Food Hunger Pains...The one's that come from wanting "bad food."

I am on Day 4 of eating healthier and living a healthier lifestyle.  But today all I want is some fast food, and thats all that I cna think about.  How do I get away from that control thinking?  I said no to the fast food and donuts this morning, but since my body is "craving" it in a way, how long am I going to have to deal with these thoughts?  Yes I will crave things, but I'm afraid it will be like these thoughts.  I haven't had any fast food or pop in 4 days, and I truly think my body is starting to realize it is gone and is missing it???  Does that make sense?  Idk how to handle these?

I am in the same boat and hope someone replies because I want to STOP sooner rather than later!!!

I don't know if this is the "right" answer, but maybe just have a little bit? For example, a McDonald's cheeseburger is 295 calories.  You could buy one, take it home, and have it with a salad or homemade baked potato.  That would not be a day-breaking amount of calories.  I like Taco Bell bean burritos and one of those is 370 calories which includes a good amount of fiber. 

Maybe try to figure out what it is you are really missing.  Is it the greasiness of the food?  Something about the seasoning?  Having something golden-brown and crispy?  Is this something you could re-create at home, such as oven-baked "fried" chicken? 

I crave sweets too, but try to work them into my calorie count.  I buy some very good quality dark chocolate and let a piece melt in my mouth and really savor it.  If you want a donut, you could save your calories for a special treat.  I checked and a chocolate glazed cake donut is 280 calories (from Dunkin Donuts).  If your daily allowance is 1500 calories, that still leaves you a lot for meals, but you probably wouldn't want to have it every day since they are junky, empty calories coming mostly from fat.  When you are trying so hard to eat healthy, you might feel like it's not worth it to spend so many calories on such a small treat.  I had to think long and hard about that since finding out that the soft pretzels I love are 280 calories.  At least those are a very filling snack. 

I've heard people say that you can start to lose your taste for junk food if you consistently avoid it.  One thing you can try to do is re-train your body to crave the taste of veggies, citrus, fresh herbs. I can always make a tasty lunch if I have some fresh cilantro in the house. 

Hope this helps a little, we're all in the same boat together!

I have to wonder what the heck they put in fast food that makes it so addictive! 

I haven't had fast food since March.  I decided in March that the month of April was going to be fast food free.  I got serious cravings the first few days, but if you have the willpower you can get through them.  I just told myself if I still wanted that Quarter Pounder on May 1st, I would go and get it- but I HAD to wait until May.  By the time May rolled around I wasn't craving it at all anymore, and I still don't get cravings (not for fast food, anyway).  Plus, I lost 6 lbs!

This may not work for everyone, but I really did find that just using a bit of willpower to get through the worst of the cravings helped.

Will I ever have fast food again?  Probably.  But more and more it seems like a waste of calories, especially when I think of all the yummy healthy things I could be eating instead. 

I also agree with tamajinn about trying to make some lower cal alternatives to see you through.  I make a wicked awesome "Egg McMuffin" at home these days.

How long will you have to wait before you don't get this "craving for fast food" feeling any longer.  You've been doing this for 4 days?  Well I have been eating really healthy forrrrr.......almost.......4 years now, and the cravings still come.  Sorry honey, this is going to have to become a battle of will power and how much you really want to get healthy.  Being a food addict, to me at least, is almost more difficult then being a drinker or a smoker (I know a lot of people will disagree with me on that comment, no need to get angry, but stick with me until I explain) here's the reason why I think that.  Your physical person can live without smoking, you can survive without an alcoholic drink (physically at least), but you cannot live, you cannot survive without eating!  The problem comes in when your body (and mind) has to learn to become satisfied with the healthier options, that is why so many of us become overweight, because the healthier options are definitely not always the better tasting ones.  But once your body does get use to being healthy, you WILL find that the “Healthy Foods” will be the ones that you start to crave.  The cravings will never stop, but your mind, body, and will power will get stronger.

Day four - yeah your body is probably trying to revert back to its old ways.  try to hang in there.  but if it is nagging you like crazy, go to your favorite fastfood joint and order a kids meal.  it is not as healthy as making a meal at home, however the kids meals actually have the correct portion sizes unlike the adult meals - which are huge and loaded with calories.  Taco bell, BK, Mcdonalds, Wendy's, and sonic all have good kids meals (they are not perfect, but they may cure your fix) - just make sure that you account for the extra calories these bring to the rest of your day.  if that doesn't sound like a good option.  If you have a wendy's near by get a small chili (approx 200cal and quite filling) and a baked potato (no butter or sour cream, just pour some of the chili on the potato) or a side salad with low fat dressing (no croutons).  I also usually get a junior frosty (only 160 cal).

hope that helps a little....you can do it!  try to curb the craving as long as you can.

Hey denying yourself of fast food is kind of like the more your parents told you not to do something, the more you wanted to do it!  Instead of going to a McDonald's or Wendy's, buy you a George Forman or any indoor grill, buy some ground beef then you can make your own burgers any size, use 2% cheese, buy some buns, lettuce, tomatoes etc have it your way! And if you just have to go to a fast food restaurant do as stated before go Happy meal and get a girl or boy surprise inside!  Remember lifestyle change, not a diet.

Let's get back to reality.  OP said she was having Food Hunger Pains...The one's that come from wanting "bad food." So, OP are they really "pains" or do you think your mind is just messing with you?  The stomach and the brain are known to be in complete cohoots with each other to over ride "will power" and "common sense".  Who is in charge of your life?  You (common sense and will power) or your stomach and it's evil cohort "the brain?"