Giving up fast food

You don't always have to cut out a specific food entirely, however if you are having trouble with moderation it might be a good idea to steer clear for a little while. I was always a sucker for fast food. Taco bell, chinese, big fat burgers, jack in the box tacos, etc etc, lol. BUT, I've also realized that just by logging it to see what my calorie intake for the day would look like makes me rethink my decision.

You can eat more whole and healthy foods that will actually fill you up vs the small fry for the same caloric value. Just remember, there is nothing wrong with "scheduling" in a fast food item every now and again. I do this, but I also plan my other meals for the day around it so I'm not going over my goal for the day.

Good luck!

Anybody else a converted fast food junkie that's found a good alternative to the quick, easy, tasty (greasy/fatty) drive through?

Make it at home. Burgers, tacos, chicken sandwiches, subs, whatever are cheaper and fresher if made at home, and they take very little time to prepare. Certainly less than driving out to a fast food place.

For me its more so the convenience of fast food. After a hard day at work I just do not want to cook up a meal for my hubby and I, especially if I would have to go to the grocery store to pick up ingredients first! I also love me some Taco bell, pizza, and chinese so that doesn't help the battle! Whats helped me stay on track is meal planning and food prep. Once a week I write down all the meals and snacks and make out a grocery list. I cook up a bunch of protein one night to add to quick healthy recipes for the rest of the week. I get my breakfast,lunch, and snacks ready for the next day while cooking. I also try and enter in the food I'm GOING to eat the next day the evening before, this helps me plan ahead and keep from straying for some fast food. Granted I'm only two weeks in so who knows if this is the way I'll do things long term, but so far its working for me!

I found counting calories works for me so far. Once I count up how much the fast food would be I generally don't want to use up so much of my daily target on it. If I am willing to then I log it and have to make it work. I definitely crave it less as time goes by.

I hear ya. For me the issue is not so much that I want to eat it, it's just that it is so much faster and easier than cooking myself. It's convenient to hit a drive through when I forgot to pack a lunch or am in a rush. Luckily for me, there is an El Pollo Loco nearby - it may not satisfy my occasional burger craving but it is fast and healthier. At least i hope so.

Food prep will help you be successful in this lifestyle. There have been a couple times over the last month I've had to opt for fast food. Wendy's small chili & side garden salad. Taco Bell Cantina Bowl minus the rice. Not too bad but you can't escape the crazy amount of sodium. It's said it takes 21 days to break a habit or create one. Once you are in the swing of things fast food with be the last thing on your mind.

Relevant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evcNPfZlrZs

I eat fast food all the time, I've lost a bunch of weight. You don't have to give it up, just make slightly better choices and count your calories.

I too like convience food. Slowly I am figuring out ways to cook fast and furious at home. (Bocca burger.... Mmmm...)

I am trying to make jar oatmeal at night so I can grab and go in the morning. This is fast and easy. But I still am eating out... MOst likely too much. But now I do look at the nutritional menus for the place, once I decide where I am going. So at least when I am in the drive through lane, I am making better choices from the menu if nothing else.

I really love Wendy's Apple Salad. I forgot my lunch at home. So that is what I will get today.

I still can't figure out why Zupa's won't put out a nutritional menu.

Eating a "moderate" (definition varies by person) amount of junk food works for some and not for others.

Start by cutting just junk food and replacing that with healthy food. Drink water.

Get used to that before you take on more.

I am a single mom, and my biggest problem was that I would get so worn out after working all day, chauffering kids to school and sports, running running running - I would just go through a drive-thru for dinner. I felt terrible because I knew my kids were eating horribly, and my own health was starting to suffer (high blood pressure, overweight, high cholesterol...). I knew something had to change. So I started using Schwans. I get online and place a food order every 2 weeks. Yes, it's a bit more expensive than grocery shopping, but I'm actually saving money in the long run because I'm not loading up on groceries that I'm not using and then spending money on top of that every night for fast food. I'm also not walking up and down grocery aisles and buying a bunch of stuff I don't need (like chips and sweets). Much of the food comes in pre-portioned packages, it's all EASY EASY EASY to make, and very yummy - and a zillion times better than fast food. And it gets delivered to my door, so I hardly ever go to the grocery store. You oughta check it out. There's no obligation and no minimum order or anything.

NM