I can NOT believe I used to eat like THIS!

JenMarie8781
JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
edited December 17 in Food and Nutrition
Omg... I am seriously sitting here shaking my head in disbelief. In all the time that I have been on MFP, I have never went to the database and compiled a menu of what I USED to eat... just to see the numbers... so I did it just now and I am seriously shocked. Before I got serious about weight loss, I never counted calories or anything... I just ate whatever I wanted, as much as I wanted, whenever I wanted. One of my favorite places to eat used to be Captain D's (haven't touched the stuff in a year now!) and this is what my typical meal from there would be - 3 chicken strips, extra hush puppies, extra fries, coleslaw and a whole cup (about 3 - 4 oz) of honey mustard sauce. I just added it all up and for that ONE meal, this is what the numbers look like:

Calories: 1,710
Fat: 115
Carbs: 140
Sodium: 2960

Wow... just.... wow! I can't believe I used to eat like that! What the HELL was I thinking?!!!!! Looking at THAT and then looking at what I eat NOW... I can really see how big of a change I have made!
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Replies

  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    Bump : )
  • Improvised
    Improvised Posts: 925 Member
    I hear ya. I'm still kind of struggling with my calories, but I used to eat approx. 3000 cals a day without even blinking.
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    I hear ya. I'm still kind of struggling with my calories, but I used to eat approx. 3000 cals a day without even blinking.

    I probably ate about 5,000 some days... maybe more. I'm so glad I finally realized what I was doing to myself!
  • shaycat
    shaycat Posts: 980
    I use to eat fast food for lunch every day while I was pregnant. My poor son!

    What I use to get a lot from del taco was chili cheese fries and a double bacon burger. About 1400 calories for lunch.

    That is almost what I eat in a whole day now.
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    I use to eat fast food for lunch every day while I was pregnant. My poor son!

    What I use to get a lot from del taco was chili cheese fries and a double bacon burger. About 1400 calories for lunch.

    That is almost what I eat in a whole day now.

    I know! Me too! That's what I was just thinking... I used to eat a whole day's worth of calories in ONE meal! Wow! And I ate like that when I was pregnant too! When I was pregnant with my twins, I constantly craved Captain D's and DQ. Now I feel bad about it : /
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    : )
  • Ke22yB
    Ke22yB Posts: 969 Member
    typical breakfast 1/2 dozens eggs 1/2 pound of bacon 4 slices of toast 16 ounces of whole milk
    I am not sure just how many calories but I know this couldnt be good for me guess thats why I wound up at over 360 pounds
  • sofitheteacup
    sofitheteacup Posts: 396 Member
    I have moments like this every time I look up an old food I used to eat in the database- like stopping at Jack in the Box before my night class once a week and picking up a Jumbo Jack with cheese and two tacos, with the buttermilk dipping sauce. Over 1200 calories before you even add a large sweet tea. And let's not even get into the macros. I'm horrified by what I used to eat. Sometimes I'll crave something and work my butt off beforehand to be able to afford it calorically, but as I learn more about the chemicals and effects of the foods to begin with, I don't even want to consider it.
    What kills me are the friends I have on this site and IRL who DO know this info, who SAY they want to change and lose weight, and then STOP USING MFP/LOGGING because they "think they have it under control" and then PROCEED to eat McDonalds for breakfast every morning. Sigh. /end rant
  • cm1458
    cm1458 Posts: 742 Member
    I used to eat like that constantly, too, but i don't anymore! I could go to krystal (used to be my favorite fast food) and eat 4-6 krystals with cheese, a large sweet tea or soda, and a large order of fries with about 15 packs of ketchup on them! sometimes I'd even go get more! Its great that neither of us do that anymore though :) food like that is just a heart attack on a platter! Great to know you're eating healthier now! great job, im so happy for you! much luck in the future :flowerforyou:
  • Squiggs67
    Squiggs67 Posts: 178
    Yeah...that is a big WOW!!!! Glad you've seen the light and are taking care of yourself.
  • PeaceCorpsKat
    PeaceCorpsKat Posts: 335 Member
    yeah this is a problem in the modern world - we don't stop to think about it. I think it is really healthy to be aware of what you are eating. Good job and keep at it.
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    Good for you for making the change!

    Off to look up some of my old fast food favorites!
  • grimm1974
    grimm1974 Posts: 337 Member
    One of my favorite lunches before joining MFP was Zaxby's Wings and Things.

    1710 calories
    107g fat (22g saturated)
    2735 mg of sodium
    425 mg of cholesterol

    I got ready to get one of those after starting MFP. When I got ready to log it, I quickly exited the drive thru and went next door to Chic-fil-a for a nice grilled chicken salad.
  • krisrpaz
    krisrpaz Posts: 263 Member
    I easily ate 3,000-5,000 a day before I started MFP. I would get Chinese food and have a large hot and sour soup, sweet and sour chicken with fried rice and crab wantons. If I was depressed I would go buy half a sheet cake from the grocery store and eat the entire thing. It makes me so sad that I did that to myself.
  • justagirl2013
    justagirl2013 Posts: 226 Member
    One of the things that i love (yet despise so much) is the fact I can no longer think of fast food, eating out, etc without knowing that I should double whatever calories I think are in the foods. It's really ruined dinners out for me, and I prefer to cook at home now (Not a bad thing btw!).
  • Oo_BrookeNicole_oO
    Oo_BrookeNicole_oO Posts: 165
    I'm the same way. I used to plop down with bags of candy and just shove my face until I felt sick. I could eat a whole bag of lifesaver gummies without even realizing it. My boyfriend and I would eat fast food/ restaurant at least 6-7 times a week. (He still does. :( I'm trying to slowly encourage him to break that habit!) When I first got myfitness pal, I realized I was eating 3000 calories a day at minimum! It makes me wonder how I didn't put on any more weight than I did. I guess I just developed a fast metabolism. Great job on living a better lifestyle and congrats on all your weight loss thus far!

    ETA: Chinese buffets used to be huge for me. I could easily eat 3 heaping plates plus their ice cream. *drools* I haven't gone once in over 3 months because I know I can't restrain myself when I see all that yummy "chinese" food.
  • judypriv
    judypriv Posts: 206 Member
    I used to eat a entire ham and cheese sandwich before bed!
  • sc1572
    sc1572 Posts: 2,309 Member
    right?! it's INSANE what you find out!!!!
  • miranda_mom
    miranda_mom Posts: 873 Member
    I actually use the nutrition information to remind myself not to get the things I used to! The other day, a friend was ordering Chinese (a weakness for me) and I really wanted some but I had brought my own lunch. I entered what I would have gotten into the database and it was 1400 calories. My lunch was like 200-300, something like that. I guess you can imagine what choice I made. And the thing is, what I normally get for Chinese isn't even that terrible - kung pao chicken combo (with fried rice) and a small wonton soup.
  • peacefulsong
    peacefulsong Posts: 223 Member
    I went to Captain D's today! :laugh: It was a serious craving, I haven't been there in years. But I decided to let myself do it. I really wish I could say "Wow, that was disgusting, I'm glad I don't do that anymore," but I can't lie. It was so yummy. :laugh: Terrible for me, obviously, and it beat my fat allowance to a bloody lifeless pulp, but still, so tasty. I'd feel more guilty about it but I eat fast food so rarely these days that I'm not going to feel bad about one ill-advised day. :)
  • CarolinaButterfly
    CarolinaButterfly Posts: 25
    Keying in mine when i first started was like a never ending story..i couldn't believe how much i was eating.. i blamed the washer for my jeans not fitting!
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    typical breakfast 1/2 dozens eggs 1/2 pound of bacon 4 slices of toast 16 ounces of whole milk
    I am not sure just how many calories but I know this couldnt be good for me guess thats why I wound up at over 360 pounds

    I know what you mean. I was 368 at my heaviest and I ate HORRIBLE!
  • Curt959
    Curt959 Posts: 21
    I'm with ya here! I, too, was consuming 3,000 - 5,000 calories per day (and was not exercising) prior to joining MFP. Many people cannot believe I've lost the amount of weight I have, by simply exercise and eating smarter, due to being cognizant of calorie intake versus calories burned!
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    I used to eat like that constantly, too, but i don't anymore! I could go to krystal (used to be my favorite fast food) and eat 4-6 krystals with cheese, a large sweet tea or soda, and a large order of fries with about 15 packs of ketchup on them! sometimes I'd even go get more! Its great that neither of us do that anymore though :) food like that is just a heart attack on a platter! Great to know you're eating healthier now! great job, im so happy for you! much luck in the future :flowerforyou:

    Thanks! You too : )
  • AC417
    AC417 Posts: 56 Member
    I was in shock when I realized how many calories I used to eat before starting on MFP, but as one of my friends pointed out, what's done is done and there's no use fretting over it because we can't change it. We've all come a long way since then. We should learn our mistakes and concentrate on the future. :)
  • JenMarie8781
    JenMarie8781 Posts: 377 Member
    I easily ate 3,000-5,000 a day before I started MFP. I would get Chinese food and have a large hot and sour soup, sweet and sour chicken with fried rice and crab wantons. If I was depressed I would go buy half a sheet cake from the grocery store and eat the entire thing. It makes me so sad that I did that to myself.

    I know how you feel. Even though I don't do that NOW, I feel so ashamed of myself when I think of how I used to eat!
  • ReinasWrath
    ReinasWrath Posts: 1,173 Member
    I used to have fast food for several meals a day. And let me tell you, I am a french fry girl.. If I got a burger I ALWAYs got the whole meal!! Usually a large too! I am in awe of how I used to eat and since I've been eating better I feel better but SOMETIMES I miss eating those kinds of foods~! D: I doubt I could go a week without a free day!! :(
  • jucciifruit
    jucciifruit Posts: 30 Member
    Well i havent made nearly as much progress as everyone else but i have definatly changed my mind about food since MFP. I used to eat a whole foot long sub turn around eat two or three cookies drink two or three 20 oz at 9 o clock at night.. I have seen times i have gone to the chineese buffet and cleand 3 and half plates full and ended up snacking all night later. I have cut back fast food majorly and cut sodas out completely. while im still begining this journey im glad i see food for what it really is now.
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    until MFP I did not realize that 1/2 gallon of icecream was not a single serving....:)
  • Pifflesmom
    Pifflesmom Posts: 134 Member
    I've found it simply amazing as to what I used to eat without even batting an eye...not necessarily WHAT, but how MUCH. I love this site because I've learned so much about food...what I used to think was healthy in essence isn't (ie: spaghetti sauce)...I know I still eat some bad things from time to time, but I'm so much more aware of what I put in my mouth :happy:
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