So...

It's kinda weird, for whatever reason I just set my mind that I wasn't going to to continue doing that.  I have tried to do that many times in the past and it  just wouldn't last.  I ate a lot of fast food too.  Everyday that I skipped the fast food I just felt like it had less control over me.  I know by keeping into contact with this board has really helped me.  I know I fretted for years about the possibility of my getting a lot of the co-morbidites.  You would think that as much as I worried about that with me getting older, it  would have been easier to just do something about it rather than constantly living in fear of these things.  I'm not sure how long it will last, but hopefully if I do fall off I will learn to just get back on and never give up like a lot of the other people on this board have accomplished.  I realize it's hard for you at your age and being in the dating game.  Obviously, it bothers you or you wouldn't be here.   I really do believe it's a mind thing and it does take practice.  I believe the key to being successful is to incorporate some sort of regular exercise, portion control and limit how often you consume those foods that are basically making us fat.  I wish I could have learned this a long time ago.  It really hasn't been that long for me, but for whatever reason this attempt just feels different.  I needed to learn how to constantly fight and not just accept it.  Wake up Brenda, KNOCK! KNOCK! Brenda

I hear you Brenda.  It hasn't been that long for me this go around either.  Fast food is so scary to me b/c it is everywhere and everybody eats it.  If you are a social person it often ends up part of the scenario b/c it's convenient. The good thing you have going for you is that you are still aware of that.  I used to eat it sometimes for breakfast, lunch and dinner-and, yes, it is embarrassing to admit it.  Seeing it for what it is-that is the important thing (I think).  When I've started to slip up in the past, I know now that I got too comfortable and I thought I could keep it under control.  I actually sound like an alcoholic sometimes.  I think support plays a huge part in keeping it under control-it's accountability. b:)

My sentiments exactly.  I lost a lot of weight a number of years back.  It's like my mind said O.K. diet over and it's fine to eat the stuff that made you fat in the first place.  It is going to take a lifetime of effort or deal with the consequences. I always thought I could handle certain things when I couldn't.  Moderation and goods choices must stay in the forefront of your mind, period.  I pray that for the first time in my life I finally get it.  Brenda

I have a serious addiction to fast food and it was really getting out of hand.  I did cut back for a while but I saw it was creeping back into my life too much and I knew I had to just cut it out all together.  Way too dangerous.  A couple of weeks ago I had to go run errands and I was in a parking lot that had a McD in it and I felt the HABIT of going there more than anything else-I love my FFB! (fast food breakfast)  When I really thought about it though, it was more the idea of it than a physical craving, but I think that is b/c I hadn't had any for a while.  I really do believe that the food has addictive properties like when you eat refined products you crave them.  If you detox off of refined products, you (generally speaking) no longer crave them. For a long time I was disciplined and would get a grilled chicken salad at Burger King, use half the dressing and be satisfied with that.  I would never eat the french fries at all.  If I got a burger it was plain and I would put a small amount of BBQ sauce on it.  Somewhere along the line my teenage problem creeped back in.  I was a closet eater.  I would go to BK by myself and get 2 meals and eat them.  I would binge like that and workout like a fiend.  Then I'd punish myself and not eat for a couple of days which just perpetuated the problem.  If you feel addicted to food, you may want to consider talking to someone (psychologist) if you can.  You may not be to that point.  I just wanted to share my story so you could see an extreme case.  You may look at your own life and realize it isn't as bad.  I have OCD which also has to do with my eating issues. I pray that you find something that works for you.  It's a challenge but I know you will feel such a sense of accomplishment and pride from battling that demon.  You're working on it and that is an amazing feat in itself. b:)

Thank you for sharing that with me. :)  I had Wendy's for lunch today....Which I specifically asked for which they screwed my order up!  I grilled chicken sandwich combo...no fries chili instead. The Sandwich to have extra tomato...I like tomatoes no dressing the dressing on the side. I planned on taking it back to work and taking the bun off and using little bit of dressing. I open the sandwich up...ended up with NO tomato dressing on the side AND on the sandwich! I was like omg! So I peeled the nasty looking lettuce off and thru that and the bun away and at the chicken and the dressing that was already on it and half of my chili. So I mean I did good. But still the weekend is here. I have to refrain from binging. Which I think I might beable to.

Good for you!  That is awesome.  Those types of changes are what will make all the difference.  I definitely hear you on the order frustration.  That used to happen to me all the time and you are at their mercy.  Besides that, if you are at work you often don't have any alternatives if the order is screwed up beyond repair. That improvising is a great thing to do.  I did that last week at a restaurant (I've been craving burgers lately-not sure why and I know it's not great but I try to limit myself).  I took the top half off and use the lettuce as a makeshift bun.  Those little changes add up big time.  A bun is usually 2 bread servings.  A small chili has 5 grams of fiber, 6 grams of fat and 220 calories.  A medium fry has 5 grams of fiber, 20 grams of fat and 420 calories.  That is major savings right there. Use this as your tool to keep motivated throughout the weekend and keep in touch if you need help or encouragement. b:)

as for fast food, i think journaling my food really helped my see how many calories and especially saturated fats fast food has!  It really makes me re-think. To me, this one was an easy one to break...just do not pull into that driveway.  period.

I quit fast food by not carrying money with me.  No cash.  No cards. It is really hard to get McDonald's for free. If I must have money I put my purse in the trunk.  You have to really think about that burger if you have to get our of the car, get your purse from the trunk and THEN go through the drive through!

Can you even realize how many times i too have fallen off the wagon???? It takes sooo much do-overs, start ups, we are all in this shape.  One of these days, it will stick!!! If I ever have to live alone again, i cannot have certain foods around:  chips, crackers, no way...i cannot stay out of them. With my DH around, i am less likely to pig out on that stuff...HE will know.  there's only two of us in the house, hello????  Left to myself, hard telling what i would do.

If I had my way, the "other stuff" would not be in the house.  I don't like having chips, ice cream, cookies, etc in the house.  I have enough trouble moderating the fruit! LOL.  With 3 other adults in the house, I really have no control over what is in the kitchen and nobody keeps track so I'm my only source of accountability. We all need to move into a giant house together and just have healthy food around!  It would be like the biggest loser show except we wouldn't vote each other out.