Fast Food Cravings... HELP
jen14128
Posts: 24 Member
Hey guys, I did a terrible job today. I went to taco bell and ate wwaayyy to many calories just because my boyfriend asked me to bring him a quesadilla on my way home from work. I had this whole plan about how I was not going to get anything for myself and go home and make myself a veggie burger and a salad, but when I got up to the window my order came out of my mouth almost as if I had no control over it whatsoever. Growing up in the US I sort of had fast food my whole life. It is one of the reasons I have always struggled with my weight. I know I am not the only person battling the fast food demons. I am wondering, how do you all deal with those cravings? The ones that nothing but a huge mound of empty calories will satisfy. Ideas?
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Replies
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This is something I've been known to struggle with from time to time too, and I wish I had an easy solution for you.
I try to avoid my triggers at all costs. When I'm faced with them, I keep thinking in my head about how I have a choice and I can choose to have this crap food and feel temporarily good or keep going on the good path and feel even better in the long run.
Willpower is like a muscle... the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.0 -
If you're eating a really well balance diet your body won't crave junk food so much. I hated fruit and hardly ate any veges and now the majority of my food is fruit and veges. Sometimes you need to know your limitations and ask her boyfriend to buy and consume his own junk food cause it's not fair on you. It's not forever and it's not a punishment - you just need to put your needs first for a while.0
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you will eventually get over it if you have enough will power to get through a week or so. I have been eating super healthy for a week, tried to have a cheat day and ate a piece of pizza, tried to eat a second one and almost threw up LOL0
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If you're eating a really well balance diet your body won't crave junk food so much. I hated fruit and hardly ate any veges and now the majority of my food is fruit and veges. Sometimes you need to know your limitations and ask her boyfriend to buy and consume his own junk food cause it's not fair on you. It's not forever and it's not a punishment - you just need to put your needs first for a while.
This this this this this.
Or have a wonderful husband like mine, whom I asked to help me watch what I put in my mouth, and he started helping me. When we (Rarely) go to fast food now, he says things like "You don't need french-fries/mozzarella sticks. How about the apple slices?"
He also looks up the calories of the sammiches on his phone and helps me make the lowest calories choice. 0 -
I agree. Fast food for one smells so good that's it really hard to resist at all. Try looking at some your favorite fast food places and see what they have that's under your certain caloric intake. I keep a small note of what I can order that's not too out of control and I've made that a habit now. Hope this helps you out.0
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I would probably get one of something instead of a meal. Then I would ask my boyfriend not to put me in that situation until I was in a place where I could control myself better.0
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Carry a water bottle with you, and chug it before you get to the drive through. You'll feel full from the liquid, and you won't feel inclined to order something :-)0
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I am the worst when it comes to fast food cravings and to make it worse I work at a retail store across the hall from it. On a daily basis I see people eat it, I smell it and everyday I want it.
There is no magic way to stop your cravings and believe me eating healthier as mentioned above does not stop the carvings.
It comes down to 100% willpower. When you want it just stop and remember how much work you have put in and how much work would be wasted if you give in.
Eat something else to make you less hungry. My favorite alternative is those 35 cal yogurts. There are other tricks like brushing your teeth or eating a stick of gum.
When you get that craving STOP! THINK! What do you want more? To satisfy that craving at that time or to eat healthy and get fit?0 -
I get fast food cravings as well. What helps me is I think of stepping on the scale or think about how bad I feel after Ive eaten the food. It dosnt always work but most of the time it helps me. The other day I really wanted A&W but i thought on how happy I was when I see a weight loss on the scale and I didnt end up going!0
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I absolutely love Taco Bell, it was my favorite thing to eat in the world. I can understand where you're coming from. For some people, like myself, food is an addiction. Asking you to pick up a quesadilla at Taco Bell is like asking a recovering alcoholic to pick up a six pack at the liquor store. Not a good idea. You can beat this, feeling healthy and seeing yourself progress feels so much better than eating a bag full of tacos.0
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First, don't beat yourself up!
Second... well, here's what I did... I don't like fast food, but I have a different problem: I'm a foodie. I'm in for every new restaurant opening. In fact, it's almost restaurant week where I live... and usually that would mean a full week of eating out. And trying every amazingly fattening treat that can be imagined. My super fit athletic husband has always been my partner in crime. But, he doesn't gain weight from our excursions, and I do. Knowing I want to be successful at being a healthy person, I got him on board. He knows that we won't be going to restaurant week. And, that when we do go out, we won't be ordering fried appetizers. If he wants to go out and have a big calorie laden meal, he absolutely can..... but not with me. Not right now at least. The temptation is too much for me right now. Eventually, I would like to be in a position where I can make healthy choices no matter what. But, that's not where I am today. So... can you talk with your boyfriend and get him on board? Maybe he gets his own fastfood and doesn't ask you to go to a place where you will be tempted?0 -
As a manager at taco bell I will be the first to tell you it's hard to deal with fast food cravings, you just have to pick and choose more wisely what you eat. I eat taco bell 5 days a week working 8 and 9 hr shifts and have lost over 60 lbs it can be done. As for next time I can give you a few suggestions as to what I eat and I don't feel guilty at all. Our fresco menu is awesome any item can be made that way it takes off all dairy and sauces and adds pico de gallo. The majority of the time I eat chicken hard tacos they are only 100 calories a little bland so I add sour cream making it 130 cals. Dorito tacos are only 170 and the dorito supremes are 200 cals. If you are a bread eater our chicken gordita supreme is only 270 cals. Right now I'm hooked on nacho supremes if you substitute the chips for lettuce you get all the toppings over lettuce for 210 calories. just some suggestions for the next time.0
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Without meaning to sound rude in any way, do you really think Taco Bell is worth it? :S I tried it once and thought it was terrible, generic, bland food.. worse than McDonald's.
I do get what you mean, though.. my trigger is chocolate. The other week, my boyfriend made rich, dark chocolate mousse, with a chocolate shell and an almond/chocolate base. I ate ****LOADS of these and promised myself that I wouldn't eat anymore, starting from "tomorrow." Well, I woke up, went to the fridge, made my breakfast and about an hour later, went back to the fridge and ate all the rest of them! There really was absolutely no talking myself out of it!
I'm now just avoiding sugary foods at all cost and haven't had chocolate in about 2 weeks. I think I'm finally on the road to losing this weight!0 -
Have a free day once a week, so it's never more than six days til you can have it if you still want it then.
Tell your boyfriend to get his own junk food.
Eat lots of small portions throughout the day. By the time you have done this for a month, you will not be able to eat vast quantities of anything any more. So your "slips" won't be as bad.
Turn off your TV. Huh? you say. More to the point, turn off the food advertisements. If you don't have Big Burger's new improved SuperDoubleBellyBuster Deluxe being flashed in front of your eyes every fifteen minutes, you won't realize that's what you need, and can get by with a healthy meal. When I turned off my TV I also as a bonus was able to deal with being discontented with my home and feeling that I'd never be 20 and a size 0 so why bother with weight loss at all and feeling that I wouldn't measure up if I didn't have new clothes. So it's a very useful tactic. You can get any show you like over the computer.0 -
Watch/read Supersize Me.
Many fast food restaurants, McDonalds is notorious have food that contains neurotoxins that the body 1) rejects then 2) craves. IN addition, trans fatty acids block proper signaling of neurotransmitters to dopamine and seratonin response leadin you to again crave fast food for the positive reinforcement of eating that kind of food. The smell alone (which disgusts me to horrid nasuea now) is enough to trigger this sensation.
Fun fact: fried foods, especially those from fast food restaurants, are often made in oil that has already been used. These high boiling point oils like corn or vegetable have a high concentration of polyunsaturated fats that oxidize when used to form oxygen-carbon unstable bonds called epoxides which create free oxygen radicals binding to the ribose phosphate backbone of DNA and potentially setting off now methylated oncogenes. Now, is cancer really worth those fries?0 -
Without meaning to sound rude in any way, do you really think Taco Bell is worth it? :S I tried it once and thought it was terrible, generic, bland food.. worse than McDonald's.
I do get what you mean, though.. my trigger is chocolate. The other week, my boyfriend made rich, dark chocolate mousse, with a chocolate shell and an almond/chocolate base. I ate ****LOADS of these and promised myself that I wouldn't eat anymore, starting from "tomorrow." Well, I woke up, went to the fridge, made my breakfast and about an hour later, went back to the fridge and ate all the rest of them! There really was absolutely no talking myself out of it!
I'm now just avoiding sugary foods at all cost and haven't had chocolate in about 2 weeks. I think I'm finally on the road to losing this weight!
Naw, you're not rude. I know the food is terrible, but it is comfort. I can't explain it. Someone else on this message board compared dropping fast food to an alcoholic trying to remain sober. I have not had the alcohol problem (thank goodness) but I have quit smoking and the cravings are very similar. It is all about willpower, and sometimes I just don't have any. Best of luck to you with your chocolate cravings, I hope we can both shake our bad habits.0 -
Watch/read Supersize Me.
Many fast food restaurants, McDonalds is notorious have food that contains neurotoxins that the body 1) rejects then 2) craves. IN addition, trans fatty acids block proper signaling of neurotransmitters to dopamine and seratonin response leadin you to again crave fast food for the positive reinforcement of eating that kind of food. The smell alone (which disgusts me to horrid nasuea now) is enough to trigger this sensation.
Fun fact: fried foods, especially those from fast food restaurants, are often made in oil that has already been used. These high boiling point oils like corn or vegetable have a high concentration of polyunsaturated fats that oxidize when used to form oxygen-carbon unstable bonds called epoxides which create free oxygen radicals binding to the ribose phosphate backbone of DNA and potentially setting off now methylated oncogenes. Now, is cancer really worth those fries?
I've actually seen it, and yes. The food is disgusting. I am also a vegetarian. I am not vegan, although I do not drink milk or consume butter, my only weakness is cheese. I make sure to get plenty of lean protein (beans/tofo/vegetable) and calcium and watch my diet carefully. For the most part, I am very healthy. since I don't eat meat I never go to McDonalds, or Wendy's or Burger King, but Taco bell gets me. I can get beans in anything instead of meat, and it is so easy to get it on the way home from work when I am tired... arg. it is just one of my struggles, I'll shake the habit eventually.0 -
My tip is - Whatever you put in has to be worked off in exercise. So check out the nutritional values for the foods you crave and see how many calories they include. That's the best way to avoid them. One meal from a fast food place usually is close to or exceeds my whole daily limit. Just not worth it.
But if you do eat it, don't feel guilty, just get your butt exercising it off and you'll be fine.0 -
Fast food on occasion isnt going to hurt you. I get that you want to make better choices but you can have taco bell or whatever from time to time. No big deal. I try to eat the best I can but sometimes I want a big mac and some fries, so I go get a big mac and some fries. I didnt get fat cause I ate a big mac now and then.0
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When I have cravings for fast food I get green beans and oven cook them with a little garlic salt and olive oil. It's my chip (or fries for the US people) substitute and I LOVE them!0
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See, I love McDonalds and I go there with my son every so often. What I love about there is that they have calories on everything. The boards behind them, the paper on the tray, drive through, etc (UK). They are really good at giving people the option of making healthy food choices. Their healthy stuff such as wraps and salads are really tasty and quite filling. Once a month I may spash out on a burger. You could always look online before you go to any of the fast food joints to see if they have the calorific content on there before you go. If you keep practicing using your will power and/or discipline you will succeed.
I have lost 30lb (2.2 stone) since January 2010 by taking one step at a time, little and often, while practicing discipline and will power. Feel free to add me as a friend.0 -
If you're eating a really well balance diet your body won't crave junk food so much. I hated fruit and hardly ate any veges and now the majority of my food is fruit and veges. Sometimes you need to know your limitations and ask her boyfriend to buy and consume his own junk food cause it's not fair on you. It's not forever and it's not a punishment - you just need to put your needs first for a while.
I agree, this. It will level out. You just gotta make it a few days or so. Plus, find foods that will get you by the craving. Dont deny yourself, find a better option. Like instead of regular ice cream at 200-400 for 1/2 cup , get breyers fat free ice cream-chocolate is the best, for 90 cals 1/2 cup. Fudgesicles are only 40 cals a pop. If your craving hot dogs, get fat free ones, it will save you over 100 cals a hot dog. Familiarize yourself with all the fast food nutrition facts so you know exactly how many calories you are spending. For me, it deters me from ordering too much food or the high cals stuff..
As far as fast food cravings, thats up to you. There is nothing we can say or do, it sucks but it is what it is. You got this girl. Here is a link to a "eat this, not that" with the fast food chains if you choose to keep going. . http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/557826-the-healthiest-foods-at-fast-food-restaurants/#slide-10 -
I did a couple of things to help get over the fast food thing. 1) Watch a video or read up on the internet about what's REALLY IN fast food. It will make you think twice before putting that crap in your precious body. 2) And this is really nothing active you have to do - after time, the cravings diminish. Especially if you cut back on carbs, the carb addiction lessens and you don't have crazy urges so much.
Last year, I absolutely craved carbs in all forms - pasta, bread, rice, potatoes you name it. Now I can truthfully say I can walk past a plate of pasta and not feel deprived. It WILL happen. Use MFP to help you. We are all rooting for you,0 -
Oh oh, and watch
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/
and
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1112115/
I barely ever eat fast food because of them.0 -
I can relate, because I crave chocolate all the time. I am really ashamed to say this, but I used to eat 20 - 25 pieces or 4 - 5 whole bars in a day before I started MFP! I still crave them on a daily basis. But, I am bringing down the amount I consume. I started off with 3 chocolates a day, and now I am down to just one 74-calorie bar a day. I am planning to make it once in two days next month, and eventually become a "normal person" by December end.
I wish I had some quick solution for you - but all that's worked for me is to reduce the portions and have only small bites when my cravings become too much. One day, we will indeed beat our cravings!0 -
Taco Bell is tasty food. Get the calorie counts from the website, check and see if someone has already updated MFP with them.
Log what you ate/eat from there. Figure out how to incorporate it into your meal plan.
Taco Bell is not evil. Not logging and planning to eat the right amount/blend of taco bell is evil. You can even eat gluten free at taco bell.
Generally, stay away from the white flour tortillas and cheese… and chips. You will be able to enjoy it and its convenience to your work.0 -
When I do eat fast food, I try to plan for it. If I'm going to have it for dinner, then I plan for a light lunch and try not to have any additional unhealthy snacks during the day. I keep fruit cups and 100 calorie snacks in my office. I also try to work out an extra 15-30 minutes more that day. If I have it for lunch, then I have a green salad at dinner or eat more vege's and still work out additional 15-30 minutes.
All of us go through this one time or another. But being on here have helped a lot with the calories counting, etc. I never knew how many calories I burned off when I work out. For me anyway, the key is not to kick myself down when I do slip up, just do better the next day or when you get home. When I'm really craving, I usually wait a half hour and if the feeling is still there then I get it but a small portion of it and I drink water with it to get me full faster.
I just ask you not to beat yourself up regarding this and then stop working out etc. This is a life journey and we need to get to know our triggers with food. We all will have a burger, fried chicken, or whatever but it's all in moderation and not having those things late at night. We are all here you...!!!!0 -
Regarding Taco Bell cravings: Another thing you could do is to mix up your own taco seasoning and incorporate that into calorie-controlled stuff you make at home. There are a handful of recipes on allrecipes.com that do a pretty good job of approximating the Taco Bell taste. Just search "taco seasoning" there and you will be able to find them easily enough. I pre-mixed a big batch of that and keep it in an airtight container with my other spices, so it's ready to go whenever I want to add that flavor to anything.
Also, Taco Bell's nutrition info online is really pretty comprehensive. If you go there, plan ahead what items you will order and log them before you go.0 -
Personally, I eat a TB 1-2x week (like lunch today!!!). I usually have 2 or 3 fresco hard tacos or I'll sub one or two of them and get fresco Doritos tacos. By doing them fresco style, I'm staying under 300 or 450 calories, and less than:
- 1/3 of my fat,
- 1/4 of my protein
- 12% of my carbs
- practically no sugar
- over 1/3 of my sodium
Even going on the small side at fast food places, I like TB's stats compared to McD's, Wendy's and BK; AND on top of that, I don't feel all bloated and greasy inside (which I really feel if I hit McD's with a McDouble).0
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