why!

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positivepolli
positivepolli Posts: 23 Member
in Getting Started
Why is it so hard to want to stop eating junk food. I can't stop and I want to start and I always do then I give up. I've tried losing weight before but always lose my motivation. I lost a bunch of weight but it was because I starved myself and ashamed to admit but was addicted to drugs. Now I'm clean and drug free, thanks to Jesus, but now I've gained weight back. And that was the only successful weight loss I've ever had. So now I'm sad cause I have no motivation and can't lose weight and can't stop eating junk food! Ugh. Anyone struggling with me out there?
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Replies

  • jsmith118js
    jsmith118js Posts: 1 Member
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    Junk food is an addiction too. I crave sugars and its because you're brain is rewarded with endorphins after eating sugar just like after using drugs. It's a hard cycle to break. I'm still in the battle myself. Hang in there!
  • positivepolli
    positivepolli Posts: 23 Member
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    Thank you I appreciate that :)
  • i6Shot
    i6Shot Posts: 51 Member
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    I always find it easier to stop eating junk food by not buying it in the first place. If you don't have it you can't eat it. If the temptation to buy is greater than your will to not then stop shopping in shops that stock junk food. Go to veggie stores and butcher stores where you can buy decent food.

    Of course if you aren't in control of what gets bought then you may need to reason with the person who is. I find a few foods that I know I like and are reasonably healthy, then I just make sure I have that stocked up instead of junk food.

    I may have come across as being mean but the reality is that there really isn't any other way to stop than to just stop. If you can quit drugs I'm fairly sure you will be able to kick junk food.

    Good luck.
  • positivepolli
    positivepolli Posts: 23 Member
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    i6Shot wrote: »
    I always find it easier to stop eating junk food by not buying it in the first place. If you don't have it you can't eat it. If the temptation to buy is greater than your will to not then stop shopping in shops that stock junk food. Go to veggie stores and butcher stores where you can buy decent food.

    Of course if you aren't in control of what gets bought then you may need to reason with the person who is. I find a few foods that I know I like and are reasonably healthy, then I just make sure I have that stocked up instead of junk food.

    I may have come across as being mean but the reality is that there really isn't any other way to stop than to just stop. If you can quit drugs I'm fairly sure you will be able to kick junk food.

    Good luck.

    Thanks and that is good advice I totally agree! And I'm currently residing with my parents and they are in control right now but when I do shop I usually buy healthy foods. I just can't stop eating junk here I feel like I'm starving and its probably because my body isn't getting the nutrients I need from the junk. But I appreciate your perspective very true.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
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    Oh boy. You need to learn to eat in moderation. 'Junk' food, as you are calling it, needs to stop being vilified. And what are you terming junk food? Chips, candy bars, fast food? Cookies, cake, pie? Cereal, bread, pasta? The problem is trying to lump some foods into 'good' categories and some into 'bad' categories.
    If you aren't good at serving yourself one weighed serving from a larger package, then start by only purchasing one serving at a time. The basis of weight loss of eating at a calorie deficit. Set your calorie limit and stick to it. Set your macros (carbs/proteins/veg) and make sure you are meeting those needs, and you can still have your treats, just have the single servings, and fit them into your calorie deficit. You will still satisfy your sweet tooth, and not be overeating. You will lose weight.
    The thing to remember is this: no matter how many of what you are eating you eat, you will always reach the end eventually. How you feel when you reach that end is up to you.

    Also, please read the first post of this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
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    What I do is have SOME during the day, I preplan having chips, fast food, candy, soda, whatever it is I'm craving. I make it fit into my daily calories. It's the only way that this time around, losing weight isn't about suffering. It's about sticking to the amount of daily calories, and that seriously helps to lose weight. I can stick to losing weight because I'm actually enjoying all the kinds of food I love. :smile:
  • Stewnamie
    Stewnamie Posts: 17 Member
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    I think everyone has their own technique for dealing with temptations. I have an addictive personality. I smoked for 20 years, and ate food like an addiction, etc....

    I think alcoholics do not allow themselves just a little drink everyday for a reason....the little bit leads to a whole lot. I could be wrong about this for junk food, but I think, at least when you are starting out, that removing all junk from the diet is safest. This is just my opinion and it's how I started here a week ago. I eliminated as much sugar as I could, and went through withdrawals. Now, I don't crave it at all.

    Hope this works for you. Plus, I try to eat food that I find delicious and healthy. Lots of heat and spice. Lots of flavour.

    I hope you can get your junk food addiction under control.

    Best of luck!
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
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    mccindy72 wrote: »
    Oh boy. You need to learn to eat in moderation. 'Junk' food, as you are calling it, needs to stop being vilified. And what are you terming junk food? Chips, candy bars, fast food? Cookies, cake, pie? Cereal, bread, pasta? The problem is trying to lump some foods into 'good' categories and some into 'bad' categories.
    If you aren't good at serving yourself one weighed serving from a larger package, then start by only purchasing one serving at a time. The basis of weight loss of eating at a calorie deficit. Set your calorie limit and stick to it. Set your macros (carbs/proteins/veg) and make sure you are meeting those needs, and you can still have your treats, just have the single servings, and fit them into your calorie deficit. You will still satisfy your sweet tooth, and not be overeating. You will lose weight.
    The thing to remember is this: no matter how many of what you are eating you eat, you will always reach the end eventually. How you feel when you reach that end is up to you.

    Also, please read the first post of this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

    This, this and some more of this.

    "Junk food" is a pretty vague term. What you classify as junk I may classify as an end of the day treat. As far as weight loss goes, a calorie is a calorie. Whether it came off a tree or out of a bag makes no difference. The smaller portion size idea might help you. Buy or weigh out individual servings of your treats and don't eat it in the kitchen. Sit down with it and when it's gone, it's gone. It's easier to log in MFP that way, too.
  • EmmaFitzwilliam
    EmmaFitzwilliam Posts: 482 Member
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    As part of the set dressing for the Monsters, Inc. ride, there is a vending machine offering a bag of "Sugar, Salt &Fat" and "Bag O'Calories". Pretty soon I started to replace the way I saw most junk foods and saw "bag O'calories" instead of (cookie) or "Sugar, Salt & Fat" instead of (chips).
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
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    If I have no control over the food, like chips, even healthier multi-grain ones. I don't buy them.

    Also, finding alternative recipes for "treats" has been fun for me. I like the challenge of making something healthier through ingredient swapping without losing the yummy taste. :smiley:
  • positivepolli
    positivepolli Posts: 23 Member
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    EmmaFitzwilliam wrote: »
    As part of the set dressing for the Monsters, Inc. ride, there is a vending machine offering a bag of "Sugar, Salt &Fat" and "Bag O'Calories". Pretty soon I started to replace the way I saw most junk foods and saw "bag O'calories" instead of (cookie) or "Sugar, Salt & Fat" instead of (chips).

    Lol love this!
  • positivepolli
    positivepolli Posts: 23 Member
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    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    If I have no control over the food, like chips, even healthier multi-grain ones. I don't buy them.

    Also, finding alternative recipes for "treats" has been fun for me. I like the challenge of making something healthier through ingredient swapping without losing the yummy taste. :smiley:

    Thank you I found some fitness girls on YouTube and learned of popsicles made with blueberries and banana ice cream so I'm excited to experiment :)
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    Fit a small portion (or large, if you have the calories) into your day. Weight loss is about eating less overall. You don't have to cut any foods out.
  • Dustinsteven22
    Dustinsteven22 Posts: 280 Member
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    Amen! Don't hate the only thing you have to work with, YOU! You were created to be amazing, now it's time to challenge yourself and bust through your self made limits!! Your body will crave salt and sugar when there is a vitamin and mineral deficiency. The first step is to throw all the junk food away in your house. Next you need to eat clean, whole foods, and take vitamins. This will help your cravings. It sounds like you are lacking a plan. No plan=no change. You got this! Feel free to add me!
  • tibby531
    tibby531 Posts: 717 Member
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    EmmaFitzwilliam wrote: »
    As part of the set dressing for the Monsters, Inc. ride, there is a vending machine offering a bag of "Sugar, Salt &Fat" and "Bag O'Calories". Pretty soon I started to replace the way I saw most junk foods and saw "bag O'calories" instead of (cookie) or "Sugar, Salt & Fat" instead of (chips).

    how much for the "sugar, salt & fat?" that sounds pretty delicious, right now. ;)
  • LilannB
    LilannB Posts: 99 Member
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    Junk food is hard to give up because it tastes good. It's also good to remember that food is food just some foods are more calorie dense then others. I found making little changes over time helped to make those changes permanent. For example I love soda and use to drink about 1.5 liters a day everyday. I've reduced that to having about a glass of soda once or twice a week. I still have the Coca Cola I love but I fit it into my calories for the day. Most days I don't have Coke because I would rather spend the calories on something else.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
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    Buy an opaque container
    Portion out your snacks
    Do not leave more than one portion where you can see it
    Fit that portion into your daily calories
  • Annr
    Annr Posts: 2,765 Member
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    I read an article once that addressed the commercialism of selling a product. Many snack foods and frozen foods have changed up their formulas so they can ADDICT you even more to their product. These foods were already good, people were eating them, but they needed to SELL more, so they made it more enticing by adding more chemicals to keep you satified. I hate that fact that they are using us as consumers this way. So I try not to consume products whos ingredient lists are hard to pronounce. Eating junk food is pretty much empty calories, and won't do this old lady any good!
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
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    I find it helpful to prelog my meals and snacks. In a few Minutes I'm going to prelog most of tomorrow's food. It gives me a plan and it can include whatever I want as long as it meets my calorie and macros (within reason). Of course I'm human and sometimes change my mind. That's ok. I edit as needed but the more I've preloged the better I've become at sticking to my decisions.
  • Teksavvy
    Teksavvy Posts: 133 Member
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    I also read something similar to what Annr mentioned. I've worked hard to have substitute snacks so I still get my "Sugar, Salt, Fat" fix. I have fruit available for candy (my favorite are bananas because they are more portable), nuts for salt and sometimes I put butter or peanut butter on items to get fat.
    I fill up faster on these and don't get left with that empty feeling 15 minutes later that you get with a bag of chips.

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