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[XenodudeX]

Learning how to cook yummy healthy meals is a good way to break your addiction. It may cost more though.

try to eat small portion meals. Cut the bacon, cut the red meat. make it a quest, and at the end of the week, treat yourself ..Only if you manage to cut fast food.

Try eating grill more often. Don't eat just because you're bored. etc.

Vegetables can be delicious, look up some nice vegetarian recipes . a lot of them are pretty great.

Why?

 

[Husker86]

Make a beef stew. It's almost impossible to completely fuck up and it's good.

Canned diced tomatoes
Celery
Stew meat (from whatever grocery store you go to--just little beef chunks)
I like to slice up a one half or a pound of packaged smoked sausage
Potato
Onions if you wish

Throw that shit in (diced potatoes slightly after starting or else they just end up as part of the sauce)

And simmer on low-medium until the meat is tender.

The worst that has happened to me is tough/overcooked beef. But it was still edible, just a bit chewy.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

Earlier I mentioned treating it like a legit addiction - another thing you have to do is not be a goddamn baby about it.

Fucking GO WITHOUT IT. You CAN do it. Some days are harder than others, but you do not NEED that shit. Reduce eating to a function, not something nice. That's it. Fuck it. Just goddamn go without it.

 

[CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls]

never said that. however asking a message board how to stop eating shitty hamburgers everyday and calling it an "addiction" is really something else.

http://foodaddictioninstitute.org/news-and-events/dsm-v-acknowledges-food-addiction/2013/08/

Not saying it'll be official anytime soon, but don't be surprised when food is added to the substance-use addiction category.

Currently, OP would likely meet some criteria for Binge Eating Disorder.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

never said that. however asking a message board how to stop eating shitty hamburgers everyday and calling it an "addiction" is really something else.

fast food addiction is a very real and serious thing man, not sure what's up with your tone

 

[PartlyCloudlike]

Learn to spice and sauce your food heavily.

Agreed. OP did you attempt to make the food taste good? The right seasoning and sauce will make your food delicious and fill you with pride for cooking something so damn tasty. Even something as common as glazing your pan roasted chicken thighs with a simple soy honey sauce, similar to general Tsos, is a big improvement health wise over the floured and deep fried relative at your local chinese joint.

 

[Clockwork5]

You should probably read the OP. I already said I cook fresh food.

sorry.

For some reason I read it as you tried cooking some food for once. I need a nap.

Maybe try cooking your own burgers and fries at home for a bit? (again not ideal but realistic) Finding a healthy cereal that you like for breakfast? I find fruit to be a delicious alternative to junk food. Add salt and butter to the things you do cook and slowly cut back?

These are things that got me on the right track (among substituting frozen food for fast food in the beginning) as I used to hit up the drive through 3 times a day.

Good luck, man.

 

[Nakazato]

I had the same issue and its starting to happen again.

My advice grilled chicken wraps and fruit oatmeal and eggs.

 

[Salmonax]

never said that. however asking a message board how to stop eating shitty hamburgers everyday and calling it an "addiction" is really something else.

So you have a very narrow and arguably inaccurate understanding of addiction. No need to lash out as a result.

 

[Rich!]

Eh, I'd never have this issue here in the UK.

How much is a big mac meal over in the US? Here in the UK it's like, £6. Fucking ridiculous - I could buy three days worth of dinners from Lidl or tesco for that.

 

[PseudoKirby]

So you have a very narrow and arguably inaccurate understanding of addiction. No need to lash out as a result.

I think notworksafe is dealing with his own addiction he is too afraid to face.

 

[Woffls]

Get yourself banned from all the local fast food places. You will then either starve, or eat something else.

Don't feel like you have to resort to chicken and lame ass vegetables. Cook chilli or something cool to start with.

 

[Shouta]

How are you cooking your food? You should actually start cooking more complex dishes to get the flavor you enjoy. The image people have of healthy food tends to be pretty bland and going from something flavorful to that can be rough if you're starting a diet or trying to get healthy. You don't need to cut it out entirely, just reduce that stuff.

 

[Nikodemos]

Hmm, maybe try weaning yourself off it? Like, if you were to go for junk food, you could try for a non-hyper-processed alternative? Do you have any local grease pits where they make their own shawarma/kebab from scratch (preferably including sauces)?

 

[Courage]

I'll admit that my cooking isn't that great. It's mostly recipes online and don't get creative with my dishes. I doubt it's amateur enough to call the food bland though, since there was a time where I enjoyed my cooked meals.

 

[HUELEN10]

Walking does not cut a significant amount of calories, and even McD's "healthy" options are extremely bad for you.

You have to quit them altogether. Now. Don't say "oh yeah just one more time there". Wipe their very existence from your mind.

If you walk for hours it will. I agree with you though, quitting is the best way to do it, but I think not everyone can do it seems OP's better option would be to be weaned off.

Another suggestion is to look for copycat recipes of OP's favorite meals and make healthier variants of them at home.

 

[HeartlessNobody213]

Learning how to cook yummy healthy meals is a good way to break your addiction. It may cost more though.


Why?

Depends on the person, but for the most part red meat clogs up your colon. Although I did hear that was a myth.

 

[eznark]

So I'm trying to get back onto a sustainable diet but it's proving difficult considering I can't enjoy the food I cook up for myself and always resort to McDonalds or anything else loaded with sugar/carbs. Like yesterday, I cooked up some chicken thighs and cauliflower, but couldn't get myself to eat it. Almost like my stomach wasn't used to it, and ended up eating McDonalds instead.

It's frustrating, to say the least. It's like a neverending cycle everyday that starts out with optimism and ends with me ordering a large General Tso's with white rice.

Has anyone been in a similar position? How did you overcome your reliance on junk food? Any motivational stories/advice welcome.

The fuck? Put the food in your mouth and chew. Get over yourself.

 

[Courage]

wow

 

[PseudoKirby]

If you walk for hours it will. I agree with you though, quitting is the best way to do it, but I think not everyone can do it seems OP's better option would be to be weaned off.

Another suggestion is to look for copycat recipes of Courage's favorite meals and make healthier variants of them at home.

You think he likes the character THAT much?

 

[javie3d]

what would you classify as a fast food addiction? the amount of times you go out? or something else?

 

[LyleLanley]

Another suggestion is to look for copycat recipes of Courage's favorite meals and make healthier variants of them at home.

Copying the diet of a cartoon dog sounds like a healthy lifestyle choice.

 

[andycapps]

Maybe try cooking something other than chicken and cauliflower? Those aren't the only healthy options. Learn to use spices, sauces, etc.

 

[BigAT]

Hi, my name is Josh F. and I'm an addict.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

The fuck? Put the food in your mouth and chew. Get over yourself.

#neogafshitposts

what would you classify as a fast food addiction? the amount of times you go out? or something else?

OP recognizes that eating fast food as much as he does is NOT healthy. He very clearly states that he wants to eat better. Yet he still goes to McD's or gets Chinese every day, despite cooking meals at home for himself.

I would classify that as fast food addiction, not just that he likes it, but that he knows he has a problem and can't stop himself.

I went through the exact same thing OP and it took a while to permanently kick the habit. I'd spend a shitload of money getting fresh produce and meats for myself to cook throughout the week, then as the week went on I'd come home with Zaxby's or Taco Bell, and the groceries would go to waste. I could see how bad I was being and how much money I was literally throwing into the trash, yet I couldn't stop.

As others have suggested you just have to tough it out and cook your own meals until you no longer feel the intense craving you get from the processed junk. And if your cooking isn't as good to you as a McDonald's burger now, just try and wait it out until you improve. I think everyone has the capacity to cook great tasting and healthy meals for themselves, given the time and practice.

 

[WhereAreMahDragonz]

what would you classify as a fast food addiction? the amount of times you go out? or something else?

When you cannot function normally without it.

 

[Bacon]

I would definitely say try and find really flavorful recipes that you can cook at home to wean yourself off fast food. There are a lot of delicious things that are also good for you!

 

[Fjordson]

Damn, some of y'all are harsh :lol

Courage I can totally sympathize. It wasn't so much fast food all the time for me, but my diet got pretty crummy for a solid two years. I had just moved and was in a new job that kept me pretty busy, so I got really lazy and just ate whatever was accessible. Burgers, pizza, sandwiches, Chinese food, etc. And I hated veggies and other healthy foods (still not a huge fan).

I wish I had some good, technical advice for you. All I can say is that I had to suffer for a bit. Just fucking white knuckled it for a few weeks. Was awful at first, yet became much easier after that first month and I haven't gone back to my bad diet since (been about five years now). I honestly started feeling noticeably better after a few months and it motivated me to stay on track. And I'm now in the best shape of my life.

I know this isn't really usable advice, so I apologize, but you can do it mang! It's torture at first but it gets better. As others have said, maybe look into spices and sauces. That definitely helped me with veggies and chicken and whatnot. Just don't go overboard with sauce :lol

 

[Fixed1979]

what would you classify as a fast food addiction? the amount of times you go out? or something else?

Here's a story that was just posted on the CBC today. Should give you an idea of what it is...

This food is designed in labs to be addictive. When I changed my habits back in January I had to go cold turkey completely, I knew that I would easily slip back into the habit of eating out every day, multiple times a day...

It’s amazing, sometimes, what you let your mind believe.

After several weeks of nightly walks, I wasn’t losing weight. I was deeply frustrated about that, and one night I just broke down. I felt as if the weight should be coming off, and I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t.

But here’s the kicker. I was still gorging on fast food.

Downsizing: Losing weight is hard, but it’s the only option
You see, when you’re an addict, you become exceptional at one thing: lying.

I was a pro. Like, if there was an all-star lineup of liars, I’d be in the starting lineup.

It wasn’t malicious. Lying was something I deemed necessary so I could continue to feed my addiction.

It didn’t matter if you were family, a friend or a co-worker, everyone was fair game.

And the person I lied to most was myself.

I had somehow convinced myself that I wasn’t eating fast food every day. I‘d hide the burger wrappers away. To this day, I’m still finding soda cups stashed in nooks and crannies around the house.

This way burgers, that way health

So, there I was, standing at a crossroads.

'I would argue with myself. “What’s more important? A cheeseburger or staying alive?”The cheeseburger lost every time.'
One path — to certain death. The other — to health, and God knows what else.

I continued to eat burgers and fries for another few weeks. Then I waited until I drove Caitlin to the airport for a visit home.

I hit a drive-thru on the way back from the airport, ordered two meals with desserts, went home, sat on my couch and ate.

After it was all gone, I stood up and walked to my patio door. I saw my reflection in the glass and uttered two words: "Never again."

The following week, as I removed fat and sugar from my body, was awful.

I was some crooked.

Withdrawal symptoms

I paced around the house. I had constant headaches, my hands would tremble, and I barely slept. Bear in mind, this is food we’re talking about, not some hard street drug.

Downsizing: When hitting the road hurts like hell
When the thoughts of a fast food fix would creep in I would argue with myself.

“What’s more important? A cheeseburger or staying alive?”

The cheeseburger lost every time.

The withdrawal lasted about a week, maybe two.

These days, I have a balanced diet. I eat a lot of veg, and I think a lot about what I put into my body. I’ve used it as a trash can for way too long.

A hard habit to break

I’ve read that the key to changing any sort of habitual behaviour is replacing it with something more positive. For me, that’s exercise.

Every now and then I find myself driving towards a drive-thru. Even turning into the lot, sometimes.

It’s not because I’m going to buy onion rings. It’s just a habit.

Something in my brain tells me “this is where I need to go.” And I go. It’s the strangest thing.

These restaurants were my church, my place of comfort, my haven.

Now the task is to redefine what comfort means to me.

I will move heaven and earth to find it.

And believe me when I say, that’s no word of a lie.

SOURCE

 

[PseudoKirby]

Yea that ^ person seemed to have a huge problem

TWO meals at a time?

 

[Clockwork5]

what would you classify as a fast food addiction? the amount of times you go out? or something else?

Addiction of any kind is defined as continuing to do an action despite the recognizable negative consequences. Fast food is, in some ways, inherrently addictive for those who enjoy it. While occasionally ordering a cheeseburger isnt going to cause health problems, consuming that crap on a daily basis undoubtably will.

 

[Salmonax]

The fuck? Put the food in your mouth and chew. Get over yourself.

Goddamn - this thread really seems to be touching a nerve for some.

 

[Courage]

Here's a story that was just posted on the CBC today. Should give you an idea of what it is...

This food is designed in labs to be addictive. When I changed my habits back in January I had to go cold turkey completely, I knew that I would easily slip back into the habit of eating out every day, multiple times a day...



SOURCE

Wow, this hit me like a bag of bricks. I appreciate you linking it.

 

[Prototype-03]

You can also try to wean yourself off. Don't cut it off completely. Try adding some baby carrots while eating McD's. Then something else (like celery sticks or steamed broccoli). Try having some baked potato instead of fries. If you want something closer to fries, you can try making some potato fans (http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cheese---herb-potato-fans).

The idea is that eventually, your taste buds will want the healthier food and you're completely off the fast food in the end.

Also, cooking PROPERLY is another hurdle. You can cook something improperly and it will taste like crap. Try some easy (ie: hard to mess up) recipes.

 

[JinjoUnchained]

I was addicted to fast food for many years and finally kicked it for good last year when I began getting treatments for laryngospasms. It's a painful condition that was undiagnosed for years and I never made the connection between it and my diet. Part of the treatment was doing a so-called "elimination diet" which means eliminating most foods and then slowly reintroducing certain items to see what triggers the spasms. Fast food was very high on that list, there's something about the oil or preservatives they use that causes my larynx to instantly swell up. It happens every time.

So now I don't even think twice about McDonald's or Wendy's. I pass by them and think, "no thanks, I'd like to be able to breathe this week". It's not even an option. If you subsist on fast food for long enough, you very well may develop a condition where fast food is not an option anymore. Heart problems, diabetes, reflux, etc...I'm proud of you for creating this thread and asking for help before it gets to that.

My advice is to be honest with yourself and ask yourself what you enjoy eating. Do you actually like the taste of fast food? Or are you addicted to the dopamine rush you get from the salt/sugar/God know's what else they put in there? If so, is that dopamine rush used as a crutch to avoid emotional issues?

My experience is that fast food addiction is usually not about food, but unresolved traumas or complexes. Like most addicts, I went through cycles: use, crash, get clean for awhile, and then start another cycle. At the beginning of the cycle, it's probably 90/10 enjoyment-to-pain ratio. As I continued to cycle, it got to the point where it's more like 10/90 and I had to consume twice as much fast food just to get a little enjoyment.

That process wasn't "me enjoying food", it was getting a hit to make life and the daily grind go down a little easier. Once fast food was not an option anymore, I had to ask myself what I truly enjoyed eating. With my schedule, I needed food that was quick and convenient. I like sweet tastes and refreshing items, but I needed more raw vegetables and have trouble digesting them in that state. The answer? Fruit/Veggie smoothies from Whole Foods. I actually look forward to getting them, they are even more convenient than fast food, and they give me raw nutrients I need in a form I can handle.

But that's just me, I'd advise you take a similar inventory of what you truly love to eat, not what you're addicted to and find a way to make it convenient. Feel free to talk about foods you like and the people in this thread will be happy to help you form a plan.

Good luck! You're awesome for reaching out and braving this challenge head-on, I believe in you.

 

[Kickz]

what would you classify as a fast food addiction? the amount of times you go out? or something else?

Going about 5-6 times a week, sometimes more.

Eating something healthy "but still feel the urge" to get some fast food no matter if you ate a decent amount of home cooked food.

It can and is a legit addiction.

 

[unholyrevenger72]

Buy America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Country/Cook's Illustrated books. While the recipes may not be simple, but they break it down enough for even a noob can do it. The recipes are also labor intensive enough for you to forget to go out for food.

The key to good amateur home cooking is patience.

 

[HUELEN10]

You think he likes the character THAT much?

Copying the diet of a cartoon dog sounds like a healthy lifestyle choice.

Not my fault the OP's name is shared with a cartoon dog's dammit, I meant the OP, as in another good suggestion is for the OP to find Copycat recipes of meals he likes.

http://www.copykat.com

See? I mean there are tons of options in fast food, so why not try making healthier variants at home? It's a start.

 

[Bowser]

Read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/m...nary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all

Also, just go ahead and actually purchase the book, great read: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1400069807/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Understanding how and why you're addicted to fast food goes a long way in helping you break that addiction.

 

[impetuous_silly]

Seriously, what are you hoping to gain by saying things like this? Also, that's some solid irony calling him a manbaby.

Shame and guilt can be powerful motivators. Everyone reacts differently.

 

[PseudoKirby]

Not my fault the OP's name is shared with a cartoon dog's dammit, I meant the OP, as in another good suggestion is for the OP to find Copycat recipes of meals he likes.

http://www.copykat.com

See? I mean there are tons of options in fast food, so why not try making healthier variants at home? It's a start.

Lol, its just that you referred to him as OP first, then by the user name.

 

[AnAnole]

Yeah, my fast food addiction coincided with my MMO addiction. I was always "too busy" to prepare anything healthy, so I would just hop in my car and drive a few blocks down the street where there were several fast food restaurants. Weirdly, it felt like a reward for putting time into my characters and guilds. It really did feel like taking a hit when I would bite into that junk. I also loaded up on caffeine at the same time, from either the largest soft drink offered (no ice to increase the amount) or an energy drink (one of the few things I kept stocked in my apartment fridge). I realized how awful my addiction was when I was in the Taco Bell drive-thru and was trying to hide my McDonalds food I had just ordered and was already eating as I pulled up to the window at Taco Bell. That, of course, didn't get me to stop. I continued my addiction in shame, although it didn't reay matter because I could just ignore reality when I went into my virtual worlds. I didn't do anything about my addiction until I had a panic attack, which I thought was a heart attack at first, but the hospital ruled that out after performing various tests. Still, it scared me enough to change. It took a while, months, but I slowly reduced my fast food consumption until it became something I indulged in once every few months --and when I do eat fast food, I don't gorge on it like I did. Now I mostly stick to fruits, veggies and meats. I still consume caffeine, but I get it from black coffee. I can't describe how much better I feel.

 

[PseudoKirby]

Man I didnt know people really ate more than one fast food meal in one sitting.



specially two different places.

the most I would do is go to say wendys and order food, then go to sonic to order the drinks.

 

[theechrisfox]

Watch Super Size Me. I don't know if it will work for you or not but it is pretty nasty.

 

[Surface of Me]

Currently trying to downsize as well, OP. My eating habits have really gotten the better of me. Baby steps. I've started downsizing my meals at home and think I will limit myself to fast food 3 times a week to start. This is coming off having it 6-8 times a week. Also plan to get smaller meals from fast food places. No more large fries and no more 5 piece chicken tender meals.

 

[Courage]

Currently trying to downsize as well, OP. My eating habits have really gotten the better of me. Baby steps. I've started downsizing my meals at home and think I will limit myself to fast food 3 times a week to start. This is coming off having it 6-8 times a week. Also plan to get smaller meals from fast food places. No more large fries and no more 5 piece chicken tender meals.

Did you cut smoking as well?

 

[Surface of Me]

Did you cut smoking as well?

Yeh, I keep that to the weekends now. It makes the act more fun/meaningful, saves money, and I dont have to be high for everything. Also cut back on my drinking. I was out of control for a while there.

 

[grumble]

never said that. however asking a message board how to stop eating shitty hamburgers everyday and calling it an "addiction" is really something else.

You don't know what you're talking about. Your depth of smug ignorance on this topic astounds me.

I've seen fully grown men sobbing in their cars because they couldn't stop buying candy bars, while eating three at once. Anything that strongly triggers the neural reward circuitry can be addictive.

 

[InfiniteBento]

Start cooking new things!
It can be fun! Make a list of interesting recipes and get into chef mode!


Like many other addictions it'll get better with time.

Fast food is so 90s-early 00s anyway.

This.

Think about foods you enjoy and learn to cook them yourself. Also, I agree with forcing yourself to eat home cooked meals for a while. It's going to be difficult considering you're accustomed to terrible food but you can't give up. Start off small and don't go for anything too grand of scale until your body adapts to it. But you need to cut off all fast food and soda.

Every time you feel an urge to buy mcdonalds, eat something healthy. Have fruits, granola bars, and other healthy snacks available for those moments. You like other foods outside of mcdonalds, think about them and keep them stocked in your house for when this gets unbearable. Keep fruits and vegetables around that you like the most and you can even prep meals for those moments ahead throughout the week. Experiment and buy new things with ingredients you know you enjoy and could possible love together.

Also, when the urges hit, hot showers & baths or long walks can help you take your mind off it. Force yourself to break out of this habit. Whenever you crave something terrible, do the complete opposite.

You can do this ! Stay strong and stick it out.

I had to implement a lot of these techniques when I went from being a hardcore carnivore to becoming vegetarian & switched to eating all organic & local. It takes a ton of commitment but you can absolutely do this. Patience and persistence are key to see you through this.

 

[Courage]

Thanks for the advice/stories everyone. I definitely feel more determined to call it quits now, and will hopefully update the thread with some positive results.