What to do when you just can't stop eating junk?!

[Haydies]

So, I'm trying to loose weight. No surprise there, the ground shakes when I walk... (ok, so no not really, but I'm fat lol).

My problem. I LOVE the taste of McDonalds (one near me is always fresh and super yummy), KFC, Hungry Jacks, Nandos and all the other really bad for you junk food.

Unfortunately, I grew up on a very limited food palette. My mum fed me dinner consisting of chops, peas, cold carrot and a glass of milk. EVERY night. A special night was sausages, peas, cold carrot and a glass of milk. A SUPER special night was veal snitzel, peas, cold carrot and a glass of milk.

So, there's a lot of foods I just don't like the taste of. This makes it very boring, and hard to stick to good food. As a result of this, and being tired, lazy, busy, etc... I 'cave' and 'just get' take away.

Any tips you lovely ladies can give me to avoid the junk?

[Megan]

Move! We moved and are now half an hour from our nearest McD's, KFC etc.

prior to that though, i always need encouragement which DH is pretty good at, so I managed to behave myself with help from him.

[Haydies]

Unfortunately moving is not an option.

And neither is getting help from DH. Coz his 'help' is usually what sends me running to the nearest drive through in the first place.

[Astrid]

You could still go, but just pick different options. Macca's has the salads now and they are not too bad. I thought Nando's was pretty good, I like their chicken breast in pita bread, just avoid the chips. Well HJ's and KFC are a bit harder. You could maybe treat yourself at the places, just order the kiddie size meal.

I get so temped by them, but that is mainly due to drive through, or at least better parking than most places. If I am hungry and bubs is asleep I will sometimes go through Macca's drive through and just grab one of those small snack wraps to carry me through till I get home.

[Mother Goose]

Perhaps set yourself a challenge/goal to try one new meal/food a week. And instead of having take away 4 nights a week (purely an example number, I have no idea how often you buy take away), try having it only 3 nights. Gradually cut back your take away and increase the foods you're cooking. Try to have your new foods as healthier options.

If you're going to go out for a meal, try something different on the menu that you think you could recreate at home. If you like it, make your own version at home. It will be much better for your waistline and your pocket

I'm not sure how "close", close is to these fast food places for you, but perhaps walk there if you really have to have it. The walk will help counteract the calories and may also act as a deterrent to going in the first place!

If you're having take away as a quick meal because you haven't the time/energy to cook, perhaps think of some quick meals you could do instead. Such as frozen fish and veg. Or an omlette, or scrambled eggs, or toasted sandwhich.

Good luck hon.

MG

[MrsFabuloso]

Would knowing what is really in it turn you off it, as in calories, fat, salt etc...I read the lable on a cheese burger one day and the amount of fat and stuff in it turned me off, I also thought if there's so much in a cheese burger imagine what's in a quater pounder, which is what I normally have! DH was saying to me at the same time that when he first met me I could barely get through a medium cheese burger meal, and now I can devour a medium quater pounder as well as a chocolate sundae half an hour or so afterwards...that has REALLY turned me off fast foods too, just the fact that it has made me sooo fat and unhappy and such a glutton!
We also have Maccas, KFC, Nandos, and Oporto within a km of our house, as well as coles and woolies (where I used to get my chocolate and icecream fixes!!). I have made the rule if I want it I walk for it. That means having to get the kids and me ready, drag them down three flights of stairs, having to spend my own money on it, as well as something for DD. And I really hate giving DD fast foods, but can't exactly not give her any if I eat it too. She has started to say 'chips' whenever we go past Maccas now cause we were going too often. That was one of the biggest turn offs for me. It's so unhealthy and I want her to be healthy.
I just don't eat it now. I don't go there because I want to be healthy, I want my children to be healthy. I don't have it unless DH is with me, and then I will get a small meal, or try to get a healthy option and water to drink. You really don't need as much food as is in a medium meal. Imagine it all on a plate, it would be a huge meal! And so much carbs!! Besides the fat, salt yada yada....I love maccas chicken salads and the tandoori rolls. KFC wraps are ok. Or I will go to subway or a sandwich bar.