How to kick a fast food addiction?

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Replies

  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    It's a habit like anything else. It doesn't even occur to me to drive through anymore. It's just not part of my day to day. What has helped is always being prepared. I ALWAYS have snacks in my purse and car. Always. Quest bar. 100 calories almond pack. Turkey Jerky. Whatever I need. So if I'm starving and in the car, I have something to hold me until I get to where ever I need to be. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I try to recreate healthy versions of fast foods at home that I like and fit it into my calorie goals. For instance I used to be obsessed with Taco Bell but now I just make Taco's at home so I can portion what I am eating and use healthier ingredients. You can still eat fast food if you want but limit the intake with willpower and planning ahead of time.

    meat
    lettuce
    tomato
    sour cream
    taco shell
    shredded cheese

    i dont get it...whats unhealthy?

    Well for starters Taco Bell has a ridiculously high sodium count because all of the ingredients are pre-packaged and come in bags--- look behind the counter when they are refilling there vats.

    Um. What is wrong with high sodium? And what does a bag have to do with sodium?

    Most of the sodium would be from the meat.

    Also, just because you spit out the word "vats" does not make it OHNOES status.

    Oh I don't know, high sodium is linked to high blood pressure, stomach cancer, problems with your kidneys to name a few. Two Bean Burrito's at Taco bell is over 2000 grams of Sodium, if she has a problem with fast food eating this excess could be a problem hence why I said making it at home or limiting it could be useful I said vat because it's funny, someone needs to relax, I'm trying to help and your snarkiness is incredibly dull.
    And water is linked to drowning. The pirate population is linked to global warming. Shark attacks are linked to ice cream sales. Correlation does not equal causation.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    When I am counting my calories, I love going to chain restaurants. I pick ahead of time with my friends where we'll go. I get to go online, look at their menu, add and subtract things to "my meal" using their meal creator. So like at McDonald's I might get a fish sandwich and smoothie (610 cal). At Wendy's, half a baja salad (450 calories).

    What makes fast food great for dieting is everything is EXACTLY portioned the same no matter which one you go to. It's super easy to fit it into a diet plan.

    Now, eating it every day might be tough if you're watching your salt or watching your money.
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  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    When I am counting my calories, I love going to chain restaurants. I pick ahead of time with my friends where we'll go. I get to go online, look at their menu, add and subtract things to "my meal" using their meal creator. So like at McDonald's I might get a fish sandwich and smoothie (610 cal). At Wendy's, half a baja salad (450 calories).

    What makes fast food great for dieting is everything is EXACTLY portioned the same no matter which one you go to. It's super easy to fit it into a diet plan.

    Now, eating it every day might be tough if you're watching your salt or watching your money.

    The calories they list, and what you're eating are way out of whack. Various studies on this have shown that you eat quite a bit more than you think. They say to add about 150 calories to your meal.
    That's true for any food label. Even organic free range whatever from the grocery store. Calorie counts are allowed to be up to 20% higher than listed.
  • elsyoommen
    elsyoommen Posts: 155 Member
    Hi I find that in order to target any particular thing in my diet that I want to change, what works for me is to analyse my diary over the course of the week in order to see where I need to make the changes. If you find there are particular days or times when you crave particular fast foods and you want change that, plan for how you are going to do it and also plan for some reprieve so that you don't build up a bigger craving later. So for example if you find that you often eat lunch as fast food, and you are not happy with that pattern, make a plan. You could pack your lunch and/or plan an activity at that time such as taking a walk or meet a friend for a coffee right after you eat your packed lunch - or whatever works for you. Or if you find that the craving hits you at 4pm every day (this was my issue) then plan to have a small meal at 3:30 and do something else at 4...go to the gym... you get the picture. What it comes down to is planning, and figuring out what makes sense for you and creating new patterns and habits for yourself.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Stop thinking like fast food is alcohol or drugs. If you don't want it, don't eat it. If you *DO* want it, eat it without feeling guilty. Food is food. Hit your macronutrient and calorie goals. Don't sweat the small stuff!
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Various studies on this have shown that you eat quite a bit more than you think. They say to add about 150 calories to your meal.

    Thanks for the great tip!
    (P.S. I was trying to show the OP how she can go online and look at the calories ahead of time, and that eating out doesn't HAVE to sabotage an overall diet plan.)
  • AllyBooMommyof2
    AllyBooMommyof2 Posts: 171
    Just stop.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I trip out on this fast food thing. I seriously have not had fast food in 10 years, maybe more. It's so gross. It's like soda too. What up with you people? Go to a restaurant, at least.

    Each to their own. I hate McD's and BK, but I love Arby's. I have yet to find any other restaurant that has a sauce that can touch Arby's 3 pepper sauce. It is delicious. I only eat there once in a blue moon because restaurants, whether "fast" or "slow" are not in my budget.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Make better choices at the fast food place? It's what I did... then I figured I could make the same thing at home, but more filling and tastier.

    I love pulling the ol' "We're eating a 'Mama's Burgers'" with my kids. :laugh:
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Why is everything an addiction these days? :noway:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Hi, I would ask what draws you to it… convenience? Like, I try to always have food with me-- which may seem counterintuitive-- but this means I don't get caught off-guard and make a last-minute decision while hungry that may be not the best decision.

    So, I bring apples, Quest bars (have you tried them?? OMG), nuts (measured), and other things in my purse. I focus on replacing the behavior with a better one, rather than quitting altogether.

    Keep in mind too that they engineer fast food to be addictive. The sugars, the fats… it all goes straight to your brain. For me, I am cold turkey on it. But again, don't focus on what you CANT have, focus on all the lovely food you can eat instead :-) If you want a burger, much better to make at home. Same with even a milkshake or fries.

    Also, before MyFitnessPal, I lost 40+ lbs (not on my profile). So I do have some experience with this...

    Hope that's helpful. Good luck!!!!!

    Oh great. Now this scene from So I Married an Axe Murderer is running laps in my head:

    Stuart Mackenzie: Well, it's a well known fact, Sonny Jim, that there's a secret society of the five wealthiest people in the world, known as The Pentavirate, who run everything in the world, including the newspapers, and meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado, known as The Meadows.
    Tony Giardino: So who's in this Pentavirate?
    Stuart Mackenzie: The Queen, The Vatican, The Gettys, The Rothschilds, *and* Colonel Sanders before he went tits up. Oh, I hated the Colonel with is wee *beady* eyes, and that smug look on his face. "Oh, you're gonna buy my chicken! Ohhhhh!"
    Charlie Mackenzie: Dad, how can you hate "The Colonel"?
    Stuart Mackenzie: Because he puts an addictive chemical in his chicken that makes ya crave it fortnightly, smartass!

    Oh noes! There's crack cocaine in them thar chicken legs!
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  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I really wish people wouldn't use the word "addiction" so lightly. I really doubt you are addicted to fast food. Sure you make like it, you may crave it, but you are not addicted to it.

    I asked for help/suggestions...not criticism.

    I had a response for you, but I've lost all desire to help with this response.

    You know that criticism can't possibly be constructive! Just who do you these people think they are, offering criticism under the guise of "support!?!"
  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    Work at a fast food joint.

    PS: It's not just mayonnaise.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Work at a fast food joint.

    PS: It's not just mayonnaise.

    :huh:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Work at a fast food joint.

    PS: It's not just mayonnaise.

    :huh:

    Yeah, I worked at several fast food places. None of them had only mayo, lots of condiments are usually available.
  • ejtj1234
    ejtj1234 Posts: 80 Member
    I hae the same problem lol! I found that cooking healthly meals Sunday and preparing them for the week ahead helps ALOT! Don't get me wrong it is still a struggle but it helps. Also when I do go to eat fast food I look up whatever I want to eat on the food database and decide if it is worth it. If there is way too much calories in what I want I look for other things at the same place that have less calories. Good luck:)
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    Why is everything an addiction these days? :noway:

    I think they mean that they have a really hard time giving up that particular food or consuming it in moderation. I can relate. There is NO way I will ever be able to have "just" 1 oz of potato chips. I'm better off avoiding it completely.

    Is mine an addiction? No, it is lack of impulse control in front of a potato chip bag. My solution is to not eat any. One day, when I have a handle on this, I may be able to limit myself to 1 oz and be happy. That day is not today.
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member
    I hate McD's

    Blasphemy.

    big-mac-extra-value-meal.jpg
  • AllyBooMommyof2
    AllyBooMommyof2 Posts: 171
    Yum that big mac and fries sure looks good, pass on the coke though itll give me kidney stones lol
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I hate McD's

    Blasphemy.

    big-mac-extra-value-meal.jpg

    Oops...this is what yummy *actually* looks like:

    King's+Hawaiian+Arby's++-+can't+chose+just+one+sauce.jpg
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    Neat! Let's post pics of fast food after a MFP member expresses a concern about curbing her fast food cravings. That's really really really supportive!

    Thud.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Ok...so I think I've kicked my soda habit as it's been almost a month and I don't crave it...so that's something to be happy about! But I believe I'm seriously addicted to fast food. I did good for about two weeks but one little slip has turned into a downward spiral. I'm trying not to lose focus and keep on going but this is a cycle I'm desperately trying to kick. How do I get past this addiction? Help!!
    Don't deprive yourself. Instead embrace moderation .
  • AllyBooMommyof2
    AllyBooMommyof2 Posts: 171
    I hate McD's

    Blasphemy.

    big-mac-extra-value-meal.jpg

    Oops...this is what yummy *actually* looks like:

    King's+Hawaiian+Arby's++-+can't+chose+just+one+sauce.jpg
    Mmm arbys
  • jkowula
    jkowula Posts: 447
    God I would kill for a Big Mac.. KILL I SAY!
  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    Work at a fast food joint.

    PS: It's not just mayonnaise.

    :huh:

    Yeah, I worked at several fast food places. None of them had only mayo, lots of condiments are usually available.

    The most popular being man juice.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    OP - I would say that you can eat fast food as long as you maintain your calorie deficit and meat your goals for the day/week. Or you could scale it back to say one meal a week from fast food or something like that…I mean you get a big mac and a small fry from Mcdonalds for about 500 calories, which should really not blow out your calories too much for the day ….

    I think you will have better success if you include the foods you like in your diet, but just eat less of them, and maintain a calorie deficit….

    Restriction tends to lead to cravings, which leads to binging, which leads to feeling of remorse/guilt/depression….
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member
    Neat! Let's post pics of fast food after a MFP member expresses a concern about curbing her fast food cravings. That's really really really supportive!

    Thud.

    The OP hasn't been back since page 2. She has most likely abandoned this thread, after she realized what a sh!tstorm she created by mentioning 'addiction' in the same sentence as 'fast-food.'

    I'm an ex-drunk. If I broke down and bought a case of beer, every time I saw a picture ( advertisement ) for Budweiser, I'd be dead, now. This site is full of pictures of delicious goodies... Brownies... Pop Tarts, Bake it yourself cookie dough.... cookies rising in the oven... Chocolate cereal, and.... yep.... Fast Food.

    My favorite.

    dq_caramel_brownie.jpg

    Now, is this fast food, or just an ice cream treat?

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