We all know fast food isn't good for us. It has a ton of calories, sodium, sugar -you name it.
And still, I find myself having it. Not every day of course, but once a week I am going somewhere. Name it be Subway, McDonalds. I don't get something insane when I go, I either pick something grilled or the item with the lowest calories.
The past two days though, I have had to eat out. We had no time to get groceries for our work supper's, so yesterday I had McDonald's (I had a Big Mac because we busted our tire and I was pissed) and today I had some Dixie Lee (two pieces of fried fish and a cup or so of fries).
I feel incredibly guilty, but I obviously cannot go back now.
MY question is. I still stayed in my calorie range yesterday and today, even after eating out. I had 1500 cals yesterday and (since I zig zag) I am having 1800 today. So, even though I didn't have the healthiest suppers (I ate good dinners) do you think this is something I should be stressing on that will affect my weight this week?
I am drinking a ton of water because I know the salt I've ingested is going to make me gain water weight.
I don't see any point in stressing about what you've already eaten. Maybe for the future you could find out what the best(healthiest) item to eat is and go knowing what you can eat without feeling guilty.
I wouldn't dwell on it, stuff happens and we just have to flow with it. I still eat some fast food, I try to keep it under once a week and make sure to get something with grilled chicken and no fatty sauces. Carls Jr. actually has a charbroiled BBQ chicken Sandwich that has a really yummy bbq sauce and at only 380 calories and 7 grams of fat it's a totally sensible choice when eating out.
I have maintained (at 120lbs) for around 6 years now and I still eat fast food at least once per week.
Go in with a game plan. You can make "ok" choices. For example, at McDonalds, I have a kid's happy meal (one plain cheeseburger, 1% milk, apples ~ as the options). Or at Subway, a 6 inch turkey sub with mustard only and veggies, no cheese. It is about making better choices. *You need to read the charts and confirm!*. I also pay attention to the sugar content.
Others do a "no XXXX" approach. That is their choice, and if it works for them, that's fine. It doesn't work for me. All good things in moderation for me.
I wouldn't dwell on it, stuff happens and we just have to flow with it. I still eat some fast food, I try to keep it under once a week and make sure to get something with grilled chicken and no fatty sauces. Carls Jr. actually has a charbroiled BBQ chicken Sandwich that has a really yummy bbq sauce and at only 380 calories and 7 grams of fat it's a totally sensible choice when eating out.
Unfortunately we don't have a Carls Jr here I'd love to try some of their salads.
Usually when I go eat out I pick a grilled chicken, something healthy for you. But this time I failed!
I am just wondering if eating this stuff the past two days, if it's going to sabotage my weight loss in anyway? I am keeping to my usual calories, which is what is keeping me sane right now -would that mean I should be ok?
One of my favorite weekly meals is to go to the Wendys/Tim Hortons combo stores and have a diet coke, plain grilled chicken burger (no sauce) with extra lettuce/tomato and then get a small soup from Tims (chicken noodle or veggie). Pretty filling. Or, the chili!
Two days at your normal calorie intake will not sabotage anything, but you will probably notice bloating/water weight from an increased sodium intake. Drink lots of water.
And I'm not saying that because of health reasons! Think of your poor wallet! If you absolutely MUST have yourself some McDonalds, at least opt for a double cheese burger. Then you're only paying $1 AND it's 100 calories less than the Big Mac. (Or you can get just a cheese burger, which is 100 less than the double cheese burger, or just a burger! A burger [250 calores] is HALF the calories of the Big Mac!)
One of my favorite weekly meals is to go to the Wendys/Tim Hortons combo stores and have a diet coke, plain grilled chicken burger (no sauce) with extra lettuce/tomato and then get a small soup from Tims (chicken noodle or veggie). Pretty filling. Or, the chili!
Two days at your normal calorie intake will not sabotage anything, but you will probably notice bloating/water weight from an increased sodium intake. Drink lots of water.
That's ok
You know what you should try at Tim's if you go again? Their grilled chicken snack wraps. They are very filling and the only thing bad in them is the sauce but you could ask for no sauce. Lots of tomato, lettuce and yummmy chicken.
And I'm not saying that because of health reasons! Think of your poor wallet! If you absolutely MUST have yourself some McDonalds, at least opt for a double cheese burger. Then you're only paying $1 AND it's 100 calories less than the Big Mac. (Or you can get just a cheese burger, which is 100 less than the double cheese burger, or just a burger! A burger [250 calores] is HALF the calories of the Big Mac!)
I am very frugal though.
Yeah I agree they can be expensive. I was just angry at the time and didn't care about what it was or how much it cost, lol.
I will probably never get a big mac or cheese burger again. If I go I usually get the grilled chicken sandwich or a filet of fish which has under 400 cals. Those are expensive meals but are the healthiest sandwiches there you can get (aside from the salads of course)
Theoretically, calories are calories, so I wouldn't think a trip or two a week for fast food would cause you to gain weight if you are staying within your limits.
Personally, I love fast food. I would probably go once a week or so if I lived close to town. You gotta live!
Theoretically, calories are calories, so I wouldn't think a trip or two a week for fast food would cause you to gain weight if you are staying within your limits.
Personally, I love fast food. I would probably go once a week or so if I lived close to town. You gotta live!
Thanks Katterina. I think I just needed to hear some encouragement from all you wonderful people here (I really do love this site, and if my work computer allowed me to put the hug smilies I would be right now).
It's strange how things like this can really make a person feel depressed and guilty. I never felt that way until I started my weight loss, and I am really one that takes it to heart if I skip my routine or eat the wrong thing based on an urge.
OhhhI got me a Tim Hortons chicken salad sandwich and a chicken noodle soup today for lunch...So delicious. I am on weight watchers so the combo works out to be 9 pts-still reasonable for a very filling meal. It makes me feel like I am cheating
Warning: sometimes the grilled chicken options in fast food restaurants can be deceiving...Today at the mall, I almost ordered a grilled chicken sandwich from AW but first asked for their nutritional info...the grilled chicken had 19 grams of fat...so, I went to TH..the soup and the sandwich were like 11.5 grams of fat which for me was worth it.
I think an emergency "fast food" plan is essential to any weight loss plan: there WILL be times when someone steals your lunch, or you leave it on the counter at home, or you have to work late unexpectedly. You have to have some plan for coming up with something you can eat in advance, because if you wait for the emergency to figure something out, you (or at least for me!) will end up getting frustrated and HUNGRY and then everything goes to ****. Everyone needs to have 3-4 things that they know the calorie count to and can order (or get from the grocery store) in a pinch. This way you don't even look at the menu (which is the worst sort of food porn, designed by geniuses to make everything look like the most fantastic experience possible).
I mean, before, I always ordered a #2 with coffee at McDs. Now I order a plain grilled chicken sandwich, only mustard. At Chipotle, I order a bowl, easy rice, beans, meat, lots of hot sauce. Those are both pretty healthy, feel like a treat, and are easy to get my hands on when I start to get that "hungry hungry hungry feed me NOW" thing going.
That said, I don't trust the calorie counts of anything deep fat fried--the calorie counts of those items are highly dependent upon the temperature of the grease--a degree or three can make a tremendous difference in how much oil is absorbed, and so the calorie count. So I really avoid those items.
I have no philosophical issues with getting fast food on occasion, if it fits into your calorie allowance. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on perspective), I moved to cooking most of the time and now it just does not taste good to me, and actually makes me really sick. Which stinks if I'm out somewhere and need to eat something quickly...because I'd totally just grab a chicken sandwich or salad in a drive through in that situation, if I could without spending the rest of my day in agony.
It's funny because I used to LIVE on the stuff and now the only item I can eat is the soft serve from McDonald's.
Ooooohhh! This is a good chance to rant about KFC's "grilled" chicken! You know, the plate they advertise for as under 400 calories? Have any of you tried it? No wonder it's under 400 calories... the pieces of chicken you get are practically meatless!!! Hahaha. What a rip off I was hungry again within the hour.
Fast Food ...
I'd love to try some of their salads.
Don't do that!
I am very frugal though.
