Fast Food and Weight Loss

sekeitheswingdreamer
sekeitheswingdreamer Posts: 31
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I wanted people's thoughts on this. So I have been on MFP for a little over a month now and a lot of my meals logged have been from fast food establishments. Even so, by carefully coordinating portions, I have been able to always end the day below my calorie goal...for the most part. Regardless, I still feel that I might be jeopardizing my progress by eating so much fast food, despite always meeting my calorie goals. Despite all this though, my 40 inch cargo shorts are now too big for me. What do you guys think? As long as I meet my calorie goals, does it really matter if a good portion of my diet is compromised of fast food?

Replies

  • myguiltypleasure
    myguiltypleasure Posts: 25
    I'm no expert but I think it's not a problem. However it's important to keep in mind it's not just about weight loss, you want to be healthy too. Make sure the food you're eating is providing you with the right amount of nutrients/vitamins etc. There are a lot of slender people who are unhealthy because of a bad diet.
  • suzi67
    suzi67 Posts: 162 Member
    A calorie is a calorie. You just have to decide the quality of that calorie. That's all.
  • Tonnina
    Tonnina Posts: 979 Member
    My hubby would say no... I say it's not a good thing to be eating fast food all the time because of the money... Calorie wise, it's a little helpful actually, because they have to be consistent with their food prep, there for the calories are consistent. I say all things in moderation or just choose the healthier options and fast food can be more of a friend than foe!
  • Fayve
    Fayve Posts: 406 Member
    This topic was included extensively in the documentary 'Fat Head". He ate only fast food, on a calorie restricted diet, and lost a lot of weight along the way (as well as lowering his cholesterol and other health features). He also walked about an hour a day.

    I think that overall, there are definitely better options, and I would always suggest trying to substitute some veggies or fruit in there, but if thats your only option, and it's working for you, then all the power to ya :) However, when you're getting closer to your goal weight, you may need to change it up a bit and work towards healthier, cleaner foods.
  • girlypop
    girlypop Posts: 80
    it depends what. I like this salad bar that does take out and i would consider it a fast food establishment cuz you don't sit down to eat but like its not mcdonald here. Not all fast food is created equal. The disadvantage to all fast food is that you don't know what goes in to your food. If your creating a calorie deficit, you could lose weight anyway but you wanna try to make healthy choices.

    So if you are hitting up a salad bar for lunch it's probably fine to go everyday, but just cause you can squeeze a big mac into your calories doesnt make it healthy.
  • MIMITIME
    MIMITIME Posts: 405 Member
    To lose 37 pounds you are doing something right. I went to a dietician years ago and she said a calorie is a calorie and I think that is true. I am older and not so much a fast food person but I like good food. I have been able to not completely deprive myself of good food and still lose weight as long as I stay within my calories, carbs ect. You know what they say - moderation is the key to everything. I am retired so I have time to plan out things but I could see how someone working and on the go would have to do the fast food thing sometimes.
  • NancyAnne1960
    NancyAnne1960 Posts: 500 Member
    I guess it would depend on the type of fast food you are talking about. Look at Jerrod from Subway. As long as you are eating healthy fast food, I see no problem. Just watch the processed foods, fats, and sodium from them. Making things from scratch you can adjust these items or omit them (salt). But if it's working for you, then, that is what counts. Hope you are getting your needs for fruits and veggies. Good luck to you.
  • _GlaDOS_
    _GlaDOS_ Posts: 1,520 Member
    Health vs. weight loss. You can lose weight many different ways, but health is something entirely different.

    Just because someone is thin or even "fit", does not mean they are necessarily healthy.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    I eat fast food occasionally and keep within my calorie budget and everything is fine.

    The biggest problem, I think, is that these foods tend to be very calorie-dense so you don't get to eat much stuff and still stay within budget. That means you get hungry sooner which can lead you to overeat later - or at the least have to suffer through the hunger if you have the willpower.
  • yeabby
    yeabby Posts: 643 Member
    A calorie is a calorie as many have said. My concern would be the amount of sodium you're taking in. MFP is very generous with 2500 per day. IMO sodium should be no higher than 1800 a day.

    edit - I'd also be concerned about the vitamins and minerals you are missing by taking in a lot of overly processed foods and not enough produce.
  • shesblossoming
    shesblossoming Posts: 426
    This topic was included extensively in the documentary 'Fat Head". He ate only fast food, on a calorie restricted diet, and lost a lot of weight along the way (as well as lowering his cholesterol and other health features). He also walked about an hour a day.

    I think that overall, there are definitely better options, and I would always suggest trying to substitute some veggies or fruit in there, but if thats your only option, and it's working for you, then all the power to ya :) However, when you're getting closer to your goal weight, you may need to change it up a bit and work towards healthier, cleaner foods.

    I was going to bring up that documentary as well. It is definitely worth watching.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    I eat fast food occasionally and keep within my calorie budget and everything is fine.

    The biggest problem, I think, is that these foods tend to be very calorie-dense so you don't get to eat much stuff and still stay within budget. That means you get hungry sooner which can lead you to overeat later - or at the least have to suffer through the hunger if you have the willpower.

    What? I stay fuller from eating a couple double stackers from BK for less than $5 bucks than when I eat $5 worth of fruits and veges which are 80% water or more.
  • sekeitheswingdreamer
    sekeitheswingdreamer Posts: 31
    Thank you for your thoughts everyone. And for the record, I do incorporate as many fresh fruits and vegetables into my daily meals that I can.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    I eat fast food occasionally and keep within my calorie budget and everything is fine.

    The biggest problem, I think, is that these foods tend to be very calorie-dense so you don't get to eat much stuff and still stay within budget. That means you get hungry sooner which can lead you to overeat later - or at the least have to suffer through the hunger if you have the willpower.

    What? I stay fuller from eating a couple double stackers from BK for less than $5 bucks than when I eat $5 worth of fruits and veges which are 80% water or more.
    Sometimes I do too, depending on what my body wants. I was mostly talking about pure bulk of food in the stomach and how long it takes to digest.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member

    Sometimes I do too, depending on what my body wants. I was mostly talking about pure bulk of food in the stomach and how long it takes to digest.

    What exactly is "pure bulk food"?
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member

    Sometimes I do too, depending on what my body wants. I was mostly talking about pure bulk of food in the stomach and how long it takes to digest.

    What exactly is "pure bulk food"?
    You know, like volume. One McD cheeseburger is 330 Cal, or for the same calories you could eat something like 5 cups of broccoli. The latter stuff you to the gills, while the former feels like you're just getting started. ;)
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member

    Sometimes I do too, depending on what my body wants. I was mostly talking about pure bulk of food in the stomach and how long it takes to digest.

    What exactly is "pure bulk food"?
    You know, like volume. One McD cheeseburger is 330 Cal, or for the same calories you could eat something like 5 cups of broccoli. The latter stuff you to the gills, while the former feels like you're just getting started. ;)

    Which meal would supply more energy and keep you feeling fuller longer?
    Meal A
    Roughly 300kcal, 115 grams total solids, 15 g protein, 33 g carbs, 12g fat
    With 4 glasses of water

    Meal B
    Roughly 150 kcal, roughly 45 grams total solids, 13 g protein, 30 g carbs, 2 g fat.
    With 4.5 glasses of water
  • ryoungers
    ryoungers Posts: 4
    You can lose weight eating anything, as long as you keep the calories in check. But with fast food you are not getting enough fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and dietary fiber. I think you can keep fast food in your diet to some extent but you'll want to be sure to eat a lot of fruits and veggies on top of it - like if you're eating fast food for lunch, have a big green salad with tons of chopped veggies and some canned beans on top for dinner - to balance it out.
  • zumba89
    zumba89 Posts: 82
    I eat fast food a lot and I do cook sometimes. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as I do my 60 or so mintues in workouts and stay under my calorie I'm good. I know the salt thing can be a pain but.. when i talked to my doctor and she said that as long as my salt don't go to 4000 and over in salt then it could be ok. My thing is if it's not broke don't fix it.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    Which meal would supply more energy and keep you feeling fuller longer?
    Meal A
    Roughly 300kcal, 115 grams total solids, 15 g protein, 33 g carbs, 12g fat
    With 4 glasses of water

    Meal B
    Roughly 150 kcal, roughly 45 grams total solids, 13 g protein, 30 g carbs, 2 g fat.
    With 4.5 glasses of water
    More energy? Obviously the one with more calories.

    But, I see your point. I'll defer to the guy with the degree in nutrition.

    However, we may be talking about slightly different things. You seem to be talking about the feeling of satiety that stops the body from saying "eat more now." I'm just talking about how physically full the stomach is and how long it stays that way. With that in mind, the water in the veggies is bound up in cell walls that need to be broken down before that water can be extracted, so I would think the bulk would have a bit more longevity in the stomach than liquid water, wouldn't it?
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