Anyone here eat a lot of junk food?

I'll probably get lots of comments about how healthy and clean is the way to eat if you want to lose weight the "right way"... but I still eat processed food. I still eat ice cream (every day!! Skinny Cow ice cream bars have been my life savers), I still eat fast food (not as much as I used to- maybe once a week now instead of a few times a week). but I watch my portion sizes, make better choices at fast food places, etc. It can be done- I've lost 21 pounds in the past 3 1/2 months. I'm sure it might be more if I ate completely healthy, but I'm not willing to do that.. at least yet

Hello my name is Sarah and I am 20 yrs old and I know exactly what you mean. I am the same way, I like to eat out and eat junk food all the time and it has definitely taken a toll on my body. Like you said you know you have to eat in moderation, but you don't have to stop eating these foods completely because if you cut those foods out of you diet completely you are more likely to quit your diet and return to your old ways. So eating in moderation is the key. Someone actually gave me great advice the other day, if you go out to a restaurant when you get your food ask for a to go box right away and put half your food in it before you even start eating, that way you cut down your portion size and you end up getting two meals out of it. I actually found that just writing down every single thing I ate in a day helped me cut back because I realized how unhealthy I was eating. However, I do not deny myself any foods anymore because I found that doesn't work, but just cutting down the portion size seems to help a lot. Also you could try drinking a full glass of water before every snack and meal and that way you won't be as hungry and won't eat as much, but you will still be eating the foods you love and losing weight. I hope this helps a little and if you would like to add me u can feel my food journal, and we can support each other on our journey's to lose weight.

ummmm, are you serious!? you cannot achieve health by eating that way--nuff said.

beware of people who are going to spaz on you

anyway, my eating doesn't reflect that and my journal is not open. in my opinion, just watch the sodium and if you're finding success in the way you're eating then do that. it's your choice which so many forget here because they want to feel superior for the so called perfection of eating

Is it really that you don't care? Or that you just don't quite feel ready to change? Because I was like you for the past several years. I just didn't want to put the time and effort into caring and doing something about my health. It was so much easier to get fast food if my husband was planning to stop somewhere anyway. And it didn't sound like much fun to eat out with my family if I had to get something boring like a salad.

But I *did* care. So what I started doing was making little baby steps. First, I concentrated on breakfast. I needed something simple and easy if I had to eat on the go. Once I found a couple of options, I just focused on a healthy breakfast every morning for a full week. Then the following week I continued with my breakfast choices, and added on a healthy lunch. Then I did dinner. And then finally snacks and desserts.

I still eat a lot of pre-packaged foods because they are easy to grab. But now you can get sliced veggies and fruit, individually packaged at the grocery store. And single serving cups of yogurt or cottage cheese, as well as string cheese. That stuff has become my go-to snacks.

But I don't think you really can start changing until you actually do care enough to do something about it. But there's no reason to rush into it. I think starting small has helped me successfully continue this journey longer than I would have otherwise.

ummmm, are you serious!? you cannot achieve health by eating that way--nuff said.

they didn't ask for health reasons though. for losing weight purposes.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

Didn't know if you had seen this story yet or not, LOL

I still eat junk food every now and then... I will eat some sweets, have a McDonalds or Chicken Express meal, indulge in some way that I use to love...but..I eat healthy for most of them time...I do eat Skinny Cow/ Weight Watchers Ice Cream though! I think its about moderation and allowing yourself some indulgences...if I couldn't eat a hamburger every now and then..I might go crazy. I have lost 44 pounds in 3 months and indulge in things 1-2 times a week.

I'm similar to you, though trying to change! I eat weight watchers frozen meals along with Amy's organic frozen meals for lunch a lot. I also try to eat trader joes trail mix and snacks like that. I LOVE junk (though I'm a vegetarian so that eliminates fast food at least.)

What I've found is, I also love certain healthy foods. So i roast brussel sprouts, add broccoli and mushrooms to my homemade pizza, and have an apple and almond butter for breakfast. That way, I get in nutrients and also get a cadbury creme egg later, or a handful of goldfish crackers, etc.

Health wise, no it isn't good for you. But YES you can absolutely lose weight eating whatever you want to eat if you stay in your calorie goals. I lost a significant amount of weight years ago without ever changing my eating habits (if anything they got worse) I went from an office job to waiting tables and bartending 6 days a week 12+ hour shifts. I was on my feet walking around pretty much the entire 12 hours I worked I was burning more calories that I could ever consume. During the time I did that I ate nothing but fried greasy foods (from the restaurant I worked at) and drank like a fish. I still lost a lot of weight and kept it off for years (until I went back to an office job and kept eating the same way). It really does all come down to calories in vs. calories out for weight loss purposes, health is a whole different thing though! Personally I would work on changing my eating habits a t least a little, I wish I would have done that so I wouldn't have gained back most of the weight I lost. Good luck!

I love that stuff, too. One thing I try to do is to compromise. Like if I want a peice of chocolate, I have to eat a banana first and then I can have the chocolate if I still want it. Or drink a glass of water, etc. Might help keep the junk in moderation a bit more? If you're so inclined.

Lol, I cannot relate. I never eat fastfood unless I absolutely have to due to running out of cereal or in a busy moment and don't want to starve myself. And as far as eating at home goes I enjoy homecooked meals and whole grain products, nonfat foods, and smart choices because it tastes AMAZING, and makes me feel GREAT. Especially since I'm working out and want to supply my body with nutrients that I need to get through the day and recover from weight lifting.

Junk food is so boxed and processed its not even funny. I appreciate it once in a rare while when that's all you have on hand to eat. But it makes me feel bloated, gross, and even starved since its not very filling in the first place.

So I think it can go either way but I would say that eating healthier, which does NOT have to be perfect, will make your body function more efficiently and make you feel better. But by any means DO NOT let yourself get bored. You can be healthy and NOT BORED.

And I'm 22!!!! So this can be for anyone at any age. :flowerforyou:

oh! pick me! I'm like this! I will not give up the foods I love for a diet, rather I will eat less and keep track of them to lose weight. You can check out my food log and be my friend if you'd like, I'm seriously glad I'm not the only one.

Thanks for the advice guys. Although the healthy foods don't appeal to me for now I am going to try to incorporate into my life(slowly) and I think the restricting eating out to once a week is a good idea but I'm probably going to make it the whole weekend. I know a lot of people aren't going to agree with this but right now alot of my life does revolve around food. If I stay up late with a study group there's going to be snacks, a meeting with an organization you can guarantee pizza and cookies, hanging out with friends and date nights almost always include going out to eat first, football game tailgates definately don't include salads and brussel sprouts. I just don't want to miss out on some of the best years of my life because im skipping things and worrying about food. Plus I have a hard time passing up free stuff lol.

Oh trust me I get it. College was a junk food eater's paradise for me! LOL

But can I suggest something? When you have your date night, parties, football games etc. before you start snacking, drink an entire 20 oz bottle of water before you take 1 bite. You'll find that you won't eat nearly as much food as normal and that will help aid in your weight loss/calorie count. I do this every time I crave something that's unhealthy. 1 bottle of water and I eat about half (or less) than what's there.

Good luck!