rjm1982

Why is it so hard to NOT drive out of my way to get breakfast at a fast food place? Why is it so hard to eat the meals I bring with me to work that are healthy rather than going out to lunch.

Why is it so hard to STOP eating before I'm completely stuffed...

Anyone have some good tips? I drink alot of water...enough that im in the bathroom at least once an hour...thankfully I love water too...that helps to keep the sodas at bay. But what else can you do?

I've taken pills before to help (phentrimen ... sp?) and it works, but as soon as you stop taking them, your hunger returns. If i just eat less, then im just more hungry, i never seem to get used to eating less like everyone says I will.

Tips/Suggestions?

clearwaterms

eat slower... sometimes your body is slow to tell you it's full, and you continue to eat and then you stop and before you realize it your stuffed...

eat smaller meals, and eat them more often... this will keep your metabolism going all day instead of in spirts.

Terrierman

Eat an apple anytime you feel hungry.

JoeMetal

Try eating smaller portions 5-6 times a day. It will take about a week until your body gets used to it, but after that you shouldn't have a problem feeling hungry. I usually have oatmeal/cereal/fruit smoothie for breakfast around 9, then a granola bar/banana around 10:30-11, some sort of lunch around 1, another small snack around 3-4, a fair sized dinner around 6, and then a few Kashi crackers or something around 9, then bed at midnight. This has worked for me for about a month now.

WonkerJaw

eating slower has helped me a lot with the amount of food I consume. I have yet to make any progress with my craving for eating out. The only thing that will help that is learning to cook better.

Redhouse

It's really just about denying yourself and getting the conviction that your going to eat right and get healthy. Pick up the Abs Diet book, it really helped me and they also have a guide from Abs called, "Eating right everytime". It breaks down all the fast food you can think of and help's you make good choices.

squirtdad

I will claim no great victories or magic....10 lbs lost in since june....and I love food too.
I am doing the weight watchers core.....I like cooking so it meshes with me. Thinks that are helping...lots of veggies, use a smaller plate, no ice cream. (I have no willpower to do just a little), sit down when I eat, leftovers on son's plate are garbage, not wasted food if not eaten.

Try soups, i did one the other day beef brothe, left over barley (whole grain), chopped fresh tomatoers, a little olive oil, fresh basil, pepper, garlic partner....microwave..... it had wonderful tasted, was filling and low calorie density

also frozen veggies...ie frozen tuscan veg mix in a frying pan, little spray oil (pam) and fake egges....use lots of the veggies and it is a very filling breakfast (or dinner) with protein.

I guess the word is "Be persistant an you will win" at least that's what I tell myself

good luck

kwhman

It is called volumetrics. Eat foods that are low in calories but high in volume (low calorie density). You can eat a 12 ounce steak and you will feel satisfied but will have eaten over 1000 cal. OR you can eat a 5 oz piece of chicken and mounds of veggies (can't be covered with butter) and / or salad (with low cal dressing) and be just as full for about 650 cal. After a while you get used to eating better. Add a little exercise - like riding a bike! Don't know if this will work for you but I've lost 84 lbs in about 4 months, feel great, and did my longest bike ride yet last night - don't laugh, it was only 7 miles but that is a lot farther than the 200 feet I rode the first time a couple of months ago. Hang in there and remember that the reason you are doing this is so that you will be around for your family for a long time. Another thought I picked up as an incentive - baring an illness most folks don't get, or some kind of accident (wear that helmet), you will most likely live into your 80's. How you feel and what you can do then depends on what you do about your health now!

Don't let me fool you - I am not a health nut. In fact I hit age 54 at 427 lbs, could hardly walk because of arthritis in both knees. I just decided I wanted to be around to enjoy my retirement one day. Believe me when I tell you - if I can do it anyone can!

- Kwhman

Caincando1

When I first started, I used filler foods like salads, veggies and fruit. Not only do they fill you up, they are good for you too. After a couple of months I found my hunger slowly went down to the point that I didn't need to use the filler food to tide be over. I still eat many of them, but now as part of my regular diet.

42lbs in less than 4 months.

lil brown bat

Because that stuff is engineered in a lab to be appealing, despite the fact that it's crap. Read Fast Food Nation, it'll open your eyes.

Any or all of:

• Eating too fast
• Eating for reasons other than hunger (social grazing, emotional comfort, etc.)
• "Clean the plate" syndrome
• Eating while distracted by another activity (driving, reading, watching television)
• Preparing too much food

1. Recognize that change is possible.
2. Understand the difference between "simple" and "easy".
3. Learn to recognize your behaviors and triggers that set you back so that you can short-circuit them.
4. Take small steps, but always keep moving in a forward direction.
5. Avoid fads, short cuts, "thin thighs in thirty days", tricks and drugs
6. Avoid prepared foods. Learn to cook from scratch -- that's where the value is.
7. Make every change a positive change. Think of yourself as adding good things and giving up crap, not depriving yourself of those woooonderful potato chips.
8. Hang out with people who care about their health. Avoid people who want to drag you down and make you as unhealthy as them.
9. Reward yourself in healthy ways (for example, "If I get to where I can ride a century, I'm going to treat myself to an inn-to-inn bike trip in Vermont!")

Halthane

It's amazing how bad mcdonalds sounds when you know about how they make/process it. And how mediocre it tastes after eating quality foods for a while.

Oddly enough the good stuff will often taste a little funny at first because it isn't as processed, but once you get used to it... you can never go back, at least not fully.

rjm1982

I know what mcdonalds does to their food...but it still tastes good...

But i know...self control and substitutions...it just sounds so much easier than it is...

Tom Stormcrowe

Have you considered it from these viewpoints:

Ask yourself these questions and answer them with as much honest self assessment as you can. Always remember, YOU have the control, and instead of looking at the concept as deprivation, you are choosing to reward yourself with better health and a longer and happier life!

OuroborosChoked

Hey, I love food, too... but GOOD food. Fast food is not good food.

One technique that I use all the time: count (or estimate as best you can) all the calories you take in in a day. Shoot for less than 2000.

You could also add up the amount you spend every week on fast food and other junk... that's usually a put-off...

It's also good to just not think about food. Ignore it. Do other things. Get really engrossed in something. Go biking!

If you MUST have a snack or something (like if you're watching a movie or reading or something), grab some fruit OR!

Get a small brown paper bag. Pour a small amount of popcorn in the bag (you know the kind I'm talking about... the non-Pop Secret, non-Act II, non-Orville Redenbacher, clear plastic bagged stuff at your local store), and pop it like you would normal bagged popcorn. Salt to taste. I'd avoid butter, but it's your snack and you're the one counting the calories, eh?

BeckyW

Good point, ouroboros - I think it's important to think about things in positive terms. "I'm going to eat GOOD food," rather than "I can't have fast food." Food that tastes good, and will nourish your body and help you become strong and fit, and will make you feel more alive!

bongo_x

this brings up an interesting point. I would guess most people would think that all large people feel this way about food. I'm not huge (guessing about 5'11", about 240?) but I've been big most of my adult life and I don't care about food at all. I have no trouble resisting pretty much anything. I don't ever really think about food.

I also eat fairly healthy, most times very healthy even. yet I still have trouble with weight.

the things that I can see are;
my eating habits - I tend to eat fast and if I'm not paying attention I will eat more than I intended.
exercise - I exercise regularly when I'm not working and it shows, but then have periods of no exercise, and it shows.

I think for many people it's just nature and metabolism. I'm just going to have to work harder than many people to keep my size under control. even when I'm at my worst, eating and exercise wise, I think I have healthier habits than 75% of people but for me that's not good enough.

and junk food is definitely an habit. it's like when you haven't had a soda in months you think it's gonna be great when you have your first one, but most people think it's just horrible. I can't remember where, but I read a story recently where they gave kids from a very poor country some american junk food and they all hated it and wouldn't eat it.
if my only food choice is mcdonalds I usually just skip it. that's not a treat to me, that's just nasty.

bb

zpl

Make your lifestyle changes gradually. I've made a lot of improvements to the quality of food I eat compared to years ago, but I did so slowly so I could stick with it.

Stopping for breakfast every morning? Start doing it 4 days/week for a couple of weeks, then 3, and so on. Eat foods with plenty of protein to help keep you satisfied - a slice of peanut butter toast is a staple for me in the morning.

Also, don't think of things in the negative - e.g, that you "can't eat" such and such. Change your thinking in positive ways - "Today, instead of that breakfast sandwich, I'm going to make X at home because I know how important it is to helping me live a better life." Re-affirm your commitment to improving your lifestyle several times a day with thoughts like that.

Scott

Spartan112

I'm with you on this one. I eat a piece of fruit after my morning workout and then breakfast of wholegrain cereal or bagel with lowfat cream cheese. At lunch.dinner I always have a salad and if I feel the need for seconds at dinner it's only the salad or other veggie, no seconds on starches or entrees...period. Good snacks? Popcorn, get the 94% Fat Free stuff and it's like 100cal for 5 cups. Pretzel rods are good too, 100 cal for 3. Also sugar free puddings have about 60cal.

I'm down 50lbs as of today since April. I recommend an online calorie counter as a means of keeping track of your eating habits and at some point you will have to start denying yourself and live with being a little hungry from time to time.

Spartan112

Oh, and you can eat McDonalds very occasionally and not kill yourself doing it. Head straight for the grilled chicken and tell them to hold the mayo. Also the soft serve cone is surprisingly low in calories. Get used to telling servers at any restaurant you go to to hold the cheese/mayo/full fat dressings, etc. Salsa and mustard will become your best friends.

gobot

Well, I know I'm going to sound like an a$shole, but keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has the same problem as you.

You are not taking your life seriously. The key is discipline. That's all. We know that fast food makes us fat and unhealthy but we still eat it. Its just a question of discipline and responsibility. Forget the pills or surgery or diets-- they are just crutches that allow you to avoid taking personal responsibility for the decisions in your life. Just stop the behaviors that are unhealthy. Period. Its very difficult to learn discipline as an adult, but that its the key. Take responsibility for your life. You know exactly what you are doing wrong, so just stop doing it. You think of yourself as a weak person. Start thinking of yourself as a strong person-- someone who proves his strength by saying "NO" to being fat.

Bad food can be an addiction just like heroin. Ask a scientist-- the same chemicals in your brain are involved.

It takes a lot of strength, but all you have to do to get off of heroin is to never shoot heroin again. Same with the food. It will be hard at first, but all it takes is making a decision and sticking to it. Learn discipline. Be tough. That's all. If you fail, you chose to fail.

Being obese will kill you early. Its a matter of life and death and you should take it that seriously. I personally hope that I have taken control of my life soon enough to avoid heart disease and diabetes, and though I have lost 70 lbs in the last two years, I am still OBESE. Not chubby, not big boned... Obese. If I don't figure out how to be healthy forever, overeating will kill me. Take it seriously. I hope I win, and I hope you win too.

Good luck,
Brian

Wogster

Brian, you bring up some good points, however this one I disagree with, a person can eat right their entire lives, they can be at the median weight for their height, they can exercise 4 hours a day, get run over and killed by an SUV before they turn 50. What I think is a bigger issue is the quality of life, while you are here. If your body, is healthy it's a lot easier to get your mind and spirit that way too, and you have a lot more flexibility in what you can do. So let's forget living longer, we should concentrate on living better.

Tom Stormcrowe

Well, you're basically saying the same thing here I do, albiet a bit more bluntly. You are right, you choose your life....the Universe tends to give you your expectations, in my experience. You do have to work to get there though.

In changing the paradigm though you do have to maintain the balance between self discipline and self indulgence. All work and no play makes life a chore after all. You are most certainly right though in saying you can choose to be a strong person, and can choose to exercise healthy options.

Rosie8

I love food too! I notice when I start slipping by eating my trigger foods - Cheetos, French bread (white), ice cream, etc. - I fall back into old ways - cookies, fries, whatever.

I have to stick to whole grain cereals, 100% whole wheat breads, brown rice, whole grain spaghetti, lots of fiber - bran, oats (old fashioned), beans, lots of fruits, as many vegetables as I can stuff in. My side extras are peanut butter, yogurt, soy milk, soy patties, fish & chicken.