Significantly cut out fast food

Great graphic and link, but horrible stats. Thank you for sharing.

Great graphic and link, but horrible stats. Thank you for sharing.

you're welcome.

I found some more information:

"The US Food and Drug Administration has received reports of 92 medical health problems resulting from aspartame, ranging from abdominal pain to migraines, dizziness and hives. Aspartame poisoning is often misdiagnosed because its symptoms mock other syndromes. It changes the ratio of amino acids in the blood, lowering or blocking levels of hormones like dopamine and tyrosine that are necessary for bodily function."

from: http://www.naturalnews.com/035126_aspartame_side_effects_withdrawal.html#ixzz2drDqe600

and "Despite the benefits cited in the aspartame website, independent studies have been shown that aspartame is not as safe as it appears to be. In a recent study conducted by researchers from the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine and at Columbia University Medical Center, it was discovered that those who drank diet soft drinks on a daily basis were more likely to contract vascular diseases compared to those who took none."

So that would be 3 more sources, US Food & Drug and U of Miami and Columbia.

Not very good at this eh? You listed nothing from the US Food and Drug, only that they received reports, from who? How did they know the symptoms weren't psychosomatic?

U of Miami and Columbia? Looks like an epidemiological finding and we know correlation = causation, right?

Might want to stay away from your organic foods

I'm not going to argue with you. It's your personal choice if you want to ingest artificial sweeteners. Plus, the warnings I posted above on Stevia are actually REAL (they are from WebMD).

In my house we don't eat fake sugar. It's a personal choice. For me personally I have a rule that if it's not safe for pregnant women how is it safe for the rest of us. I also was advised to stay away from artificial sweeteners by my primary care doctor. This was because we figured out it was a headache inducer for me.

Again, it's a personal choice. If you don't suffer any weird health issues as a result of consuming fake sugar, go for it. All I know is that in my house we avoid them and we've always been a healthy weight.

Right since you have no actual legit sources to back your fearmongering, you bow out. Oh and read your warnings again, they certainly sound conclusive, right?

And solid post hoc ergo propter hoc argument at the end

Here's the sources: (you're welcome):


Mercola.com; Aspartame: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You; Joseph Mercola, DO
Harvard Law School Legal Document Archive; The History of Aspartame; Ashley Nill
Health Services at Columbia University; Go Ask Alice--Risks of Aspartame?; 1995
"International Journal of Obesity"; A Pavlovian Approach to the Problem of Obesity; T.L. Davidson et al.; 27 April 2004
National Cancer Institute; Aspartame and Cancer; September 12, 2006
U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA Statement on European Aspartame Study; April 20, 2007

Right since you have no actual legit sources to back your fearmongering, you bow out. Oh and read your warnings again, they certainly sound conclusive, right?

And solid post hoc ergo propter hoc argument at the end

Also, it's against MFP forum rules to call other members names and also exhibit rude behavior towards another forum participant. You're accusing me here of "fearmongering" which I'm not doing at all. I posted a legitimate warning about Stevia (from WebMD) and some articles about aspartame. I also said it's up to you if you want to consume those products (and up to any member's personal decisions).

The forums are here so we can have conversation about health and fitness related topics. They are not here so that you can call strangers on the Internet names and try to stir up trouble.

Right since you have no actual legit sources to back your fearmongering, you bow out. Oh and read your warnings again, they certainly sound conclusive, right?

And solid post hoc ergo propter hoc argument at the end

Also, it's against MFP forum rules to call other members names and also exhibit rude behavior towards another forum participant. You're accusing me here of "fearmongering" which I'm not doing at all. I posted a legitimate warning about Stevia (from WebMD) and some articles about aspartame. I also said it's up to you if you want to consume those products (and up to any member's personal decisions).

The forums are here so we can have conversation about health and fitness related topics. They are not here so that you can call strangers on the Internet names and try to stir up trouble.

Also I beleive it is against the rules to flat out lie, so what name did I call you? And where is the actual evidence "Aspartame is an evil artificial sweetener? and where is the report from the FDA from 2013 that you stated?

And I suppose you don't consider fearmongering stirring things up? Calling something evil and then providing no legitimate evidence to support it, would be fearmongering

You can read the sources I listed above and make up your own mind.

Sorry I used the wrong emoticon when I said "evil" I really should have used this one: :bigsmile:

or this one: :drinker:

My apologies if I offended anyone. Fear mongering was not my intention.

Anyone that knows me in real life would never call me a "fear monger." I work with college students both in my day job and volunteer work and I also have been volunteering at a local farm for more than 13 years (teaching kid's programs and helping with special events). So like many of us on here I work hard and volunteer to give back to my community. I try to be the best person I can be. I'm pretty much the opposite of a "fear monger."

Even though we know you can still eat fast food, processed food and all that while losing weight. My wife and i stopped eating out, (couldn't afford it anyways) cut out processed foods and we both have no depression what so ever. Doing a bit more research about the way your mind works and food. Some of the ingredients in food actually affects how we think. Almost like a drug or poison. Personally i am glad we can't afford to eat out. I miss the food, but do not miss the feels linked with eating it.

Other lifestyle changes can be attributed to reduction in symptoms of depression, but the attempt of eliminating processed foods does not eliminate depression.

This is so true. I knew cooking from scratch almost every day rather than relying on takeout or packaged meals at least a few times a week like I used to would help me start to lose weight and feel better physically, but cutting out the junk has really helped my depression as well. A few weeks ago I ate a lot of junk food while I was visiting my family, and for a few days after I just felt off both physically and emotionally. I don't totally deprive myself, but I try to be careful. Pizza is a slice once every few weeks instead of getting a whole pizza every Friday and eating it for a few days. When I want ice cream, I go get frozen yogurt once in awhile instead. I stopped drinking soda and don't miss it at all. It can be hard at first, but breaking the habit of processed foods has made such a difference for me already.

Having a well-balanced diet coupled with an exercise regimen can improve some symptoms of mild forms of depression. However, it is not the specific foods being eliminated from daily intake, but other changes in lifestyle. (ex. increased exercise can increase release of certain neurotransmitters in the brain)

I find that with most things, I stop craving them when I don't have them for a while. I used to love KFC, but when I had some for a cheat meal a couple months go, I came pretty close to puking after just a little bit. And I noticed that I was craving broccoli in the middle of the night last night. What is happening to me? Lol.

7 years ago I got kidney stones from dr pepper. I think any soda can do it. even diet. But I also wasnt drinking water. I had two surgeries and still drank the damn stuff. I've been soda free since I've been on here. 6 weeks. it is like nothing to me now. go water. lol

I find that with most things, I stop craving them when I don't have them for a while. I used to love KFC, but when I had some for a cheat meal a couple months go, I came pretty close to puking after just a little bit. And I noticed that I was craving broccoli in the middle of the night last night. What is happening to me? Lol.

god yeah, KFC was my go-to hangover meal. The box I got came with a burger, chips, potato & gravy and a piece of chicken. They're 1000 calories a pop.

I genuinely can't remember the last time I ate there. I remember the last time I desperately wanted to; we ended up having chicken kievs and some homemade potato wedges in an attempt to curb the craving. That was a few months ago now.

Cutting out fast food is a really easy way to cut calories. You can almost always make something that taste just as good (or better) for way less calories any way. I especially notice this with burgers and sandwiches.

Hello all! Loved this post. I recently revamped my entire diet and am doing a mainly plant-based vegan diet. I LOOOOVVVVEEEDDD fast food, but after getting accustomed to the amount of vegetables I eat now, the caloric bar has been set a lot lower for what I can stand. If I need protein and fully understand that I'm eating fast food for a treat, I'll go and order a Southwest salad from McDonald's. I let myself have a small order of french fries occasionally and honestly, that's all I can stand. Since my lifestyle change has finally set in, I no longer crave or want fast food on a regular basis and I have become more aware of my body and the heavy feeling I feel with cheeseburgers. I am losing around 2 pounds a week now and have around 35 more to go.

P.S. If you need more fitness pals or would like to be mine, add me with a message. Good luck cutting the fast food habit all, I didn't know if I could smile without McDonald's before and now I haven't thought about it until this post.

That's great, OP! Contrary to what one of the self-appointed experts before said, certain foods can absolutely cause depression. When I cut out gluten, within a week, it was like the entire world had suddenly become buoyant. My outlook went from dismal as it's been for years to excited and hopeful. an array of other things eventually happened as well, and that's when I learned eating gluten when you have Celiac disease completely messes with your brain (celiac.com). My problem was that I didn't know I had Celiac, so I didn't know how harmful my diet was. All I was really trying to do was make logging my food less cumbersome on MFP, so I cut out all processed foods and refined sugars as well as all fast foods since I couldn't account for what was in them (nutrition facts on a website don't mean anything if your Subway sandwich maker gives you more mayo and oil than standard, or the chef at your restaurant tosses an unmeasured amount of butter onto a flat top to cook your food that is different from what was submitted for measurement by the corporation). The change in outlook plus the significant weight loss has been so motivational that I have no desire to return to my old ways. If I dice a cucumber and tomato and sprinkle it with red wine vinegar and S&P, I log a cucumber, tomato, red wine vinegar and S&P. So much easier!

Keep up the good work! :glasses:

That's great, OP! Contrary to what one of the self-appointed experts before said, certain foods can absolutely cause depression. When I cut out gluten, within a week, it was like the entire world had suddenly become buoyant. My outlook went from dismal as it's been for years to excited and hopeful. an array of other things eventually happened as well, and that's when I learned eating gluten when you have Celiac disease completely messes with your brain (celiac.com). My problem was that I didn't know I had Celiac, so I didn't know how harmful my diet was. All I was really trying to do was make logging my food less cumbersome on MFP, so I cut out all processed foods and refined sugars as well as all fast foods since I couldn't account for what was in them (nutrition facts on a website don't mean anything if your Subway sandwich maker gives you more mayo and oil than standard, or the chef at your restaurant tosses an unmeasured amount of butter onto a flat top to cook your food that is different from what was submitted for measurement by the corporation). The change in outlook plus the significant weight loss has been so motivational that I have no desire to return to my old ways. If I dice a cucumber and tomato and sprinkle it with red wine vinegar and S&P, I log a cucumber, tomato, red wine vinegar and S&P. So much easier!

Keep up the good work! :glasses:

No. Foods do not cause depression. You found out you were feeling so horrible because of Celiac disease and once you started treating that, you felt better. It was not food causing depression, it was food flaring your symptoms of Celiac disease.

I do not know that your statement is correct. There are some studies that show certain foods can contribute to low mood and/or depression. So, the jury may still be out.

As well, there definitely is evidence that certain foods can help improve mood and/or symptoms of depression.

Of course, one knows one's own body best...ideally...and should do what is working for them.

Hey OP! Good for you for getting some of the yuck out of your daily diet. Contrary to 2 particular people who only show up to stir the pot--I know from my own personal experience that cutting foods out that have little/no nutritional value helps to make you feel better because it is actually feeding your body the nutrition it needs to run at it's optimum. And surprise--after years of suffering from mild depression....I can happily say that I no longer do. I chalk it up to several things,two of which is cleaning up my eating habits, and making weight lifting a priority.

And an encouragement to all who are trying to make changes but feel overwhelmed: small steps, one small change at a time. Totally do-able--totally sustainable! In a years time you will look back and be amazed at just how much you can do in the way of small changes!

That's great, OP! Contrary to what one of the self-appointed experts before said, certain foods can absolutely cause depression. When I cut out gluten, within a week, it was like the entire world had suddenly become buoyant. My outlook went from dismal as it's been for years to excited and hopeful. an array of other things eventually happened as well, and that's when I learned eating gluten when you have Celiac disease completely messes with your brain (celiac.com). My problem was that I didn't know I had Celiac, so I didn't know how harmful my diet was. All I was really trying to do was make logging my food less cumbersome on MFP, so I cut out all processed foods and refined sugars as well as all fast foods since I couldn't account for what was in them (nutrition facts on a website don't mean anything if your Subway sandwich maker gives you more mayo and oil than standard, or the chef at your restaurant tosses an unmeasured amount of butter onto a flat top to cook your food that is different from what was submitted for measurement by the corporation). The change in outlook plus the significant weight loss has been so motivational that I have no desire to return to my old ways. If I dice a cucumber and tomato and sprinkle it with red wine vinegar and S&P, I log a cucumber, tomato, red wine vinegar and S&P. So much easier!

Keep up the good work! :glasses:

No. Foods do not cause depression. You found out you were feeling so horrible because of Celiac disease and once you started treating that, you felt better. It was not food causing depression, it was food flaring your symptoms of Celiac disease.

I do not know that your statement is correct. There are some studies that show certain foods can contribute to low mood and/or depression. So, the jury may still be out.

As well, there definitely is evidence that certain foods can help improve mood and/or symptoms of depression.

Of course, one knows one's own body best...ideally...and should do what is working for them.

The important note, is that food does not cause depression. I have already stated up thread that other lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms of mild forms, such as a well-balanced diet and exercise regimen. However, that is in mild forms of depression. In more severe cases, all the lifestyle changes in the world are not going to make symptoms disappear or reduce, medication would be needed.

:noway:

You are not a psychiatrist, and even if you were, you cannot make that statement without dx an individual patient.

Even with clinicallly diagnosed depression that is more than just mild, medication is not always the answer. And a blanket statement of "medication would be needed" as a response to the issue is very inappropriate.