Okay, so...

I have the ingredients for my healthy shrimp dish. It sounds really good. It's simple. It has a good amount of carbs for energy right before my workout, lean protein, and enough veggies to make up the bulk, including some with lots of good fiber.

So why the **** did I eat 1.5 McDonald's double cheeseburgers instead of making the healthier, much tastier dish? They're horrid. Grisly, fatty, and the cheese isn't even cheese! I'm horrified at myself.

I need to get away from this crap. I keep saying this, but I keep going back and I don't know why. It sure isn't for the flavor. It just makes me feel so gross.

I blogged about it so that I would see it when I went to my site and know that I ate it. I hope that it, somehow, helps hold me accountable. I don't really want the world to see that I eat like that. Also shared here in a new thread because I figure that maybe THIS can also help hold me accountable for my actions.

I didn't go that far off plan and I'm STILL regretting what I ate. I'm going to drink water the rest of the night and not eat any more.

Fast food was one of the hardest things for me to give up! Wendy's to be exact. It's been 3 weeks without it and I'm not really even craving it anymore. The reason you probably chose the burger over your shrimp dish is because it was EASIER and QUICKER.

Yeah. I'm doing penance. Whole wheat apple muffins. At 10PM.

I honestly think they put addictive "stuff" in there. The kids freak out over it if they have it too much, but if its been a long time they think its gross. I grew up on it and I noticed if I have to have it then suddenly I want it again and again. We almost never eat at the big M but still it makes me wonder.

When we eat out, and its way to often, we try to opt for slightly healthier choices like taco del mar and mongolian grill. I never crave those like I used to McD hmmm.....

I know there are lot of people on this board who were very successful with moderation - I had to cold turkey on fast food, completely. It was just so easy and convenient and I could rationalize/make excuses for almost anything. In July 2004, I told myself "no more fast food" and it sounds terribly restrictive but for me, it was very freeing. Typical fast food is just NOT an option in my life (I still occasionally eat a healthy meal at Chipotle or a healthy 6" sub at Subway). But McDonalds? Jack in the Box? Taco Bell? I don't even try to tell myself "oh, I'll just go get a salad" because I know what will happen. I haven't had a fast food burger, fries or shake in 4 years and I don't miss it - AT ALL.

My real weakness isn't even McDonald's. It's Arby's. I love their ham and "swiss" melts.

I'm thinking cold turkey may be the way to go on convenience foods. Maybe even Subway. I have a problem with the veggie sub. I love the veggie with American cheese...and ranch dressing. Lots of ranch. I'll either have to get it without the ranch and put my own Hidden Valley light on at home or not have any at all. My other problem is that I love bread. When I go to Panera...oh, gods, look out. I could buy the store. The broccoli cheese soup with a big chunk of their white French baguette is my favorite thing in the world. Two helpings of soup and a whole baguette later... Okay, not really, but sometimes I *could* do that.

Time to see how committed I can be.

My solemn oath: from this moment on all fast food is out of the picture and I will find healthy alternatives to my favorite fast foods to try and suppress cravings for things I shouldn't be craving anyway.

I also promise to blog what I eat so that I can be held accountable by everyone. Then you guys can give me the slap in the rear I deserve.

I'm another one who is just plain ole' lousy at moderation. I know it works for some, but for me cold turkey is the only way to go. Once you decide to do without the foods that derail you the most, it takes the decision making process out of the equation. "Oh should I have it just this once? Or maybe just a little bit?". Nope. There are just no if ands or buts about it. You simply don't do it anymore.

As for those that say they "feel deprived" if they don't have it. Nuh-uh. Not me. What I was doing when I was eating THAT stuff was depriving myself. Of a fit, trim, happy and healthy ME.

The longer you do without them, the more your desire (cravings) for them decreases. Before you know it, you won't miss them at all.

Since I have done away with all of that, a whole new world of incredibly delicious, healthy foods has opened up for me. What I am eating now tastes (and is) way better then any of that other garbage.

Good luck to you. You can absolutely, positively do this. Keep us updated.

Stephanie, I too love to cook, but often find myself going with what's convenient. I'm pretty good at resisting fast food like Mickey D's, etc., but find myself turning to take-out all too often for family dinners - pizza, Chinese, etc., just because it's quick and easy. Now that I've started trying to eat healthier, I have some little tricks:

- Defrost whatever I plan to make the night before or in the morning. (I know I'll cook it then, since I wouldn't want to toss it.)

- When chopping veggies, etc. I always chop extra and seal it in a container for anytime I need it later in the week. (I also bought myself a cheap mini-chopper, which makes me more inclined to get those veggies out to begin with!)

- I always keep frozen stir-fry veggies on hand. Throw some of them in a hot pan with some sliced chicken breast and some low sodium/fat/cal sauce and you have a quick meal. This is my "go to" meal - I can have it on the table quicker than the delivery guy can get to my house!

Anyone else have some tips?

Congrats on your commitment to give up fast food. It's a hard thing to do, especially at first, but you can do it!! (And after a while, you won't even miss it.)

hm, i probably will say you did it out of habit ?
It's hard to give up on doing something you've been doing for a long time. But I think you can do it ^-^ Good luck on your journey

Fast food is dangerous for me too, and I TOTALLY hear ya on Panera. They have a couple of grilled panini sandwiches that I honestly can't think about too long or I'll start drooling on the keyboard.

I've memorized the calorie count in most of the fast foods that I adore, so when I think about dropping by to pick something up I just try to imagine a 700 CALORIES, SUCKER sticker on the package.

Now I just try to buy LOTS of safety foods at the store when I shop so that even if I'm totally 100% beat at the end of the day there is no reason I can't microwave a bowl or two of veggie soup.

Is there any reason you might (even subconsciously) want to be fat? It may sound odd, but I had to face the hard truth that there are some appealing things for some people.