Originally Posted by Wannabehealthy:
I think we are all different and what is satisfying to one, might not be so for the other. It's nice to hear suggestions from others, but in the end, we all have to do what works for us. We shouldn't be criticizing the choices of others.

I disagree. I feel no responsibility in keeping processed foods on the market. Sure I respect a person's choice but these persistent foods that are so cheap and abundant in our groceries are deceptive. They aren't healthy, they should not be promoted for weightloss and I'll knock them every chance I get. It's not personal, its corporate.

Originally Posted by shcirerf:
I love take out, drive through as much as anyone.

But in the spirit of the post.

Challenge yourself! To remake it in a healthier choice at home.

It can be done!

I found some amazing "dry" asian spice stuff!

A little cooking spray, sautee all the veg chicken, add a bit of spice a splash of low sodium soy sauce, good stuff!

A healthy burger, Mcdonalds, big mac sauce is mayo and 1000 island dressing, all can be made with fat free stuff. Lean burger or a a boca burger.

Fries, nuke the tater, then a bit of "Pam" spray, in a skillet or bake.

With a little thought, you can make most of your old faves, into lifestyle friendly food. That is yummy!:carrot::D:D

I have to admit, LOVING the completed goal. You go!

I grew up on a farm, with all of the food eaten was food raised, so my life began pretty healthy initially, BUT

I totally get the fast food cravings.

Being completely honest with you, I still get it occasionally-- however, I've been making better choices these days. So, if I pick up McDonalds, I'll order myself a small diet soda and.. a pair of hashbrowns, they're like.. $1 for two of them and so warm and potato-y.

My problem is going to be dealing with Chinese, as you've stated.
My son's best friend's mom is the owner of a Chinese restaurant, and so on Saturdays I will take my son up there and we will all have lunch and the boys will play for a few hours.
There's nothing like those savory meats drenched in sugar.
But, what I think I will do is order something very basic, like two spring rolls. I'm sated enough to not want to gorge myself on like honey chicken or sweet and sour pork-- both of which I am an addict, btw!!!

Originally Posted by teganp:
I grew up on a farm, with all of the food eaten was food raised, so my life began pretty healthy initially, BUT

I totally get the fast food cravings.

Being completely honest with you, I still get it occasionally-- however, I've been making better choices these days. So, if I pick up McDonalds, I'll order myself a small diet soda and.. a pair of hashbrowns, they're like.. $1 for two of them and so warm and potato-y.

My problem is going to be dealing with Chinese, as you've stated.
My son's best friend's mom is the owner of a Chinese restaurant, and so on Saturdays I will take my son up there and we will all have lunch and the boys will play for a few hours.
There's nothing like those savory meats drenched in sugar.
But, what I think I will do is order something very basic, like two spring rolls. I'm sated enough to not want to gorge myself on like honey chicken or sweet and sour pork-- both of which I am an addict, btw!!!

You have an opportunity here to try out some other Chinese dishes besides the fried Americanized stuff. Brown rice is really nutty and chewy in the most satisfying way. Chicken and broccoli is truly delicious as are many veggie packed sautéed dishes on the menu. Look I like the fried stuff too so I might treat myself to 1 spring roll but getting spring rolls AND fried rice AND fried meat WITH a syrupy sauce is overboard. This is where Americans get it all wrong - they cannot enjoy a simple treat if their entire meal is a gastrofantasy.

Originally Posted by teganp:
I grew up on a farm, with all of the food eaten was food raised, so my life began pretty healthy initially, BUT

I totally get the fast food cravings.

Being completely honest with you, I still get it occasionally-- however, I've been making better choices these days. So, if I pick up McDonalds, I'll order myself a small diet soda and.. a pair of hashbrowns, they're like.. $1 for two of them and so warm and potato-y.

My problem is going to be dealing with Chinese, as you've stated.
My son's best friend's mom is the owner of a Chinese restaurant, and so on Saturdays I will take my son up there and we will all have lunch and the boys will play for a few hours.
There's nothing like those savory meats drenched in sugar.
But, what I think I will do is order something very basic, like two spring rolls. I'm sated enough to not want to gorge myself on like honey chicken or sweet and sour pork-- both of which I am an addict, btw!!!

Ask them if they would be willing to share with you some authentic asian food! Asians and asian-americans don't eat that sugary stuff anymore than we do! Its junk food over there, too. A lot of chinese food store owners love it when you ask to be let in on the non-american menu. Its food that they really eat and might really enjoy sharing with you. After all, food is a gateway to understanding and community when we share it.

Originally Posted by PrairieQueen:
I do copycat versions at home except I do not use "diet" foods. Been there, done that, and like Palestrina said, it's not very satisfying. I found that just by taking the time to make it myself, no excessive amounts of butter/oils (I'm using Irish butter, olive oil, grapeseed oil right now), sour cream, etc., and eating slowly allows me to have my cake and eat it too. I do not eat as much, I "appreciate" my food more, and am not filling my bod with GMOs and food-substitutes full of chemicals (I'm a former food scientist and it's not pretty :) ) I've lost weight and feel great. Plus, my ever-expanding garden has given me a source of exercise and organically raised veggies for the entire year. (I freeze and can responsibly.) I know some people can't do this, but there are farmers' markets just about everywhere as well as organic sections at the grocery.

So nice your garden provides you with so many veggies - not to mention all the built in exercise!!! Couldn't agree more, "diet" foods leave me hungry and unsatisfied. I like to cook a lot with vegetables (low fat cooking spray, spices, fat free salad dressings, etc) and really fill up my plate with them. Find it extra yummy to add a little lean protein. Chicken is my absolute favorite with roasted peppers and squash :D It makes for a large, healthy, filling and low calorie meal. I also find it really helpful to keep a bag of veggies at my desk at work. I get so munchy and tempted by sweets throughout the day and my bag of cut up carrots and cucumbers really saves me.

Originally Posted by Palestrina:
What kind of lifestyle are we talking here? Cooking spray? Fat free salad dressing? Boca burgers? This is a highly processed food diet, not any healthier than regular take out and highly dissatisfying which will just cause the eater to seek out the original eventually. I didn't know people were still trying to lose weight with stuff like that.

It's a process, and it takes time.

Changes I made several years ago, were helpful then, now they are things, I have ditched for healthier options.

It is a learning curve.

And I have learned a lot. I did some of things I referred to along the line, but I learned.

Some of those things did help me as I learned. And I was glad to have those things, even if they were not the best choice, it was a better choice, than what I was doing before.

After awhile I realized, that the old school, early 70's, I grew up on a farm we ate, fresh, home raised, meat, and produce, sensible portions, get some exercise, it does work.

Not everyone comes from my background, or would embrace, the fresh, I can garden, and have access to all of the good stuff food lifestyle.

And I lost that for awhile. I got caught up in the hype.

I really did not mean to give the OP bad choices, but not everyone has 100 acres of access, that I do, where I live, to raise a huge garden, animals, hunt, freeze, can, have a root cellar. 3 pressure canners, and I think I am around, 500 canning jars.

Like I said, it is a learning curve. I was only looking at a few options, not all options.

But we don't need to live on a farm and grow our own food to eat well. I grew up on a farm and now I live in the busiest city in the world. But we do have farmers markets here even in the winter and there are lots of great produce aisles here full of varied and organic fruits and veg.

What worries me is when people make a choice to go in the processed food direction they often get caught up in something that is harder to stop down the line. Take diet cola for example. How many millions of people switched from regular to diet in an attempt to cut down on calories only to realize later that artificial sweeteners were even more harmful and more difficult to quit than regular sugar? Processed food may seem like a logical first step but it often sets you up for even less healthy choices.

I don't know why, but since I've been dieting (and it's been over 3 months now) I have a constant craving for hamburgers (which I don't even like THAT much). So, I have two tactics:
1. Ignore the craving. It is hard as ****, but I feel GREAT the other day
or, if the craving lasts few days:
2. Eat hamburger, but early in the day (around 1 pm) for lunch

So far I have managed to shake off more than 30 pounds so I guess it pays off...