How to avoid fast food?

[Anonymous]

So I'm really trying to lose weight. So far I've lost 20lbs in about two months. I work out at least four days a week sometime twice a day. I'm not really a sweet eater or into snacking. My weakness is fast food though. I'll tell myself I don't need, but the cravings get so bad that I can't take it and go eat. Then I feel awful and regretful after I do and I promise myself I won't do it again, but that only lasts for a few days. I'll do really good for a week or two where I won't eat any fast food, but then I'll drift off and eat fast food for at least one meal almost every day. Does anyone have any tips or ways to control this and not let it happen? I'm really trying, but when I get the cravings is when I lose it.

[thegirlwithgreeneyes]

Just try your hardest to maintain some self-control for more than a couple weeks. You can try getting off of it slowly if you're having trouble. Find a substitute for the cravings, like pita chips instead of potato, etc. Before I moved away from home for university, I didn't exactly have the healthiest diet just because I didn't have a ton of healthy options at my house. After about a month away from home, I began to try to eat healthier. It was tough the first couple weeks watching my friends bring plates of french fries and pizza to the table when all I had on my plate was a fish fillet and a cup of veggies lol but, honestly, I ended up getting to the point where I was so used to healthy food that whenever I got fast food or junk food, I felt so sluggish and if it was really bad/greasy food, my insides just felt horrible... ever since, it's been pretty easy staying away from greasy, salty foods and I'm fine with that. I still eat fast food from time to time now, when I crave it, but only about once a month and I am careful about where I eat and how much.

[jrose]

I try to always have food with me- snacks, meals, whatever I need to eat for the day when I'm away from home. And at home I try to plan my meals for the whole week, sometimes I even cook in advance. This helps because if the food is already made and already with you, you're far less tempted to stop at a fast food place for convenience.

Also- I let myself indulge once in awhile- it's really not the end of the world to have a burger and fries twice a month. I'm not saying every day, but if you work out and generally eat healthy, there is no reason you can't have a fast food fix once in awhile

Me- I'm a sweet person, I could eat chocolate ALL day and I sure love baked goods. I try to resist them, but currently I have trouble since my roommates tend to bring stuff home to share and I often bake to relax. I'm working on it...

[sexyasianboi26]

FEED YOUR CRAVINGS. That's what I always tell people who are trying to lose weight. But when I say feed your cravings, it doesn't mean you should have it everyday.

Moderation is key. I suggest that you do a once a week cheat meal. For example, On Saturday nights, go out and eat fast food and feed your cravings but also try to limit your food intake.

The most important thing is your consciousness and well being. Sweets evoke a feeling of happiness, so you would rather be happy or live a miserable tasteless life?

I eat chocolate everyday lol, it never got me fat. Only 4 pieces though, which is about 200 calories.

[kheserthorpe]

I'd suggest you have fast food once a week.

It sounds to me like you've probably had it more then 8 times in the last 2 months, and still lost 20 lbs. You can have fast food once as week, eat well the other 20 meals, and lose a lot of weight.

So don't beat yourself up over it. Plan it out. When you crave it, think 'yeah, that's what I'm gonna have this week'. Schedule it in to your plan. And when you have it, don't think 'its all pointless now' and go on a fast food tear. One meal is one meal. Be tough on yourself in the present, forgive yourself for the past, and the future will take care of itself.

[ImSoSozzled]

Well it takes 4 weeks to form a habit, so if you can get yourself to hold off that long, it'll take almost no effort from then on. Maybe try making some sort of reward system. Find something you really want, and tell yourself you can buy it if you can go 4 weeks without eating any fast food. It really comes down to mental strength and how badly you want to be healthy.

I know it's kind of bad, but what helps me is to think about all the overweight people who eat fast food all the time and how pathetic they are and ask myself "are you really as weak as them?" Mental strength is 100% under your control, so there's no real excuse for not being able to do something as simple as not eat food that is terrible for you. There is so much healthy, good-tasting food out there.

I just had fast food for the first time in like 5 months and it physically made my body feel sick, so now I have absolutely no problem avoiding it. You can do it too!

[AudiR8]

I hate fast food... If you educate yourself on what you're "actually" eating... you'd probably think twice before putting anything in your mouth again (Watch the move Food Inc)

... Anyway most people don't have time for that.. sooooo... I would advice you to not allow yourself to get hungry... In other words, don't wait to eat till you're hungry, but rather create a timesheet for every meal of the day. Like: "Oh! It's 8:00am I need to eat my oatmeal(breakfast)!" (even if you're not hungry because that's the time you need to eat.. you choose your hours.. 6 times/day with 6 small meals would be ideal) You'll end up eating before you hunger kicks in... and you're less likely to crave for stuff since you're not allowing yourself to feel hungry.

Avoid watching commercials xD they make you hungry even when you aren't! They are evil!

Also, the meals that you eat, make sure they have a lot of fiber to keep you feeling full longer, and a lot of protein!

[Daph81]

there are healthy alternatives you can make at home. Pinterest is full of it. For example, if you're craving fries, make oven baked rosemary potatoes instead. If you're craving burgers, make your own burger patty from leaner meat and veggies that are more fresh. Double the veggies too. Stock up some alternatives for the fast food you usually crave. If it's the "fast" you want, cook a large batch and then keep in freezer, ready to be baked or cooked in 10-20 minutes.

And congrats on losing 20 lbs! Keep going!

[Light_Yagami]

Without getting all scientific about dieting and nutrients just have a cheat day. One bad day of eating terrible won't make you fat just like one good day of eating won't make you thin.

Also like sexyasianboi26 said never deny your cravings, if your body is hungry feed it just be clever about what you're feeding it.

[6Paul11]

Well, I see two options.

Watch Fast Food Nation or Food Inc. Learn about pink slime, and you will never want to eat out again. (Unless you are like me and just love it haha)

Or, you can just eat fast food once a week. Make it a treat. Plus, think of the money you will save!

[Alexias]

Ignoring food cravings usually result in the person indulging in the craving eating more than what they would have eaten. Also trying to substitute something else for a food craving doesn't really work either, since that won't satisfy the craving. What you can do is learn to eat it in moderation, it will satisfy your food craving but still won't mess up your diet.

[Longshot]

I am virtiually off fast food -- probably something I have less than once a month. I went through the same thing while losing 45 pounds and I found if I got a craving for any "wrong" foods, I would immediately eat a large portion of fruit. Kind of a fruit fest. It helped kill off the craving.

[beastman88]

sounds like an addiction. just remind yourself that fast food is terrible for you and makes you fat and most likely makes you constipated. don't give up your control to fast food. just don't buy it. you'll save more money from cooking for yourself. find healthier alternatives that taste just as good that you cook for yourself. you have no idea what goes into fast food, when you cook yourself you know everything in what you're putting into your food.

[maiez]

for me I eat about 2 meals a day, and I don't cook often, so if I ever become starving and I'm on a tight schedule for work or something ill go get some fast food. But I never crave it.

To avoid it I would say to manage your food time schedule and figure out what you are going to eat before making plans and to buy food to make at home

[Prof_Don]

Most people fal into the fast food trap because they don't eat enough, their tummy rumbles, and they end up in the drive through ordering food.

As for me, my fast food cravings went away when I eat enough calories throughout the day.

Maybe you're restricting your calories too much.

[crazybastard]

have a cheat day once a week. that way you know you are only allowed to eat fast food once a week. its a mental thing. it will teach you to control your cravings and soon you will be eating no fast food at all. that is if you keep working out. good luck

[Niceguy97]

this is how to avoid , ready ? avoid it its not as hard as you think , like my dad said... if you can't control yourself , you once will be controlled. so put your mind to losing weight and keep it up don't ruin your diet for some mcchicken. also drink lemon squeezed in water in the morning it helps you not eat

[palek]

I'd rather eat the death bugs from a dead rats rectum than an Egg McNuthin or some Chicken McMaggots, so I don't know what to tell ya.

[Tabra]

I make freezer meals, I pick one day a week and make freezer meals to take away the no time part

[COCOCHANEL]

try to keep healthy snacks around

[Anonymous]

Moderation is key. Just don't stop there every day. Go there every week or so.

[Anonymous]

eat more sweet fruit.

[Anonymous]

Give yourself cheat days