25k for the fourth time.

Everything was great for a single week. I exercised, ate well and felt fcking fantastic for the first time in a long time. A week later, I'm back in the same place. I feel dejected, exhausted and emotionally dead. I know I keep setting myself up for failure, so I'm asking for some serious help. I'm trying to read a book on willpower at the moment.

I've wanted this for a few years now. I'm ready to do whatever it takes. I'd like your help.

I prefer to talk to people around my age, since our bodies and minds are currently at similar points in our lifespan. You can message me whenever, I'm better at being supportive than I am at achieving my own goals, sadly enough.

You're all awesome.

Uh I may look like an older sister to you but well I understand what you're going through, I've been like that for the nth time before & until now I still love fastfoods (who doesn't love McDonald's, honestly?) One thing I realized is that you have to do it one step at the time, meaning gradually. First thing I did was to avoid (not eliminate completely) sodas, juices & iced teas and just focused on water. Then as for exercise I did the one that I enjoy most which is dancing. Then soon I started learning the right portions and added another exercises to my workout until I got to this stage in my life. I'm 33 & have a 26 inch waistline now & the last time that I had this waistline was way back when I was 12 years old.

Based from what you're saying here, it seems like you did it all at once which is why now you feel exhausted because your body is starting to rebel. My advice to you is do it one step at a time, find an activity that you enjoy & never push yourself especially when you're still new to working out. Give your body some time to adjust. As for fast foods, my suggestion will be to lessen it like say 5 times a week instead of the usual 7 days. Then as your body is adjusted to it, then make it around 3-4 times a week until your body is adjusted to healthier foods. See your main focus right now should be developing that habit. More importantly, do it not just for your weight but for your overall health.

albinogorilla

And now I'm hungry, of course. Oops.

just because you are hungry doesn't mean you have to eat
show your body who's boss

LilRiver

Ok. I'm totally old (gasp) at twice your age (i don't feel that old! ha!) but had willpower issues for *years* so I get that part of the struggle.

What helped me and may help you is getting rid of as many choices as you can. Since you're struggling most with food (and fast food), maybe start there. There's a whole psychological thing going on with it - essentially (and totally bastardizing some smart grad student's theories) every time you have to make a choice, your brain gets a bit tired, and it makes it harder to make the next choice... especially if that choice requires effort and/or more choices. You default to what's easiest instead of to what you want and there goes the willpower. So, you need to make healthier food choices *easier* than fast food choices.

Once you figure out how to cook chicken, or whatever, cook a couple of them at the same time. It's just as easy to cook 3 or 4 chicken breasts as it is 1. So put the leftovers in the fridge - they'll last a few days and you'll have an easier thing to grab than going to get fast food.

Foodwise, what's helped me, is having easy healthy snacks that I can make into a simple lunch. Not the healthiest thing, but better than fast food when I'm up to my ears with work (i work from home) and don't want to deal with cooking or making a mess (I hate doing dishes!). My two favorites are hummus with falafel chips (not healthy! but a bit healthier!) and/or sliced carrots (I even buy them sliced so I don't have to deal with it) and some yogurt. The other is cheese, apples, & peanut butter. I love apples & cheese and apples & peanut butter. Again, not the healthiest of meals, but I get some fat, protein, & carbs with less calories than some drive-thru junk. So try to think out some of your favorite snacks and how you can expand them to get a bit protein, fat & carbs, and then just make sure the stuff is in the house.

Good luck! And don't freak out about cooking meat - it's not that hard and once you get it down you'll be so far ahead of so many guys your age (and even mine! ha!). Grilling is even easier if you have access to a grill. Bonus: fire!

josepb

And now I'm hungry, of course. Oops.

just because you are hungry doesn't mean you have to eat
show your body who's boss

I WILL NOT GIVE IN.
I think it's working.

josepb

Just don't get in the car! Too late to munch anyway, well it is here at least.

Would you be mad if I gave in to it? ><

josepb

i know all about having walls to climb over and i have discovered that if you stop thinking that its such a huge wall to get over in the first place.. things seem easier and then you can focus on how simple you can really make it.... Getting already prepared whole chicken is always an easy option... so you don't have to worry about cooking... and fast food is not entirely horrible as a last option but what is horrible is the frys/hashbrowns... getting a burger and a drink that isn't soda is a good way to start off..... after about a week or so.... see if you still have fast food cravings.... you prob won't....

your body also need to readjust to not eating fast food which has way too much preservatives and additives that are addicting... you also have to keep that in mind.... Try to always have healthy snacks on you like pretzels/ apples/ protein bars/ cereal bars/ and stay busy.... that always helps me keep my mind off food.... see if you can discover a new hobby
good luck....

It kind of makes me sick how I'm physically addicted to fast food. It's evil.

BlueInkDot

Yea the first step is to realize that you are addicted. It sounds like you are. I know it's not a fun word. But hey if it's true, it's true. *shrug*

Once you are ready to say "yup, I'm addicted" Then the next logical step is to say "Okay, so how do I get UNaddicted?" And that's the same for all addictions, really. Somehow you have to get to a point where you don't crave it anymore. Either cold turkey or slowly wean yourself off. In this case, I don't think cold turkey really makes sense because you don't necessarily have to never eat fast food again. We all have some fast food from time to time, it's just wise to have it way less than how often you currently have it. :P

Make tiny steps that you can accomplish right now. You don't need to make big changes all at once. Small things. Easy things. I always say that if you don't know how to accomplish something, just start with something small that you DO know how to accomplish, and worry about the rest of it later. Over time it will come to you how to get the rest of it done.

I would recommend using the blog feature on MFP to keep track of your trips to get fast food and how you felt about it. Then you can record how often you end up going in a given week, and start from there with trying to decrease how often you go in a given week.

Anyways I know this is vague but it's how I got past my emotional/psychological bumps in my roads. The most important things are to 1. Believe you can succeed 2. Always think positive 3. Never guilt yourself 4. Always be proud of whatever you can accomplish, no matter how small.

Not necessarily in that order. :P

42kgirl

Only if you lend me your technicolor dream coat

mybiketrip

Hey Joseph. I'm a runner and cyclist. Feel free to add me for support and questions.

ArtGeek22

Joseph, just making this post showed how much dedication you have to getting healthy! It is good you made the first step and admitted you are addicted to fast food. I had the same thing happen with me but with sugar :ohwell: It is going to be hard to get off it but, from your post, you know you can do it.

Feel free to add me if you want support :flowerforyou:

bellygoaway

Joseph,

I don't cook either. Enter Progresso Soups! Also, I changed to the SaraLee bread that is only 45 calories a slice. I eat out several times a week, but I track everything. The first day I did that, I was shocked to see I had consumed over 4000 calories. When I saw that, it became easy to cut back. In less than a month I have lost 9 pounds (probably more as I have not had a weigh in almost a week). I am not on a diet, I am making a change. I have not gone the health/fitness nut/Nazi route. I still have cady/ice cream/regular soda on occasion. But I know that when I do that, I have to limit my calories somewhere else. Also I walk, not fast and not even for long periods, but consistently. I figure it took me a while to put these pounds on, it will take a while to put them off. If I can loose weight, anybody can. I know I am older, but that only means my bad habits have been in place longer than you have been alive.

Good luck, and you can do it!

natachan

Hi Joseph! I'm nata!

I completely understand. I'm 25 and working full time while going to college full time. And I was in the same boat as you. I ate a LOT of fast food simply because I had to rush to work, or to class, or whatnot. I still do, but it's a bit better now. I was tired, going through emotional highs and lows with the flow of food in my gut, plus (this one is kinda gross) my GI tract did NOT appreciate what I was doing.

My tips: fruits in the trunk of your car. Fruit is cheap, mcdonalds is not. Although now I'm having a problem with yogurt-covered raisins.... They're so yummy!

josepb

Yea the first step is to realize that you are addicted. It sounds like you are. I know it's not a fun word. But hey if it's true, it's true. *shrug*

Once you are ready to say "yup, I'm addicted" Then the next logical step is to say "Okay, so how do I get UNaddicted?" And that's the same for all addictions, really. Somehow you have to get to a point where you don't crave it anymore. Either cold turkey or slowly wean yourself off. In this case, I don't think cold turkey really makes sense because you don't necessarily have to never eat fast food again. We all have some fast food from time to time, it's just wise to have it way less than how often you currently have it. :P

Make tiny steps that you can accomplish right now. You don't need to make big changes all at once. Small things. Easy things. I always say that if you don't know how to accomplish something, just start with something small that you DO know how to accomplish, and worry about the rest of it later. Over time it will come to you how to get the rest of it done.

I would recommend using the blog feature on MFP to keep track of your trips to get fast food and how you felt about it. Then you can record how often you end up going in a given week, and start from there with trying to decrease how often you go in a given week.

Anyways I know this is vague but it's how I got past my emotional/psychological bumps in my roads. The most important things are to 1. Believe you can succeed 2. Always think positive 3. Never guilt yourself 4. Always be proud of whatever you can accomplish, no matter how small.

Not necessarily in that order. :P

Thank you very much for this advice, I'm going to keep it handy. Starting a blog sounds like a wonderful idea, I don't know why I hadn't thought of that sooner. Thank you!

josepb

Joseph, just making this post showed how much dedication you have to getting healthy! It is good you made the first step and admitted you are addicted to fast food. I had the same thing happen with me but with sugar :ohwell: It is going to be hard to get off it but, from your post, you know you can do it.

Feel free to add me if you want support :flowerforyou:

How long did it take you to kick sugar? I'm feeling quite helpless.

ArtGeek22

It took me about 2 weeks to get off the process sugar. I just substituted processed sugar for tons of fruit. You can do this you just need to find a healthy substitute. What I did was the swap method where is I wanted a cookie I got fruit. With you, you might want to try "I want fries, but I am gonna get carrot sticks" or whatever works. It also just takes will power but you can do it.


Keep Strong and Carry On :flowerforyou:,
Anna

MsDandimite

I find that giving my body the reward feeling it needs from somewhere "real" instead of food really helps. Do the C25K first thing in the morning or something else that really gets your heart pumping and your endorfines flowing, maybe add some intervals (can be really small!) to your walk and run. You're not physically addicted per se, but emotionally and maybe mentally. Exchange the thing you "reach for" to quiet the nagging feeling of "I need something".
Drink LOADS of water and get some multivitamin and minerals in your body.
Every time you feel the craving, drop down and do push ups or sit ups or jumping jacks or whatever. I swing my kettlebell. The happy feelings from the exercise will very soon feel like a better reward than the food and actually "fill you up" as the fast food never can, which is, I think, what makes me reach for more and more.

Good luck!