why!
positivepolli
Posts: 23 Member
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
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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!0
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Thank you I appreciate that
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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.0 -
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.
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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-here0 -
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. 0
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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!0 -
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.0 -
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).0
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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.
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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!0 -
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.
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 0 -
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.0
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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!0
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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.
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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.0
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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 calories0 -
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!0
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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.0
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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.0 -
Dustinsteven22 wrote: »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!
Thanks for the motivation!
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I don't struggle with pop so much but it is sooo good once in awhile! Thanks for the advice!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.
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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.
I really like this idea! Thanks for the advice
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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!
makes sense! I went Vegan for a month and after the month I ate a chip and it was so gross! Of course after awhile I got use to the taste again
and here I am. But the chemicals are disguisting to think about.
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positivepolli wrote: »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!
makes sense! I went Vegan for a month and after the month I ate a chip and it was so gross! Of course after awhile I got use to the taste again and here I am. But the chemicals are disguisting to think about.
I remember reading up on Doritos, and how they had made them even MORE orangey goodness....disguisting but hey, you can use the orange as eye shadow after consuming...hahaha0 -
positivepolli wrote: »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!
makes sense! I went Vegan for a month and after the month I ate a chip and it was so gross! Of course after awhile I got use to the taste again and here I am. But the chemicals are disguisting to think about.
I remember reading up on Doritos, and how they had made them even MORE orangey goodness....disguisting but hey, you can use the orange as eye shadow after consuming...hahaha
haha too funny
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You'll do it when you are ready and if you want it. But next the motivation comes, try changing your mindset and your approach to it. Instead of it just being about losing weight, think of it in terms of changing the way you eat so that you can sustain the weight loss into the future. If you eat healthy, you tend not to get fat in the first place. I know its a fair bit of effort involved but healthy food can be delicious. It is easier to find it delicious if you are not eating junk on a regular basis. I'd suggest that junk food shouldn't be in your life more than once a month. To be eating healthy, you need to be eating quite a lot of vegetables. And vegeatbles can be interesting and yummy if you cooking them in an intersting way. But most people have to learn how to do this and i'd suggest getting some cookbooks and working through some recipes so you can learn how to do it wihtout a recipe. Look to the europeans, especially those around the mediterranean for good nutritious food and recipes. Middle east has great recipes too.
But i know what you are saying about what you want to eat right now. I've been there. I used to be addicted to sweets. In fact i still am but don't eat them any more at will. (Except when Im travelling). If i want to eat healthy, i have to quit sweets. But like you i wasn't ready to make the changes as soon i thought i wanted to. It was some months before a whim took me and there and then, i made the change. Perfecting my diet is as on going thing. I started at the beginning of 2014 and did plenty or research and experiments along the way. I started out with my own thing but did low carb, fasting, and now I'm doing veganism but the latter is firstly for ethical reasons, I was a vegetarian before.
But your moods set you down the path of comfort eating and then eating high carbs or hyper flavoured foods set up some devilish systems in your body. Its hard to understand what's going on if you don't research and learn about hormones and healthy eating and so on. Its important to try to work on your mood so that it gets up and happy and this can trigger motivation. A low mood, and stress triggers bad eating usually. Chronic stress leads to depression. All these things lead to lack of motivation and bad eating. Looking after your mental health is key.
Well i've said enough.
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