I can't stop eating bad food.
Replies
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janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »lisayunghanns wrote: »I understand completely I too struggle with food cravings and even the thought of 1 slice of pizza @ 900 calories and eating brekky would be nudging close to full calories for day! MyFitnessPal has been a real eye opener on how many calories are "hidden" in fast food even chips !!!! Corn chips !! Been craving corn chips soooo bad then feel guilty when I had them
An ounce of tortilla chips is about 140 calories. That's nothing to feel guilty about, just have 140 calories less of something else that day and you're still at your goal.
Unfortunately for me, 1 once of tortilla chips is barely enough to get me started
Doesn't mean I won't eat them though!
I mean, yeah. If portion control is harder with certain foods then it may be easier not to eat them.
But for some people, at least with some foods, having a reasonable portion will satisfy a craving.
I absolutely agree! I'm generally all about everything in moderation. Tortilla chips just get me. Especially with guac. Double whammy
WildBill_CQ wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »lisayunghanns wrote: »I understand completely I too struggle with food cravings and even the thought of 1 slice of pizza @ 900 calories and eating brekky would be nudging close to full calories for day! MyFitnessPal has been a real eye opener on how many calories are "hidden" in fast food even chips !!!! Corn chips !! Been craving corn chips soooo bad then feel guilty when I had them
An ounce of tortilla chips is about 140 calories. That's nothing to feel guilty about, just have 140 calories less of something else that day and you're still at your goal.
Unfortunately for me, 1 once of tortilla chips is barely enough to get me started Doesn't mean I won't eat them though!
feelin' ya girlfriend... those free chips at the tex mex restaurant. EVIL!
I fail in self-control spectacularly every time we go out for Tex Mex...0 -
My journey has been LONG and I've learned so much. 6+ years of this and you learn a thing or two.
I've finally gotten to the point that I hate fast food. I think it's gross. I avoid it at all costs. At the beginning, I wanted McDonalds McNuggets and Frys EVERY DAY. I loved Starbucks Frappes. I basically lived at Raising Canes and Steak and Shake. So, you can learn to not want it.
Now, I'm not saying I eat perfect all the time. I still love restaurant food, but fast food places like Burger King, McDonalds, Five Guys, Taco Bell, Raising Canes, Steak and Shake etc, I think are horrible. The more you cook for yourself and learn that knowing what is in your food and how it's made makes things so much easier.
Now, for your situation now. Honestly, I'd learn to plan ahead. Change habits slowly. Pre log things that you feel good about eating (things you like, not just things that people tell you to eat because they are healthy). Grab a rotissere chicken from the grocery store and make your own "Chipolte" bowls. Rice comes in these great, precooked packs now (handy stuff). Add drained, rinsed canned beans, shredded cheese, a little sour cream and some salsa and you are good to go. Yummy stuff.
Pintrest is a really great source for recipes. Say you love Chinese take out. Search "Healthy Chinese Takeout" and they will give you various, easy to prepare recipes just like your favorite. Takes some more time, more planning, but will be worth it.4 -
janejellyroll wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »lisayunghanns wrote: »I understand completely I too struggle with food cravings and even the thought of 1 slice of pizza @ 900 calories and eating brekky would be nudging close to full calories for day! MyFitnessPal has been a real eye opener on how many calories are "hidden" in fast food even chips !!!! Corn chips !! Been craving corn chips soooo bad then feel guilty when I had them
An ounce of tortilla chips is about 140 calories. That's nothing to feel guilty about, just have 140 calories less of something else that day and you're still at your goal.
Unfortunately for me, 1 once of tortilla chips is barely enough to get me started Doesn't mean I won't eat them though!
I mean, yeah. If portion control is harder with certain foods then it may be easier not to eat them.
But for some people, at least with some foods, having a reasonable portion will satisfy a craving.
I absolutely agree! I'm generally all about everything in moderation. Tortilla chips just get me. Especially with guac. Double whammyWildBill_CQ wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »lisayunghanns wrote: »I understand completely I too struggle with food cravings and even the thought of 1 slice of pizza @ 900 calories and eating brekky would be nudging close to full calories for day! MyFitnessPal has been a real eye opener on how many calories are "hidden" in fast food even chips !!!! Corn chips !! Been craving corn chips soooo bad then feel guilty when I had them
An ounce of tortilla chips is about 140 calories. That's nothing to feel guilty about, just have 140 calories less of something else that day and you're still at your goal.
Unfortunately for me, 1 once of tortilla chips is barely enough to get me started Doesn't mean I won't eat them though!
feelin' ya girlfriend... those free chips at the tex mex restaurant. EVIL!
I fail in self-control spectacularly every time we go out for Tex Mex...
This is me and chocolate cake. I'd rather just have a big piece once or twice a year than a couple of bites more frequently.2 -
OP, since I've jumped into the middle without replying, I figured I'd write a proper reply. Start by making small changes that are sustainable. You've already gotten some good advice there. You may always have trigger foods (like tortilla chips, or ice cream, or soda - whatever). Learn what you can moderate and what you might be better off trying to avoid or save for really special occasions for planned overages. Don't try to incorporate anything you can't see yourself sticking with forever, and don't try to overhaul your entire diet overnight.2
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Oh man, you hit on a lot of people's pet subject.
Don't everyone dogpile on the OP at once and make her leave and never come back. There are foods which are more nutritious and easier to fit into a caloric deficit, and foods which are calorie dense or cause cravings for more food. They aren't "bad" for all people, but they can be problematic, and obviously she feels they are problematic for her. Sorry she used the wrong word, everyone give her a break!
OP, for me at least it helps to start by cutting out soda. The sweetness of soda makes me crave salty food like French fries which make me crave greasy food like burgers and it's just a cascade of bad decisions. When I eliminate soda, I crave it for about two weeks, then I'm perfectly happy without it, and the cravings for all the related foods stop as well. This technique may not help you, but consider trying it if it sounds reasonable.
Some other techniques which help are identifying the situations which cause you to make these decisions and proving food in advance which will satisfy the same sort of craving. So if you know you can't resist having an ice cream cone on the way home after work, don't drive the route that takes you past the ice cream shop, go another way, and have a similar but calorie-friendly snack waiting when you get home, such as Greek yogurt with berries, Halo Top, or maybe a smaller scoop of ice cream without a cone. It does take thought and advance planning to have sliced vegetables handy when you want fries, but you can learn these skills. Better yet eat the veggies and get full and satisfied before you want fries!
Good luck! You can definitely learn to conquer your food issues.
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I've gotten a lot out of the work of Kathryn Hansen (brainoverbinge.com), Amy Johnson (dramyjohnson.com) and others who write about changing habits. Basically, the more you "dismiss" urges the more they fade. The idea is that every time you obey an urge, you strengthen the neural circuitry that supports the habit.3
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Wannabebeautifulagain wrote: »I think I'm addicted...:( Does anyone else feel the same way ?
If it's a case of having trouble moderating certain foods or stuff you tend to eat out of habit/boredom, or if it is just too calorie dense to fit into your day at a non-thimble-sized portion, then it can be helpful to not buy that stuff and have it around in the first place.. then you only need self-control at the supermarket (eating beforehand and going to a no-frills place that won't have piles of gourmet tasty stuff in your face will help with that part).
If a fast-food thing, then having stuff pre-prepared and ready to eat will help.--Stuff you like enough that you'll happily eat it when hungry instead of driving off for fast food, but not irresistibly so. (For example, for me, a pot of chili works well for this...buying some cornbread to go along with it-not so much).
I'm too lazy to head out to grab something for a craving, so if it's not in the house I'm good. But yes, I have a very hard time resisting certain things if I have them at home (generally all the starchy things - bread, rolls, croissants, corn/wheat gruel/porridge, crackers, potatoes, cookies,..and I always want more after eating them).1 -
today on the way to way to work I was going to stop at Wendy's and get a Burger/Fries/Coke..... Then I remembered I had Oatmeal at my desk....by passed Wendy's and had the oatmeal, small victory! Yea me.... you can do it just remember what your goal is, where you want to go.
This is great! I think the suggestion for the crock pot to have a meal ready for you at home would be a great way for you to go to help avoid the drive thru. Works for me 100% Throw stuff in in the morning and its ready when I get home. No fuss, and I have a great meal!
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WinoGelato wrote: »What kind of pizza is 900 cals/slice?
A chicken bacon ranch slice from a pizzaria in the Bronx can be 800-900 calories. But I still make room for it once a month or so
It's still not a bad food. It's soooooo good2 -
Ugh sometimes I feel this way! When my anxiety or a really bad depression episode hits, I'll just eat and eat lol it's like trying to compensate for how bad I feel.0
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Don't cut anything out. Modify it.
What is it you think your eating bad, and I can give examples?0 -
You could try reframing your thinking about food, certain foods are problematic for you, rather than bad. This makes cutting them down a puzzle to be solved which is easier than seeing yourself as a failure. Personally I had to start with organising things so I had planned meals ready to eat and didn't feel the need to buy fast food because I didn't want to cook.1
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You can eat what ever you like if it's within your calorie intake and almost macros limit1
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also having snack-like stuff available that is lower calorie density and takes longer to eat can help when emotional/boredom/habit cravings strike. For example, A 70-80 calorie apple that you slice while eating (optionally dipped in a bit of cinnamon and/or splenda) takes longer to eat than a 300 calorie snack cake. Salad greens with garlic/pepper/a bit of olive oil/a good balsamic vinegar can be less than 100 calories and takes a while to eat. Edamame still in the pods is also very low calorie for the time it takes to eat. Ditto on pomegranates.1
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I understand completely. Sometimes I think they are in complete control.2
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I absolutely believe that I was addicted to sugar and fat (donuts, cake, cookies, candy, chocolate, etc.) and I don't eat those anymore. It's been a year since I've had any and I credit that with helping me lose 60 lbs. Before if I had any of those things in the house I would have to eat them until they were gone! There was no way they would stay around for very long.3
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l1bbylabel7 wrote: »I absolutely believe that I was addicted to sugar and fat (donuts, cake, cookies, candy, chocolate, etc.) and I don't eat those anymore. It's been a year since I've had any and I credit that with helping me lose 60 lbs. Before if I had any of those things in the house I would have to eat them until they were gone! There was no way they would stay around for very long.
You can't survive without eating fat and a sugar-free diet is very limited. Do you mean you no longer eat foods that are high in sugar and fat?5 -
Nothing 'wrong' with fast food when you're trying to lose weight. I've lost 15lbs so far and I still eat what I want. I'm not going to give up eating what I enjoy, but my portion sizes have changed.
Before I go to a fast food place, I log my food or at least look at what I'll be potentially eating in calories and how many calories I'll be left with for the rest of the day.
Best example is:
How I use to eat (using Taco Bell (yum!) as an example):
Beefy 5 Layer Burrito - 510 calories
Cheesy Potato Burrito - 510 calories
Totaling - 1020 calories out of 1310 calories for the day. Leaving me with 290 (not gonna happen)
How I eat now at Taco Bell:
1 of the above burritos - 510 calories
1 soft taco - 190 calories
Totaling - 700 calories out of 1310 calories for the day. Leaving me with 610 calories for the day4 -
Yes I meant that I don't eat high fat sugar ladened foods such as donuts, etc. It may be too restrictive for some people but it has worked for me.1
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Yes, lots of other people feel that way. Food is my coping mechanism and I am working to change that.0
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Wannabebeautifulagain wrote: »When I say bad food
..Let me elaborate...*fast food and high sugar foods* ...I thought that was pretty obvious. If you eat one huge thing then you will be starving the rest of the day trying to make the calorie deficit. So I'm curious if anyone else struggles with food addiction (eating too much to compensate for other things ) as you guys clearly don't understand.
I completely understand where you are coming from and I feel the same way. I struggle with this too.
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I was just like that about 3 months ago... and for my entire life. I always wanted to eat... and usually junk food. I ate so much... all of the time. It was becoming a real problem since I stopped working at a physically demanding job. I started a ketogenic diet about 3 months ago, and I no longer have this problem. I never want to overeat, I never have cravings, and I’m not even hungry by the evening. It has been absolutely amazing. Plus, I’ve lost 24 lbs! You should give it a try. It just may work for you too! I will send you a friend request, my diary is open if you’d like to see how I’ve been eating. Best of luck to you.0
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I feel as if I am addicted to sugary foods and I need to wean my brain off of the sugar.3
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WinoGelato wrote: »lisayunghanns wrote: »I understand completely I too struggle with food cravings and even the thought of 1 slice of pizza @ 900 calories and eating brekky would be nudging close to full calories for day! MyFitnessPal has been a real eye opener on how many calories are "hidden" in fast food even chips !!!! Corn chips !! Been craving corn chips soooo bad then feel guilty when I had them
What kind of pizza is 900 cals/slice?
See and I think MFP is a great tool to help figure out how to fit the foods you desire into your day or week. A serving of corn chips is what, 150 cals? You can't make that fit into your day? Maybe your calorie target is too restrictive?
Exactly, +1 on the corn chips. According to the brand I buy, seven corn chips is 140 calories, add a little humus - 60 calories and bam! great snack for 200 calories.0 -
I think that pretty much all of us struggle with this. I life time of so called "bad" eating choices doesn't get changed quickly. Last week I had a very bad week. Popeye's chicken, new donut shop opened in the neighborhood, etc. The important thing is to not give up.1
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Sugar and fat is like a drug, if you stop eating them for a month you will not crave them anymore. When i have a sugar craving i eat a couple of square of 85-90% cacao chocolate bar and i am good for a week.5
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@Wannabebeautifulagain If it's any help I will say I get what you mean! I adore fatty meats/sugary foods! I also had one donut a day for two of the 11 days I've been calculating my calories/fat/sugar/proteins... I'm trying to not give foods 'labels' anymore. I look at what I have to choose from to eat - and I try to make good choices - sometimes the donuts win - an sometimes the green giant steamers win. I figure that after my first weigh in (I'm doing monthly - yes monthly weigh ins) that if I didn't lose as much as I expected - I will make healthier choices more often - but for me, it's simply not in my genetics (lol) to deny myself a sweet treat once in a while.
I will say this (and I did in another post) -- that I ate terrible yesterday (like I had a hot dog and chocolate cake) and I was sick to my stomach all evening long. I'm telling myself that it was karma kicking me in the butt for not eating ANYTHING nutritious yesterday. ;-)
Hang in there. We are all in this together to support each other!!0 -
Having never been a calorie counter before starting on this app 82 days, Inever equated calories with quality
I ate LOTS of junk. You don't get to be 140+lbs overweight without massive overeating.
Now, though, I'm a calorie counter. As such, if I'm going to eat a lot more than my normal calories
it has to be REALLY worth it.
Double Whopper with Cheese? I used to be able to eat 3 of those. But now for a bazillion calories...
it's just NOT WORTH it, it just does not taste good enough0 -
Finally, someone who feels the exact same way I do.
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Meeeeeee!! I do. I do!Wannabebeautifulagain wrote: »I think I'm addicted...:( Does anyone else feel the same way ?
I'm the same way. Love to eat and pizza gets me every time.
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