Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosinante
What I did this time was start low carb. I meant to carry on low carb but it made me ill and my doctor advised me to come off it and look at low GI.
However, in the 5 weeks I was on low carb, I ate food that felt "decadent", as "wicked" as fast food but not processed in any way. I mean pork chops and roasts, steaks, that kind of thing.
By the time I had to come off low carb, the fast food addiction had been broken but I hadn't felt deprived, because of all the other "devilish" food I'd been eating.
As I transited into low GI, I brought up my carbs and lowered my fat. I still eat the same tasty meats but not as often and not in as big portions. The pattern had been broken, and a good pattern set up, and without pain.
I'm not in a position to say whether what I did was medically sensible, I'm no health expert, but it's working for me.
Good luck!
Lower-carb worked for me, too, in breaking me from cravings for starchy, sweet things. After the first week or so of getting all my carbs from veggies and fruits (no grains or sweets at all), my cravings completely disappeared. Now I can eat a fast food burger without the bun, and not even consider the fries, soda, and ice cream that I used to have with it.
Granted, I don't eat them every day! Too much sodium for me. But the protein and fat keep me satisfied, and my cholesterol has never been better. For me, fast food joints are easier places to find a snack than convenience stores, by far! If I have my choice between 7-11 and McDonald's, I'll be going to the Golden Arches every single time.
The nice thing about the lowered cravings is that I'm not "driven" to eat fast food like I used to. It's an option when I really need something fast, but most times, it's just not something I think about. It's been a real eye-opener for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hyacinth
What worked for me was to start by modifying fast-food choices. I'd crave fast food, but I found most french fries (except McD's) to be not very good. I also can easily pass on the drink, so I'd just go get a burger. I'd then supplement it with fresh veggies from home and water or maybe milk. A lot healthier (and cheaper), but still saving time. Cutting veggies up at home is also a time-consuming activity, so some days I'd just grab a raw carrot or cucumber, wash it really well, and eat it just like that. I found it to be a pretty good compromise.
Other times, I've only been able to get away from it by doing cold turkey.
And watching movies like "Food, Inc." DOES really curb the appetite for factory food!!
French fries were one of the harder things to give up... but now when I see them, I imagine them cold and greasy and gritty in my mouth, and imagine how my blood sugar would skyrocket after eating them... and even the littlest bit of interest I might have evaporates.
I'd much rather fill up on farm-fresh veggies and high-quality meats and cheeses.