When I started exercising and eating for health, I stopped fast food almost cold turkey.  I workout at a park that only has fast food across the street and I have to smell it everytime (In N' Out, Chik Fil'a, Rubio's and Starbucks).  It's a big feat, especially when I would still buy fast food for my Husband and not myself. 

However, once I reach my goal weight, I will face the temptation that fast food "is okay".  I deal with this by eating home-made versions of fast food.  I put Taco Bell mild sauce (I have a huge collection of those packets) in my scrambled eggs/egg whites.  I make lean hamburgers and eat them on whole grain bread with veggies.  One time I crumbled hamburger and put it in my beans.  (like chili)  I make tuna melts.  Tonight I'm going to make chicken salad. 

I think doing this will ease me into maintenance and keeping a life long commitment to eating healthy.  It's also cheaper. 

Do you do this too or do you actually eat things that look like diet food?  Does it motivate you more or less?

I wouldn't really say that my food looks like diet food.  I'm a vegetarian, so I've never really been into the whole fast food thing.  My food looks almost the same as it did before I started watching what I ate.  The only difference is that now there are lots more veggies than starches, and I'm not using nearly as much fat to cook with.  

I think my food looks like diet food to everyone else, but to me it's just tasty goodness.

That's not to say I don't eat awful food ever, but usually it's steamed veggies, yummy fruits, and soups. Edit: HAha, rereading this sentence, it sounds like I'm saying the awful food I eat is the latter-mentioned vegetables, fruits, and soups. Not what I meant! I meant that I occasionaly have just bad food like mass-produced ravioli, and cakes and things (although I make the cake myself, the 'vegan cake' recipe I use is incredibly easy). It just that I don't have it often (ravioli not often at all anymore!), I usually have the, you know, healthy stuff XD

Oh yeah. Cabbage soup gets me 'looks'. I just think it tastes wonderful. I hardly ever got it as a child because my mum couldn't stand the smell/taste/texture of cabbage. It's a shame it got such a bad rap as a 'fad diet' food.

Then there are the foods I eat labeled 'light' or 'diet'. I can't tell the difference between most 'light' foods and their full-calorie original, so I might as well take advantage of the same food for fewer calories. It adds up. Not to mention switching to diet soda helped immensely when I first did it. I didn't weigh myself at the time, except when I decided to switch when I used my aunts scale and found I was 140 pounds at 5'3". Overweight (or close enough) by adult BMI, I didn't know there was a teen BMI at the time, but it didn't hurt anything I'm sure, I drank a lot of soda.

That sounds like a good plan to me. You are incorporating  healthier versions of foods you already like into your lifestyle. That will make it much easier to stick to your plan. I try and do the same thing (boca burgers, baked french fries, sugar free pudding, ect.) because I know I am not the type of person who will be satisfied with just veggies and non-processed foods.

"Do you do this too or do you actually eat things that look like diet food?  Does it motivate you more or less?"

I actually eat fast food.  I know myself and never eating fast food is just not an option for me, so I allow myself to eat it whenever I want, just smaller portions of it.  Allowing myself to do this has made it less important to me, and I find I don't eat it as much as I did when I was always trying to restrict it.

That is a great plan and if it is working for you better even still. I don't....I eat a balance of healthy and not so... today I had shop bought pizza but tomorrow it's brown rice, lean turkey, veg etc and that's what works for me.

For me, it's all about portion control.  There are very few things I don't eat.  Yesterday I had fish and rice, asparagus, a V8, A huge Tostada with tons of guacamole and sour cream.  But, I split the Tostada over 3 meals.  I also had a rich piece of chocolate cake.  It only added up to a total of 1400 calories! Well under my 1700 calorie limit.  I don't deny myself anything.  And I don't crave anything. I just control "how much" I eat.  I have to admit that about 90% of the time I eat a balanced diet. But, If I want a piece of pizza.  I have a piece of pizza.  One piece.   

There are some things that I would eat, given the chance (pizza).  But some of the fast food items are day killers.  Like if I ate the Double Double at In N' Out, that would use up all my calories for the day, and I'd still be lacking in nutrients like fiber.  But a hamburger made at home is actually really low in calories and fats (and starches).  Some of the substitutions I make are lower in calories than the so-called "diet foods". 

The other day I binged on roasted chicken but I was still under my limit.  If I had one serving of drive thru fried chicken, I would have ruined my day. 

I guess I'm obsessed with food value.  What am I getting with that serving of food?  How am I going to feel afterwards? 

RE cabbage.  That's funny, I associate cabbage with fatty foods because of its pairing with corned beef or Chinese food.  I hate raw cabbage but I like it  cooked in a tomato broth.  or cole slaw. 

I'm with suseuser - I have what I want, but around my calorie goal.

Dont' get me wrong - I have been trying to eat healthier, but that's the key - healthier, not "dieting". Last week I had a few onion rings - but I counted their calories and ate a bit leaner earlier in the day. I have 2 years of loss ahead of me - 75 or so more pounds, so I am trying to eat without deprivation. So, instead of fried chicken, get one of the grilled chicken wraps at the drive through and if you want something "less healthy" take a few of your husband's fries before he gets them and weigh/measure/estimate how much you have and count them into your daily #'s. Your goals have to be realistic to you and your lifestye. For some it is easier to eat well all the time, for some of us, we need to "allow" ourselves to not eat well at times.

My mother is doing Weight Watcher's to get to her goal and she is crazy about just buying WW bread, WW pudding, WW everything. My Aunt is doing Jenny Craig so all she eats is Jenny Craig food.

They've both lost a lot, but I just can't stick to plans like that. I hate when I'm on a diet plan and I can't have this and this, but all I think about is what I can't have.

I've been trying to just stick to small portions and watching my calories.

Yeah, my parents did that and when they fell off the wagon, they really fell off and didn't get back on.  And all that guilt!

I pretty much do what you do MrsDagle.  I make my own fast food (most times) at home.  Homemade burgers, baked fries, melts, etc.  Then, when it comes time to eat out at an actual fast food place I don't get all crazy like I missed it and just have to have the whatever.  I still will eat regular fries once in a while but not always.  I still eat pizza regularly but work it in.

I figure I have to do what I can live with forever, not just because I'm on a "diet".

I also eat whatever I want. I couldn't stand a life solely of cabbage soup. Sick!

Do whatever makes you happy!

XD who mentioned solely?

I love to cook, even if it's just for myself.  I've learned to make a single serving platter of gourmet food just for little ole me.  I use fresh herbs which grow on my windowsill, fresh ingredients and plenty of spices to make it tasty. 

For a while I missed those McDonald's fries, but not any more.  I tried a few last month and they tasted disgusting to me.  I used to gobble a large fries in no time flat and loved them.  As you eat healthier, you lose the craving for fast food.  I know it's hard to believe, but it happens.  It does take time though.  I'd say at least 6 months of eating right before your habits and tastes change for good.

"As you eat healthier, you lose the craving for fast food.
"

 

Which is further evidence to me that they put an addictive additive in the food that isn't directly related to the food item itself.  Like HFCS in foods that aren't naturally sweet tasting, or MSG in foods that aren't normally salty.  years ago, I heard that MickeyD's added sugar to their french fries.  Never got it verified.  But when you are eating that food, you continually want it, like a fix. 

I certainly experience that with other addictions like beer and coffee.  I went from drinking a 1/2 pot of coffee a day (with several trips to the coffee shop for espresso drinks) to sometimes a cup every other day.  I don't feel deprived at all. 

I don't eat "diet food".  Actually, I don't eat anythign that claims to be low carb, low fat ect. The reason is becaue there's other fillers in the these foods I'd rather not eat.

However, I know my lifestyle and I know myself. If I tried to give up certain foods like Fast food it just simply wouldn't work.  I know exactly what I can eat at nearly all of the major fast food chains around me. They aren't really low cal, but I know what I am getting myself into. I don't eat fast food every day, and I don't get French fries. I order only the sandwich and i might have a few of my DP's fries. 

 I also have the attitude that if its o'kay to eat when I am at a healthy weight its o'kay to eat now.  I don't think it wise to deprive yourself of certain foods only to start eating them once you have reached your goals. 

 

 

 

Fast food was what help me put my weight on, but I didn't want to quit cold turkey. I have modified how much I eat out quite a bit and I stay away from the really bad places. I enjoy Taco Bell once every two weeks; their spicy chicken burritos off the value menu are great and only 170 calories a piece. I have not had a fast food hamburger or fries in over three months and don't miss it at all. I like being able to still eat what I want but everything in moderation and so far this way has worked wonders for me.

I think eating the healthier subsitutes for the fast food is a great idea.  And if it works, even better.   I typically don't eat fast food.  I rather know what's going in my food and make it myself. 

I also like to Taco Bell Mild sauce on my food... I broke down and bought the big jar at the grocery store so I wouldn't be tempted to get anything to eat at Taco Bell any more.

I found after watching the movie Super Size Me, I really can't eat McDonalds anymore.  So I highly recommend watching that if you're trying to cut back on Mickey D's!  That movie actually stops me from eating at most fast food places.