Anyone else addicted to fast food?

I'm not addicted to it, but I do find myself still eating fast food 1-2 times a week. Before I started eating healthier, I was eating it 4-5 times a week. I still eat fast food, but I eat it differently than I did before. I almost never get fries. I will get just a burger and a water, and stay in a reasonable calorie range. If I really want fries, I only eat half of the fries, and half of the burger. Again, it keeps me within a reasonable calorie range. Another option, if you want a burger and fries, a way to keep your portions in check is to order a kids meal. At McDonalds, you will get a small cheeseburger, tiny fries, apples and 1% milk. Keep going! You can do it!

So I've been successfully been losing weight for four months now and every once in a while I fall back into my old habits of eating greasy fast food everyday. This past week has been really terrible because I've had burgers, fries, soda and junk food almost everyday. It's so tempting, easy and convenient. It's like I'm addicted to it. Does anyone have any tips to stopping this madness? It's really hindering my progress. I have gained back 5 of the 35 pounds I have lost my willpower and motivation all of a sudden. Just a few weeks ago I ran 80 miles in 20 days and this past week my exercise has been zero. Looking for some motivation and tips. Thanks.

I'm not understanding. What does eating fast food have to do with you doing tons of exercise one week and zero the next?

Anyhoo, instead of trying to quit eating food that's enjoyable and convenient, why don't you just incorporate it into your plan. I lost 50 pounds last year eating at McDonald's, taco bell, and KFC.

Get the book, Eat This, Not That. It has just about every major fast food and casual dining chain listed along with a popular meal and something to replace it with at that location. And it's not a salad guide. Change this burger to that burger, this sandwich to that, this dessert to another and you're never look or feel like you're dieting but you're snipping 500 calories of your meals.

It's crazy easy and I highly recommend it

YUK!, nope, never, we are lucky to eat out once a year,

p.m. sent ;o)

I would be able to give better recommendation if I knew more specifically what items you are "addicted" to? Me? It's Tacos and Cheeseburgers! But I have set up my own roadblocks for them; maybe a few can help you. What foods are most tempting?

Cheers!!

I do not eat fast food anymore, but I used to love the stuff.

First, I educated myself on what I actually was putting into my body. I'm not sure fast food can actually be called "food." Then, because I had children, I thought about whether I wanted them growing up eating that stuff (NO!). Now, I don't eat it unless it is on a rare occasion (out of town). I actually have an aversion to it. If we stop for fast food, then I try to stop at Subway.

If you're going to incorporate it in your diet, then just watch your portion size. Get a kid's meal or something.

I have to get ready for work, so I haven't read any responses yet...I will have to later.

I just saw the title and had to say...Burger King Fries. that is all.

Watch supersize me, you won't want fast food for a while.

I was just going to post this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z74og9HbTM

Also, watch how they get their food, its disgusting. I have not eaten fast food for over 10 years and the smell of it makes me want to hurl.

Eating clean for 3 months (with 2 reasonable cheat MEALS (not days) per wk) is what did it for me. Not gonna lie...that was HARD. Now when I eat fast food it makes me feel so sick and awful. Knowing how it is going to make me feel keeps me away. Know I am acclimated to eating healthy without trying. It took A LOT of recipe searching, planning, and logging but now I can do it and it is part of my everyday life. I feel SO MUCH BETTER!

You're not addicted to fast food, no one is. Habitiual, maybe, but not addiction.

Sorry, I have to disagree with you there because fast food addiction is real. Its more than just a habit or something that is done every day because "its the norm". A fast food addiction is a demon all on its own! Your body naggs at you at every meal during the day that you NEED to fast food. Your mind will give you 10+ reasons as to why and when you give you mind a good reason not to, it will counter back to make you doubt your "good" reason. You will even look at your food in the fridge and not want any of it just because its not fast food. Even if you don't have money, you will look around your car, your room, your change jar - everywhere just to find enough money to even just get something off the dollar menu to get the madness in your mind to stop. Fast food addiction isn't ruled by one's stomach, Its ruled by one's mind.

There are an awful lot of posts in here that sounds like willpower issues masquerading as addictions. Just because you like something and don't say no to it doesn't make you an addict, just weak. You're doing a disservice to people with real addictions when you claim to be addicted to French fries.

And an equal number of posts that seem to fear food. If you watch how any food is prepared you can find a way to be disgusted. You're supposed to eat food and not watch it like it's NFL Sunday.

The answer for me is to be prepared with healthier options. Keep cheese sticks, yogurt, fresh fruits, veggies, etc. for the snacking. If you need quick options, try some microwave meals (I know it is processed, but there are some decent options out there), salads (have toppings readily available), or simple recipes (I'm hooked on French toast with unsweetened jam).

Once upon a time, I use to eat fast food a lot. I gave it up in 2010 and I haven't looked back because my health is too important. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy things like burgers and fries, but when I indulge in it, I'm eating Shake Shack over that crap called food at McDonald's. Plus, I'm not eating it every single day.

After 3 years of not eating fast "food" the mere smell of it makes me sick to my stomach and if I were to eat it my intestines would stage a revolt.

Tip. If it's important to you, you'll find a way. Pull up your big boy panties and leave it alone if you know you can't control yourself. You have to actively get in your car (or walk if in my city) to get it. So don't!

I have to add that I naturally stopped craving fast food after about a month of eating healthier. Some of it actually makes me sick now because my body isn't used to fried things. I now crave Brussels sprouts and spinach, lol.

1. Studies are starting to show that the chemicals in fast food are quite dangerous to the human body. They've been so in mice for quite some time. However, this is still relatively unexplored by science. Acrylamide is created during the frying process. It gives french fries that nice crunch. It has already been tagged to be a possible carcinogen. Benzoic Acid/Sodium Benzoate inhibit digestive enzymes and have been link asthma attacks. HFC is linked to an increase in heart disease. Just remember, at one time people though Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was safe for consumption. Now we know better! Potassium Bromate, which increases white bread volume and is use in buns is known to cause cancer in animals. In California, products with Potassium Bromate are required to carry a warning label.

2. Fast food is addictive in both physical and psychological senses. It should be obvious that people can develop a psychological dependency on fast food. Anybody who possibly could think otherwise is simply not thinking. As for a physical and chemical addiction, a study in March of 2010 showed fast food to be as addictive as heroin and cocaine. In the study, the pleasure centers of the brain in mice were overstimulated. Here is an excerpt from an article:

"In another study, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City showed that feeding rats a diet high in saturated fat, calories and sugar -- which is the typical make-up for a fast-food menu item -- lowered the rats ability to respond to leptin, a hormone that helps regulate eating behavior by controlling how full one feels. As rats grew fatter, the amount of leptin in their bodies increased signaling that they were dangerously close to starvation. They continued to overeat and gain weight."

Source: http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/03/30/fast-food-is-like-heroin-studies-find/

Think about that for a moment. Fast Food causes hormonal changes! :noway:

3.

I don't want to sound mean, but all it takes is a little self control...

If you do not want sound mean, don't say mean things. To diminish the challenge someone faces when overcoming obstacles is mean. Fast Food is full of drugs. Quitting them is damn hard. It takes more than just a "little self control". It takes discipline and effort, sometimes by the second! I smoked cigarettes for close 15 years of my life. One day I quit - just quit. It looked easy to my friends, but it was anything buy. The cravings, the headaches, the anger, it was a nightmare. There is no difference quitting smoking and quitting fast food. I know, I quit that too!

To the OP: Keep your head up. Take it one step at a time. There will be times you won't see the light at the end, but that is okay. Just keep focusing on your feet. Make sure they keep moving in front of each other. In time, you will win your race!