How do you break the addiction to fast food?

Simple, dont eat it.

This. I thought I was going to have trouble giving up fast food -- but over a month here on MFP and I still haven't had any. I quit FF like I quit smoking -- cold turkey, and I haven't looked back.

I'm sorry it is tough for you, though -- I hope you find something that works for you!

First, recognize that calling it an addiction is a cop-out. Second, recognize that there's nothing wrong with eating fast food every now and then. Third. I just saved you hundreds of dollars in therapy. You can thank me later.

I watched Super Size me. That movie broke my habit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axxpb7TJ7cQ

Supersize me reply where a guy loses body fat % and lowers cholesterol whilst on a McDonalds only diet, oh and his 46 and has a 6 pack. I enjoyed watching Supersize me but then I checked my facts out...

Why do people jump to blame fast food every time? Show me a study that shows how on a macro/calorie controlled diet it can't fit it. Now I am not suggesting that you just eat it or that it will providing every micro nutrient or that most of the food is macro friendly but why cut out something you enjoy that much?

And here is a fair (not perfect albeit) study showing the affects on the body from occasional 'awful' fast food, specifically a Big Mac meal actually had pretty much fa effect on the body vs a beef/turkey organic meal.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/hormonal-responses-to-a-fast-food-meal-compared-with-nutritionally-comparable-meals-of-different-composition-research-review.html

First, recognize that calling it an addiction is a cop-out. Second, recognize that there's nothing wrong with eating fast food every now and then. Third. I just saved you hundreds of dollars in therapy. You can thank me later.

Hey, I can see that referring to my habit as an addiction is definitely offending a few people which was certainly not my intention. Changing the name of my post.

^I like this. If you're really having trouble saying no to fast food then stop trying to say no completely. Work instead on fitting it inside your calorie and macro limitations and move on. I see threads here all the time focusing on this particular food, or this particular macro and blaming it for weight gain. The reality is that most people can lose weight simply based on a calorie deficit. I eat pizza, ice cream, hamburgers and drink beer and yet, miraculously I've lost my weight, am in pretty good shape and am currently on my first real bulk. I don't binge on that stuff though but it does make up a portion of my diet.

Stop beating yourself up and live within the fewest limitations that will get you to your goal!

I left all $$$ at home to avoid temptation while I was out!
Good luck

My husband and I got a real eye opener when went on a budget. I figured out how much we were spending on going out for food, at the grocery stores, and at the Farmers Market for three months straight. We were shocked.

Now I spend about one quarter of that total, cook from scratch, and we all actually feel better. Maybe once every two months, we will go out for food.

We are eating so much better now and it's a huge savings on our food bill.

When I first started MFP I wasn't ready to stop my fast food addiction, but in order to stay in my calorie goal I had to really pre-plan my fast food meals. That is where you should think about starting. My breakfast was oatmeal from McD's. lunch was chili and a side salad from Wendy's. Dinner was an al fresco burrito and a side of refried beans from Taco Bell. This was all in my calorie range. Then, once you realize how much money you're spending and the crazy level of sodium in all the foods, you should naturally start to want to cook at home. Go to the grocery store every week, buy a few things that can be made in a hurry (frozen veggies, pre-mixed salads, etc.) for when you're super duper hungry and the fast food lane will become a distant stranger.

I used to eat fast food during the weekday because I honestly coulnd't image what else to eat. It was so delicious and convinient. I lived like this for about 3-4 years until I had to have a serious sit down with myself and set two goals:

1. Money: Mentally set aside $5 every day. I had the option of using it on eating out or it went into a "Ipad" account at my bank. Every Friday, I could transfer $5- $25 to this little secondary savings based on my savings. My goal was to buy myself an Ipad, but you can use it for anything.

2. Making lunch: whew! this was the difficult part. I made a little calendar for myself
Monday: Sunday dinner left overs
Tuesday: Sandwich. PB& J was the most common one.
Wednesday: Tuesday night left overs
Thursday: beans and rice (a staple in my home- i just use brown rice and pinto peans. top with cheddar, tomato or salsa, olives, and avocado if i have it. Eat it with tortilla chips)
Friday: Thursday left overs

But with both goals it took baby steps. First, I stoped buying soda pop to go with my meals. It would save me like $1.5 per day and about 150 calories too! Then I wouldn't get sides. Just buy a hamburger,no fries because i had chips at work or just the teriyaki bowl, not the double entree with an eggroll.

With all this, its not to say I won't eat out. I still get Chipotle when everyone at work orders and get In n Out when I having an awesome day cause I worked out in the morning. I just only do this once or twice a month instead of everyday.

Hope this gives you some ideas.