Addicted to fast food?

[marydmjj]

Do you think it's possible to be addicted to fast food? I seem to crave it all the time. I don't know if it's because I really like how it tastes or if it's because I really dislike cooking and it's so easy. Whatever it is, I have to stop! I'm so bummed out right now. I eat really well for a couple of days and then I eat fast food. Not only that, but I feel horrible after I eat it but I can't seem to not eat it ~ does that make sense? Any suggestions or comments? Maybe I should try a hypnotist.

 

[lizdotcom99]

Run, don't walk and rent Super Size Me. That will cure you!!! And it costs a lot less than a hypnotist.

Also, yes, I do think you can become addicted to fast food. Good luck kicking the habbit. Not an easy thig to do.

 

[janette]

There are some really good choices in fast food. Most of them have the nutritional information on their websites. Wendy's has really good salads, just don't use the dressing

 

[thotfulspot]

Yup, most defnitely! Fast food is just everything that's wrong with modern nutrition, all wrapped up in one saturated-fat-laden, processed-carb-intensive, greasy, salty package.

You can find heathy choices, like decent salads at a number of places, but I would avoid the fried stuff like the plague that it is. Like any other habit, it takes time to break it. You can do it!!

 

[Minniespal]

Can you share what sort of fast food you are talking about. I too am a fast food junkie but have found that most of the fast food type options can be made in a healthy way. At the moment I am sitting at my desk at work eating a home made pizza, great and only 6 WW points.

 

[Christine]

I think if you rent "Supersize Me" you will see that you can be addicted.

Martin Spurlock, the subject in "Supersize Me", alludes to the possibility that there is an addiction factor in fast food. I guess it can be worse in some individuals than others. It definitely affects your body chemistry.

Try, try, try to wean yourself off. I know that the more I eat it, the more I crave it. Stress also plays a factor.

Also, a few months ago, our local paper did a story on a family that was obese and had a hard time losing weight. Their biggest downfall was fast food and fried foods. They said they couldn't stop eating it. They referred to their addiction as "the tasty taste." They couldn't get rid of needing the "tasty taste."

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I swear I was reading my own struggles in your words.... I am completely addicted to McDonalds. So I had to take a drastic step. I am giving up McDonalds for 100 days. I am doing great so far! I can have other fast foods, just not McDonalds. That has seemed to help tremendously. Why don't you join us, therre is a thread on 100 day cheat free challenge?

I just knew I was tired of being the way I am and it was time to do something. I could find any excuse to eat at McDonalds, and now I feel pretty free about it.

As far as cooking goes, I too am not a fan of cooking. But I like crock pot cooking and it is fairly easy. So maybe check into some recipes you might like. Otherwise I go simple for now. Sandwhiches, frozen meals, easy stuff to get through.

Good luck, you can break free!

 

[TammyNC]

I just wanted to let you know that I believe you can beat this habit. I know that when there are things that are really a struggle for me to control, I just have to stay completely away from them. I love sweet tea, but I have now gotten to where I only drink unsweet tea. If I do slip and have 1 glass of sweet, it is so hard to say oh just unsweet tea the next time. You can do this, I have faith in you. Keep up the hard work and just think how much better you will feel if you control that habit.

 

[marydmjj]

Thank you all for your responses. For me, it's any place that has burgers and fries. Even if it has healthy choices, ie. salads or grilled chicken, I still choose burger and fries. I'm in my car a lot for work and it always seems to be during lunch. Not an excuse but part of the problem.

I too find any excuse to go there. Just yesterday I picked my son up at preschool and offered to go to McDonalds for lunch. He turned me down. He told me he wanted to go home for lunch.

I'm going to rent Super Size Me today and watch that. I'll also check in on the 100 day challenge thread. Thanks again.

 

[kfeuer]

Like others have said, fast food has ingredients which ARE addictive. I wholeheartedly agree about renting Supersize Me. Towards the end, he got to a point where he was feeling terrible between meals, but as soon as he ate something he felt better (definitely an "addicted" feeling).

The kind of fast food you're eating has no nutritional value, and honestly you need to just go cold turkey and cut it out. If you have to drive different routes to avoid passing your favorite restaurants, do it. Bring your lunches so that you're not tempted. Give yourself a reward (like getting a manicure) when you don't eat fast food for a week.

I used to eat fast food all the time, but I finally stopped and now I honestly can't tolerate any fried fast food (last time I tried it, it literally made me vomit). I can truthfully say I don't even think about it anymore. You can do this!!!

 

[StitchGirl]

Just remember that with SuperSize Me, that guy went a little overboard-- nobody would eat like that in real life!

Once in a while is ok (I think one of the problems we have is that we try to go cold turkey on everything that is bad-- nothing is bad in moderation). If you can't go to the fast food place and order something healthier, then maybe you do have an addiction... as for addictions, *anything* can be addictive to different people-- there doesn't have to be something in the food to make it addictive.

Try ordering a salad next time you go-- if you can't move yourself to order the salad, then make a pact with yourself, that you will not go to a fast food restaurant for 1 week. If you make it, give yourself some sort of reward (not fast food). Then, make it two weeks, then three, etc. If after that, you get a craving, have a small burger, but just 1, and just once.

 

[Christine]

Yes, Supersize Me did go a little overboard, but it did have some valid points.

I think it is easy to become addicted to the taste, texture, and seasoning levels of fast foods. I know that I did and it got to the point where normal food just doesn't taste good to me anymore.

I have not been to a fast food place in about 2 weeks now. I still am thinking how nice a good, piping hot cheeseburger would be or some hot, salty fries, but I am determined that I will not go. I've tried to go there myself, as someone else suggested, and just get the salad. But I find the salads so ho-hum that they left me feeling depressed. And, if you get the salad and don't get the *right* dressing and don't remove the croutons and cheese, you're getting as many calories and fat as a McDonald's Happy Meal. So, I find it best just to stay away. I'm going to reward myself with a "nice" meal from a good restaurant.

 

[kfeuer]

Just remember that with SuperSize Me, that guy went a little overboard-- nobody would eat like that in real life!

Once in a while is ok (I think one of the problems we have is that we try to go cold turkey on everything that is bad-- nothing is bad in moderation). If you can't go to the fast food place and order something healthier, then maybe you do have an addiction... as for addictions, *anything* can be addictive to different people-- there doesn't have to be something in the food to make it addictive.

I respectfully disagree with you here--I've seen a couple of studies (wish I could remember where) that indicate that the ingredients in fast food do cause a physiological reaction that is addictive to alot of people. Yes, Supersize Me was extreme but that doesn't mean it didn't make some valid points.

With most things, I do agree that moderation is okay. However, I know for me the key to breaking my fast food addiction (and I did have one--I used to eat it all the time) was just to stop eating it. Over time, my body has changed to the point where it literally can't digest it anymore. It makes me feel so ill I have no desire to eat it. I know I'm not the only person this has happened to. You get to a point where your *mind* may want it, but your body absolutely does not. Would I have gotten to this point if I'd continued to eat fast food moderately? I don't know. I'm just glad fast food is one bad habit I've completely kicked. Now, if somebody can just figure out how to make chocolate taste bad to me