Hi, I'm new here. New friends welcomed. :)

Hi Joseph!
My name is Franchesca, I'm a bit older at 25 yrs but I don't look it because i'm short. Anyways i need friends to help me keep up my goal so I would be happy to friend you if you're interested!

Well I don't fit into your demographic, so no need to friend me, but I just want to let you know I am pulling for you to be successful! All the best to you!

Hiya!

Feel free to add me. I just turned 30 and I'm having a hard time accepting it. 5'10", now at 248lbs aiming to be around 160lbs in the long run but have a smaller goal at the moment. Trying the eating more method to lose weight (I messed up my metabolism starving myself skinny in my early twenties and spent the rest of them eating little to try and get small again, then getting frustrated and binging) So far the eating more is working!!

I am not your age nor do I crave fast food everyday but I was honestly eating it 2 to 3 times a week and that's too much. I have started to order less food and or choose things outside of my normal cravings. I am doing much better. Good luck.

Hi there:) I'm Sandy and I'm 18 years old. Since I've begun losing weight 5 months ago, I've already lost about 18 lbs, and trying to lose 12 more. It was extremely difficult to give up most of my candy and chocolate, and the fast food was difficult, too. But I learned that it's absolutely fine to have a few "cheat" days, if most days I'm eating healthy. I just joined MFP, and I think it's really gonna help me shed off the pounds, and you too. You just gotta stick with this, and not get overwhelmed, because it's very easy to do that. When you get too overwhelmed, you kind of seep back into your old habbits. Good luck:) I sent you a friend request.

How do you manage your cheat days? I have a difficult time not slipping back into the old routine.

Well, when I first started dieting I was trying to find ways to make healthy foods taste good, so I started craving those healthy foods. I started to replace those instead of the high-calorie foods a little bit at a time. When you change the types of food you eat, your cravings kind of change. It will definitely take a little time, but trust me, they'll change.
I have a big Italian family, so when they cook those big Italian meals, I can't resist, naturally,but when I eat healthily most of the time, I don't feel guilty about what I'm eating then. Incorporating exercise is extremely important.
I love using this site because it tells you how many calories you need to lose weight, and how much you burn exercising.
The weekends are usually my cheat days because that's when I'm hanging around my friends and family, so as long as I get back on track Monday, I haven't got anything to worry about. But sometimes I just gotta have a treat, you know? So I just do more cardio and aerobics and I burn it off.
Just so you know, they have a bunch of low-calorie snacks and desserts at Sam's, Costco, and Walmart. Health food stores are probably the best, they're just a little more expensive. And if you like cooking, just do a google search on how to make low-calorie desserts and dishes, because I've found a bunch of recipes I love online.
Basically to answer your question, I would say to put what you ate that was unhealthy in the food tracker, and see how many calories it was, and exercise it off. Here's a few great aerobic exercises that burn 150 calories:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E63OUoRuCSU
Like I said, if you have a few cheat days, and then exercise, it won't effect you. Even if you don't exercise a day, it won't really effect you. Just try not to do it the next day.
If you find yourself slipping back into old habbits, just start thinking about the Ipad lol, and think about the other awards you will gain when you lose.
Sorry this was so long lol. When I get started on something, I could talk forever.
Have a good night:)