Fast food....need I say more...

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Replies

  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    pincushion14 wrote: »
    A lot of time people get stressed trying to change too much at once. Focus on one thing, like packing a lunch three days a week for work. Make it Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, if you like. Stick with it until it becomes habit. Then add in the other two days. When that is routine, fix breakfast the same way. Breaking it down into mini-goals and retraining your habits makes it sustainable, instead of trying to get it all in one fell swoop and ditching a week into it because it's such a huge change.

    I agree with this. Could even start really small. Like pack your afternoon snack in a sandwich bag small. Fruit? Handful of nuts? Etc

  • D_squareG
    D_squareG Posts: 361 Member
    if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, then in my opinion and experience, you are going to have to take control of the preparation of your own food. You just have to tell yourself that you have no business eating at McDonald's every day. Not saying you can never, but remember when that was a treat, not a staple? It needs to be again if you want success. At least until you learn new habits.
  • amberj32
    amberj32 Posts: 663 Member
    I love fast food! I used to eat fast food almost every day. Now it's only like once a week. The only thing that's helped me is to plan and prepare meals in advance, at least a couple days worth. Then I don't have to think about what I want to eat. Just put it in my lunch bag for work. Some days it will still be hard. But it can be done!
  • peter7361
    peter7361 Posts: 20 Member
    I used to be the same way with fast food...to the point where I'm pretty sure that when I gave it up it caused a couple of restaurants to go out of business. I took it one step at a time, first cutting out soda with meals (actually I cut it out completely) and having water with my food. Those 32 and 44 oz sodas that most fast food places offer can have between 360 and 520 calories on their own. Then I cut back on the fast food to a couple days a week, and finally as a New Years resolution this past year, gave it up completely (exception being made to order food). The thing that really made it clear to me that I needed to cut out the fast food was when I started looking at the nutritional info of the food I was eating. At some restaurants, I could eat 2500 calories in a single meal and an hour later I'd be hungry again. Realizing that for 10 minutes of work (less time than it would take me to get that "fast" food), I could have a homemade sandwich and chips, that would satisfy my hunger just as well as the fast food with less than 1/3 of the calories, and I wouldn't be hungry an hour later was a real eye opener for me.

    Since 1/1/14, I've had burgers from a restaurant that makes them to order, and pizza, and food at sit-down restaurants. McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell, all the places where I'd get the majority of my meals, haven't gotten a single dollar from me since the first of the year.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    When you "start eating healthy" what do you eat? Do you give up all the things you love about fast food (such as bread and fat) and go for something low fat, low carb, low calorie and unsatisfying?
  • Unknown
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  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    edited November 2014
    sclabbatz wrote: »
    I am a new mom who recently turned 26. I have been overweight my whole life. I have recently come to the conclusion that I have an issue with my diet. I have never thought of myself as lazy, as I am a very physically active overweight person, however lazy is the first work that comes to mind when it comes to how much fast food I eat. Instead of taking the time to pack my lunch/breakfast, I get it on the way to work at fast food places. Since I have been doing this for so long its become what I would probably call an addiction. I just want to start eating healty but every time I do, it doesn't seem to last. Any suggestions and/or life experience would be helpful!


    Bringing food from home can help you cut calories (and is cheaper). But if you do stop for fast food, look at what you get, and think of how you can make it lower calorie. A regular cheeseburger instead of a double, a side salad instead of fries, water or diet coke instead of regular soda, ham egg and cheese English muffin instead of a loaded omelet biscuit, etc....
  • Falcon
    Falcon Posts: 853 Member
    edited November 2014
    think about the money you would be saving by staying away from fast food joints ;)
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    I agree with whoever said to make slow changes. Making changes too fast can be too overwhelming and makes it easier for us to give up and fail.

    There are foods like quinoa, rice, and chicken that you can prepare over the weekend and just measure out your portions the night before or in the morning. It honestly takes time and practice. I am a wiz at measuring and packing food now. I have my go-to combinations like cheese and grapes or greek yogurt for snacks. I either put together a salad or when cleaning up dinner the night before I just measure out a lunch portion for the next day and pre-log it. I also "save meals" (like the cheese and grapes) to make logging faster.

    I honestly didn't grow up on fast food (and still got fat!) so I can't really sympathize with feeling the need to constantly eat out. But any new habit takes time and effort to create. Take it slow and you will get there!

    Best of luck :)
  • arrrrjt
    arrrrjt Posts: 245 Member
    pincushion14 wrote: »
    A lot of time people get stressed trying to change too much at once. Focus on one thing, like packing a lunch three days a week for work. Make it Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, if you like. Stick with it until it becomes habit. Then add in the other two days. When that is routine, fix breakfast the same way. Breaking it down into mini-goals and retraining your habits makes it sustainable, instead of trying to get it all in one fell swoop and ditching a week into it because it's such a huge change.
    Great tips! Lots of people don't find success with a dietitian, but she helped me really look at food differently. We set little goals... my first week was:

    - Bring a lunch to work 3x
    - Eat fish twice a week (replace fattier meats with lean meats) and
    - Have three food groups in breakfast

    Now, I haven't had lunch out (unless with coworkers), have a healthy breakfast every morning (smoothie, oatmeal, or omelette) and fish is a work in progress ;)

    I will add, fast food was never a HUGE issue for me but I did get a deli wrap almost every day at work. Replacing it with leftovers (again, three food gorups!) or something healthier is a small change, but doable, easier to track, and saves money!

  • lgoldfarb
    lgoldfarb Posts: 76 Member
    I have this problem too. I would hit up the vending machine for breakfast and fast food for lunch (sometimes for dinner too). I have been shopping at Trader Joes and get the pre-made salads with chicken for lunch. The dates are usually good so I'll get one for everyday. For breakfast I throw 2 packets of oatmeal in my bag and cook it in the microwave when I get to work. I also stocked up on TJ's frozen food. This helps with dinner for when I work or have a late workout. Last night all I wanted was tacos from Filibertos, but I knew I could make a quick frozen meal at home. And I've noticed extra $ in my bank account too.
  • Falcon
    Falcon Posts: 853 Member
    I had this problem too to be honest and it took a few months to break myself from that habit. Now if I do go through a fast food place, I order a salad and baked potato or a couple of grilled chicken wraps. Try going for the healthy selections instead of the unhealthy selections if you feel the need too go.
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    I'm not sure that a lot of people picked up on the fact that you're a new mom. If you're back at work, and you have a baby, you must be exhausted! Don't beat yourself up too much for not being perfect.

    I think the single most useful thing you could do is to focus on dinner. When you make it (or your partner makes it), make 3 times as much as you need for you and your partner. Eat 1/3 that night, freeze 1/3 for dinner some time in the future when you just can't cook, and portion out the remaining 1/3 into lunch containers. Now you don't have to plan ahead, you just need to grab the leftovers as you leave. And cooking 6 servings doesn't take a lot more work than cooking 2 servings. Use pre-cut ingredients if you don't have a lot of time and your supermarket carries them; they're more expensive than unprepared ingredients, but cheaper than fast food. Frozen chopped veggies are another option, and they're often a lot cheaper than fresh as well as more convenient, and nearly as nutritious.

    Another fast idea: an 8-oz. container of hummus is about 200-250 calories depending on the brand and kind. Scoop half of it into a small plastic container, grab one pita bread, and take some pre-cut veggies. That's about a 400-calorie meal that takes almost no time. I probably have hummus, pita, and veggies twice a week. Plus, even if you don't have a fridge, hummus is OK to store at room temperature for a few hours.

    Good luck, and congratulations on your recent addition to the family!
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