[berryblondeboys]

Yep, keep money (all forms) at home. Plus, do you really want to be spending a big chunk of your paycheck on crappy mall food? (and it is CRAPPY in all senses of the word).

Pack a lunch and don't let people treat you to lunch.

I totally believe that most people gain a ton of weight when they start working in such places.

[Kahokkuri]

Agree with everyone offering you reasons to abstain from that food.

I used to love Sarku Japan, and I also worked at a mall where we had one. I ate it as often as I could justify, but then I stopped working at the mall, stopping thinking about Sarku and stopped missing it. Anything you can do to stop thinking about those places will be for the best!

[theox]

I think everybody has given really good advice. My suggestion for learning how to resist fast food is more of a long-term project, but I definitely second others' suggestions for packing a lunch, mall-walking, not bringing any money into the mall with you, and planning when you will eat the mall food.

If you don't cook much and usually eat fast food or casual chain restaurant-type food when you eat out, it might be worth making learning how to cook tasty, healthy food and (occasionally) eating meals at restaurants that actually pay attention to the quality of their fare a priority. It's probably not something you'll want to do very often for weight and financial reasons, but the difference between a meal at a really good restaurant and its fast food or "casual dining" national chain equivalent is like the difference between a mediocre high school band concert and a performance by the Boston Pops. Even if the meal is pizza.

Since I began learning how good food can be by eating and learning to appreciate good restaurant food and improving the taste and complexity of my own cooking, I've found it easier to resist fast food and other "junk" food like super-cheap chocolate. It just tastes and smells worse to me than it did, and the low price doesn't make up for the low quality as often as it used to. FWIW.

Congrats on getting a job!

[pixelllate]

I used to have the same fears - esp because at work they would bring in so much free food. But then I realized there is nothing to fear, it is me making the conscious decision to reach for the food. I can always choose to say no unless someone is forcefeeding me, and even if I feel a craving, clearly I don't TRULY deep down want it because I am always unhappy afterwards. So I suggest when you feel the temptation, read your post here and know that you will regret it after.