How do you break the addiction to fast food?

RhinestoneRocky

How I broke my addiction was by replacing the fast and easy meals I got with going through a drive-in with an equally fast but healthy alternative. If I wanted something fast and easy, I'd go to Trader Joe's and get a salad from their pre-made section. Something fancier than what I wanted to take the time to make, but still a nice treat AND HEALTHY! Or if my husband really really wanted to get something from McDonald's I'd get the grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo or the fruit n yogurt parfait.

Just know, no one is perfect and we all slip up now and then. I do have to say after not eating fast food for a while I don't really crave it much anymore.

You can do this!

teamstanish

Meal planning helps me stay on track!

cnelson1974

What stopped me from eating it so much probably won't help a lot of people, but I looked at my bank account, saw how much I was putting into eating junk for so long, and realized that I can eat food that's just as good if not better (almost always better) from home if I just make myself pack it.

I spent several days not carrying my debit card or cash around, therefore forcing myself to bring my own food. And for the most part it's worked. I only eat out now if my family or fiance are buying.

Great idea! My bank has a online tracker that itemizes all your expenses in a big, colorful circle chart. All food immediately drops into the dining catagory. I would spend upwards of $200 in two weeks dining out. Now I can use half of that for more food at home and the other half goes to help pay off loans. I now have money leftover every week when I never used to (not a lot, but my account is in the black instead of red :laugh: ). You can use a bit of your unused money to buy yourself something nice, like a new top with all the weight you lost not eating fastfood!

drmerc

I went into rehab

DavPul

I went into rehab

Finally, the truth! You told me you were suffering from exhaustion

DontStopB_Leakin

here's the secret. Stop eating fast food.

Damn. Beat me to it.

lorac321

If you log your food then look it up before you buy it. You don't get much else if you opt for a large fries.

pastryari

Now you're not hungry. You're welcome.

_DaniD_

Fast food is one of the reasons I work out so hard - so I can enjoy it.

drmerc

Fast food is one of the reasons I work out so hard - so I can enjoy it.

Something an addict would say

mygrl4meee

I had a really bad habit of stopping at McDonald's on my way to work about once or twice a week and getting a double cheeseburger and a medium chocolate shake and sometimes fries too. What I did to cut the habit was to start ordering a different sandwich like the fish and a smaller shake or maybe even an ice cream cone.

Now I rarely stop and if I do it's more planned and not cause I just got to have it. The very last time I went for my "normal" I didn't even enjoy it and haven't craved a shake since.

I make sure I get my cheeseburger fix once or twice a month from cooking at home.

We eat at taco bell once a week but I go for the lower calorie fresco style tacos and again it's planned and not just cause my car is driving me there.

underwater77

i know it sounds cliche, and almost rude, but you do just have to stop. it's like any other addiction. if you feel like you can cut down, then try that. i was never a huge FF eater, but when i worked night shift, it happened more often than i care to admit. the longer you spend away from it, the more repulsive it is. i was super hungover the other day (that seems to be a theme lately) and thought burger king sounded better than gold....i was wrong. it was gross and i tossed it.

sunsnstatheart

Just break up

_DaniD_

Just break up

HEY NOW!!!

underwater77

oh and like mygrl said - if you want a mcdonalds cheeseburger, go home and make a turkey burger and sweet potato fries. if you think you want taco bell, make a bean and cheese burrito. they still have a decent amount of calories, but still a quarter of what you'd get there and none of the absolute garbage they put in it.

1ConcreteGirl

This is really hard for me to discuss... I was in a relationship with fast food for ten years. TEN YEARS.

Do you know how hard it is to be with someone ten years and they never say "I love you"? I kept holding out for it, but eventually I realized I deserved better and I had to walk away. One day you will get there, too.

cmcollins001

Now you're not hungry. You're welcome.

No, not hungry, but I want a smoke now...and I already quit! Curses!

ETA: Reminder to self, pick up some laxatives on the way home...or some Taco Bell, either one is fine.

KenosFeoh

Let something sit in your car until it spoils; that ought to cure you.

I once got an egg mcmuffin that had spoiled Canadian bacon on it. Then I forgot to throw it away when we got to our destination, so it sat in the car in the hot sun all day. OMG! Now all I have to do is see those golden arches and the smell comes back to me and makes me want to hurl.

Not that I was ever that fond of fast food but now I can't even think of it.

Capt_Apollo

hard work

discipline

self control

infamousmk

I just have fast food some times. Not every day - it's a 'sometimes treat' ... but you don't ever really 'fall off the wagon' if you don't give it up. Just build a healthy relationship with it.