HELP!!! I can't stop

[Jorj Gaidin]

Alright... so this might sound lame and stupid, but I find myself unable to resist that disgusting fastfood stuff. I try to explain it to myself in so many different ways how bad it is for me... sugars suck and it makes me feel gross. Not to mention it costs a fortune. But yet I can't find the motivation to leave it behind. So like I said... its lame, but does anyone have any suggestions?

[sleepy_hound]

Watch "Fastfood Nation" now!!! It will at least slow down the temptation if nothing else.

(having said that, I have to admit I just had a serving of Ben and Jerry's...)

[tanyatype1]

I've never seen "Fastfood Nation" but the movie "Supersize Me" might help you to resist a bit! (it helped me and my kids!)

[GrammyByer]

A suggestion - don't stop at the fast food places like McDonalds, etc. Then you will not be able to buy and eat the stuff.

[Lorna]

Why don't you try some of the healthier (but still not healthy) options in these places such as the Deli sandwiches and salads. Is it the taste you are craving, or is it just the convenience? If it is convenience try some of the low fat microwave meals.

[Who?]

If you don't go there, you won't eat that "stuff."

[Penny]

Stuff yourself! :D Eat a big high fiber salad or other very filling healthy food, before you go to the fast food place. I bet you stop after work because you have not eaten much all day, or at lunch time, because you skipped breakfast. If you are full, you won't stop as often. And once in awhile have the fast food, so you don't feel deprived.

[sleepy_hound]

Are you drinking enough water throughout the day? It might help if you're well hydrated to resist stopping at any of the the fast food places to pick something up if you're physically not feeling hungry/starved. Watching "Supersize Me" was also an eye opener.

On another note, I've substituted Zone Perfect meal bars for candy bars...I'm a big sucker when it comes to a candy bar. I crave the ooey-gooeyness of them. Now I eat Zone chocolate peanut butter bar instead. It still hurts me b/c of the 250 calories...but has a lot more nutrients than a Snickers for the amount of calories.

[notme]

Fast food is so addictive. It smells good, tastes good and will kill you. I highly recommend watching SuperSize me. I don't eat fast food much if ever anymore. I was never a big burger or fries eater so it wasn't much of a stretch. If you watch that show you will realize how you are being seduced into buying that stuff and it will kill you.

Pick up a bag of sugar and imagine yourself losing that much weight or gainging that much weight if you keep eating fast food. It is the invisible killer.

[did2007]

I always go for those cheap $1.09 (they went up a year ago...they were 99 cents) side salads at Wendy's.

[Jorj Gaidin]

Are you drinking enough water throughout the day? It might help if you're well hydrated to resist stopping at any of the the fast food places to pick something up if you're physically not feeling hungry/starved. Watching "Supersize Me" was also an eye opener.

On another note, I've substituted Zone Perfect meal bars for candy bars...I'm a big sucker when it comes to a candy bar. I crave the ooey-gooeyness of them. Now I eat Zone chocolate peanut butter bar instead. It still hurts me b/c of the 250 calories...but has a lot more nutrients than a Snickers for the amount of calories.

Really?!? You think if I drink more water I'll lose cravings? I had never thought of it that way.

I know its easy to say that if you just don't stop, you won't be able to eat the food. However, for me there's a kind of addiction I feel to the salty fatty foods that I find it difficult to resist. Perhaps I need hypnosis...

[tanyatype1]

I believe that it CAN be an addiction, so try to treat it like an addiction. Look at the steps that it takes to get over an addiction like smoking, and apply those steps to your own life. Treat every day like a fresh start, even if you screwed up the day before. Once you create new patterns of behaviour, and repeat those behaviours over and over again, they will become your new "habits." Yes, it will be challenging, but you CAN do it. Good luck to you!

[princesslinda]

Hi Jorj: I know how it feels to really, really want those McDonald's fries...no side salad in the world is going to take care of that craving for me. I rarely eat at fast food places, hubby and I are both off on weekends and we tend to eat at a nice "sit down" restaurant then. BUT, when it's one of those times I feel I won't be able to make it another day without McDonald's fries, I will go and order chicken nuggets instead of a Qtr. Pounder (the 6 piece has minimal effect on my blood sugar). Hubby gets his Value Meal...and I steal 5-6 fries and eat them slowly, savoring every second. By the time i'm done with my 5-6 fries, he's eaten the rest, so i'm not tempted further. Same at Wendy's...I get the nuggets...and steal a few fries.

Also, I take my blood sugar 2 hrs after the first bite, just as I do when i'm eating right, so i'll know just what my meal did to me (if anything).

[Gremlin]

I sinned today and had a Jack-in-the-Box burger and had the fries, but my BL was only 144 Strange. Of course I hate lunch at 3:30 since I had a busy day at work. I had breakfast at about 7:00 before I went to work

My average is 125 to 130

[xMenace]

"Plan your work and work your plan."

Try making a detailed menu plan on Sunday of what you will eat each meal each day. Carry it with you and make it a goal to follow it as closely as posible. I don't know how long you'd need to do this, but eventually you'll lose the cravings.

[slipperyelm]

1 out of 4 food items from fast food has some microscopic to grain size droplet of human body fluid on it.

Does that do it for you?

No, I just made that up, but that stuff is gross. I know many people who have gotten various degrees of food poisoning from eating fast food. Don't be one of them. Did someone rub the end of their nose before thery wrapped up your sandwhich? Think about it.

[Goldrun]

1 out of 4 food items from fast food has some microscopic to grain size droplet of human body fluid on it.

I think the grimace is frozen on my face forever!

I drive a lot for work, and I find that eating makes the time go by more quickly in the car (okay, I know that some of you are thinking....that's sooo not safe....I try to be careful :o )

Anyway, I used to eat fast food a lot....but now I try and pack snacks/lunch when possible. I've found that PB&J is pretty tasty, and the 100 calorie packs of chips are good and salty. Plus small snack bags of peanuts help as well. So if you're a bored eater, like me....maybe that will help some. Don't get me wrong...I still do the occasional stop at Taco Bell or Wendy's...but after slipperyelm's made up factoid that sounds like it could be true...maybe I'll give it up altogether!

good luck!

[Chewy]

1 out of 4 food items from fast food has some microscopic to grain size droplet of human body fluid on it.

Does that do it for you?

No, I just made that up, but that stuff is gross. I know many people who have gotten various degrees of food poisoning from eating fast food. Don't be one of them. Did someone rub the end of their nose before thery wrapped up your sandwhich? Think about it.

That was hilarious. Should make me grimace too, but the full acknowledgment immediately afterward... very funny.

Jorj I can sympathize. I'm trying to cut soda out of my life and it's hard. What helps me is convincing myself that what I am consuming is poison. That's what enabled me to cut junk food out of my diet after Dx.

I also recommend watching/reading Fast Food Nation and watching Supersize Me.

[Dewey]

I think the grimace is frozen on my face forever!
LMAO - when you & Chewy said "grimace," I thought of that McDonald's character:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/a/a9/Grimace.jpg
Anyone remember him? :s:

If Grimace doesn't turn folks off to fast-food, here are some other thoughts:

1. Some fast foods have contained E.Coli, causing those who ate them to become ill (Taco Bell, anyone?)

2. A friend who used to eat almost nothing but Wendy's foods passed away from a heart attack....now, I know genetics plays a role in that, but eating there didn't help him - At ALL.

3. What Slipperyelm said. :eek: "Did someone rub the end of their nose before they wrapped up your sandwich?" Oh, and the varying degrees of food poisoning (see #1).

I used to like McDonald's & all that, but over time, I turned myself off to those places and have been able to stay away (instead of thinking those fries smelled good, I changed my thoughts - i.e. "they smell like grease").

Hope we're able to help in some way.

[MJB]

Kitchen and server help can be negligent at any restaurant, not just FF joints.

It's a chance you take when someone else handles/prepares your food.