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Mountain Mike
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 7 January 2006 01:20 am |
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Greetings!
Let's face it...in 20th Century America it is almost impossible to get through one's life without encountering some kind of "fast food."
For those of us on a weight loss program, this can create a daunting situation. You are out with family and friends, need a quick meal, whatever....so, what do you do?
Here is what I do at one place: At Del Taco, the regular taco only has 140 calores (8g fat), while the 1/2 lb. red burrito has 430 calories (12g fat). Big difference.
If I get a soda, I go with diet, but I'm trying more and more to go with just water, or maybe ice tea. I never order fries anymore.
What are your tips or picks for surviving life in the fast food jungle? What are the most low calorie or otherwise "healtful" fast foods?
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dietdewfan
New Member
| Joined: | 5 January 2006 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 02:17 am |
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I believe portion control is important. I went to the free calculator for calories on this site and looked up foods that I could eat without a bunch of guilt. For example, I used to run through McDonald's drive through and order a quarter pounder meal super sized with a regular coke. When I went to this calculator site I found out just how many calories I was eating so I changed what I typically order at McD's. A hamburger has less calories and fat than a quarter pounder (go figure!:D) I cut out fries and now order a diet coke or diet Dr.Pepper. Also, the 4 piece nuggets are also a good choice. These foods I now order are not as good as a salad with low cal/fat dressing but I do not like the salads. Because I do not eat out everyday I can eat what I like when I do go, within reason.
I suggest the cal counter at this site. Write down your good food choices and keep it on a post card in your car for a reminder and quick help when ordering out.
Hope this helps some! If nothing else, know that you are not alone in the "battle of eating out."
Tanya
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 04:59 pm |
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All my reading on this subject suggests that fast food is junk, made to a price rather than a nutritional code.
Food isn't just about calories, it's about what you put into your body.
The ingredients of whatever you eat in one of those places is bought as cheaply as possible (sometimes at prices the farmers etc find unsustainable) shipped and flown thousands of miles (removing any notion of freshness) and laced with all kinds of preservatives.
If you plan your day's eating ahead of time, it's quite possible to ensure that you have good, nourishing food on hand...
I don't have anything against these places as businesses. Most businesses in the world make money by selling you stuff you think you want, rather than what you need.
My only problem with them is that even a cursory look at the real ingredients tells you that there is no healthy junk food.
And even their recent conversion to 'healthy' choices (they now offer salads) is only skin deep, because they thought it would help their public image.
If you want to lose weight the easy way, then good, fresh food and sensible exercise is how to do it.
Just one bore's opinion.
NevD 
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sillyma
New Member
| Joined: | 3 January 2006 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 29 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 07:14 pm |
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| I agree with you completely. You know, and I hope I don't sound condescending, but the things is that alot of people don't realize what they are doing to their bodies. I live in a really small town,(5,000) and there is probably 12 fast food restaurants (half being mexican food) the temptation is all around. Yesterday I dealt with my brother eating a personal pan pizza, my mom eating a cheeseburger and my sister-in-law with a meatball sub. What did I eat? A roast beef sandwhich on wheat at Subway with no mayonnaise. NO chips and no soda. If I can do that I can handle anything. It's called will power and determination. There is no healthy junk food. I now carry with me a box of granola bars and small containers of Cheerios. Water Water Water. I think I might be developing a taste for it. It's not a diet, It's changing my way of eating. 6 days with no soda. wow!!
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 07:47 pm |
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6 days with no soda. wow!!
Congratulations! And I can write that sincerely, since I sold my shares in Dr Pepper!
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legume
Member
| Joined: | 24 November 2005 |
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| Posts: | 62 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 10:30 pm |
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| i agree with nevd, except i do have a problem with some of the businesses. namely the one that uses a clown to entice children.
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
| Joined: | 24 May 2005 |
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| Posts: | 4179 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 10:58 pm |
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legume... not to disagree with you, but to add something...
I spend a lot of time in supermarkets gathering nutrition data for my food calculator, and it amazes me what happens when parents come into the cereal isle with their kids.
All too often they just ask the kids to pick their cereal. So the decision is likely based on Saturday morning cartoon ads, and the fact that the kids' (junk food) cereals are all at the kids' eye level on the shelf.
The parent has to pay for the cereal, and drive the kids to the fast food joint with the clown.
In the end, the parent is responsible for their child's well-being.
Peter
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legume
Member
| Joined: | 24 November 2005 |
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| Posts: | 62 |
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Posted: 7 January 2006 11:13 pm |
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| very true. i don't have kids yet and probably won't for awhile but i've already thought of how i'd go about it.
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 8 January 2006 11:29 am |
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I spend a lot of time in supermarkets gathering nutrition data for my food calculator
That reminds me, I must find a hobby...
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Rosie Real
Member
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Posted: 9 January 2006 09:59 pm |
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I don't think there are any healthy fast foods. For example, take that burger out of the bun and actually look at it. It's a gray and flaccid industrialized meat product. Also, everything is laced with high fructose corn syrup. Quote from news article: "Almost all nutritionists finger high fructose corn syrup consumption as a major culprit in the nation's obesity crisis. The inexpensive sweetener flooded the American food supply in the early 1980s, just about the time the nation's obesity rate started its unprecedented climb."
So in a nutshell, it may not be how much food we are eating but what we are eating that is making us obese!
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collegestudent
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 9 January 2006 11:11 pm |
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| I do eat at baja fresh. I like their veggie burrito. I take it out of the tortilla though (because the tortilla is 330 cals). The food at baja fresh is made when you order -- they use no canned food, msg, frozen food, etc. It is the one "fast" food place that I don't mind.
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Javan
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 10 January 2006 09:34 pm |
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I used to eat at Arby's only (for fast food), and then only for their "Market Fresh Sandwiches" they were good, but still very high in calories and you had only one choice of cheese (swiss). I would watch the daily parade of coworkers coming back from the drive for lunch with Mcdonalds, Wendy's, Arby's meals.
Back when I used to work in a conventional office (I work on-site in a construction trailer, about 20 minutes from any fast food place), I would either go to Subway or Arby's.
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Mountain Mike
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 11 January 2006 10:46 pm |
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| Others have mentined, and I concur that sandwich shops (i.e., Subway) offer some of the best "fast food" options. I am most likely going out to lunch tomorrow, and I plan on hitting Subway. I'm thinking that a turkey breast sandwich (NOT the foot long version) would be a good choice. And, water to drink instead of the "unlimited" soda option. Last edited on 11 January 2006 11:49 pm by Mountain Mike
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Javan
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 11 January 2006 11:10 pm |
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I love Subway, but have not been there in months, however, one thing that just amazed me. They really try and sell the "healthy" aspect of their foods, then they jump on the package deal bandwagon and try and sell you a "meal" by adding in chips or cookies. I was one of those that would buy the two or three cookies (cause I love cookies).
Still, I think they are the best for healthy choices for fast food (although fast food is not real true since it's at least 5-10 minutes.
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 13 January 2006 10:19 pm |
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I am most likely going out to lunch tomorrow, and I plan on hitting Subway. I'm thinking that a turkey breast sandwich (NOT the foot long version) would be a good choice.
Better still, make your own. If you grill the turkey breast yourself:
a. You know it's lost a lot of fat
b. If you bought 'free range' turkey meat, you know it started off low-fat and probably wasn't shot full of antibiotics.
You can also opt for wholemeal bread, without all the additives and 'flour improvement agents' (I wonder what horrors that term hides!)
And, as a bonus, you can eat it in the park and enjoy the scenery!
Just kidding, but with a bit of planning, all your meals could be guaranteed nutritious. I may be paranoid, but I think there are few food outlets that have my health in mind when they're preparing food. Not that I don't eat out - just not often. At least that way I skew the odds in my own favour.
NevD
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Living4JC
New Member
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Posted: 30 January 2006 05:47 am |
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As a busy mother of 3, I find my way through fast food drive in quite frequently. I have used the calculator on this site. To make healthier choices. For example!
Jack In the Box has a southwest pita that only has 260 calories and 4.5 grams fat
Taco Bell has alot of their tacos in Lower fat Fresco style
Subway has a bunch of sandwiches with 6 grams of fat or less
Wendy's has an Ultimate Chicken Sandwich with 360 calories and 7 grams of fat a small cup of chili is only 200 calories and 5 grams of fat.
Even Pizza Hut has Low fat pizza, believe it or not.
1 slice of fit ham and pineapple pizza is 150 calories and 4 grams of fat
Kudos to the maker of this site. It has really helped me make better choices in my fast food dining.
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 30 January 2006 03:56 pm |
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It's probably no consolation to a busy person, but even the 'healthy' choices at fast food outlets are suspect...
The salad stuff will be the cheapest obtainable, probably dosed in insecticides and transported thousands of miles in gas-filled packaging designed to keep things 'fresh'. And all the bread choices will be made with super-refined, vitamins-added flour agents.
Compared to locally-bought fresh produce it's 'pants' as we say in the UK (just in case you're unfamiliar with the term, it's derogatory).
The only reason most of these places sell anything salad-like is because they hate their image as the major artery cloggers of the Western World. Were it not for that, those 'healthy' choices would never have made an appearance. But, lip-service does not equate to nutritional choice.
Just another tree-hugger rant.
NevD
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JR
New Member
| Joined: | 24 January 2006 |
| Location: | NY, USA |
| Posts: | 11 |
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Posted: 1 February 2006 02:09 am |
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I NEVER, NEVER,NEVER eat fast food with one exception. Maybe twice a year i'll eat a Subway (veggies only). I don't believe fast food is healthy and I shudder to think of what they put into their meat. I plan ahead and I cook. I take little snack bags with measured amounts of low fat food stuffs and keep some in the car. I try to eat only foods that are high in fiber and only 4-5 grams of fat. I try to plan main meals for the week and then do my shopping. It's not that hard and i'm losing weight! Good luck and please stay away from that junk.
KIT - jeri
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Living4JC
New Member
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Posted: 1 February 2006 02:40 am |
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| Oh I don't worry about all that, I eat out! Not healthy is being overweight, thats what I'm trying to work on right now and I believe you can eat out and still lose weight. I love the fast food calculator on this site. Its a God send!
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 1 February 2006 11:43 am |
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I used to be quite a fan of eating out. Less of the 'McDonald'-style fast food and more into economy Pub Meals (plated meals such as Chilli Con Carne, Sunday Roast, Lamb Carry, Salmon Linguini - typically I used to pay £3.50 for a meal if my friend was also having one at the same time) and Buffet ("eat as much as you like") meals: Pizza, Indian or Chineese varieties, pay £5-£7.50 and eat so much you can barely walk out of the restaurant.
While portion control (or indeed, 'control') was the issue with Buffets, the problem with the Pub food (or indeed restaurant food) is that it is simply made to taste good, rather than to be healthy or calorie-controlled. When I get the choice I try steering a social gathering away from restaurants rather than the other way around.
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Corina
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 1 February 2006 08:08 pm |
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I do think it is possible to make "healthy" choices at fast foods. But, trust me I do not recommend going to fast food restaurants while trying to lose weight unless you do some research before you go. If it's unavoidable, I'll go to their website and look up all of the "healthier" choices they have and choose from those. I say "healthier" although the food itself is probably not healthy at all.
I agree with NevD...Whole wheat bread is probably enriched bread (white flour with fortified vitamins). The meats probably have antibiotics and hormones... Soups have preservatives to make them last longer...Salads have pesticides...
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Living4JC
New Member
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Posted: 2 February 2006 11:48 am |
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Corina wrote: I do think it is possible to make "healthy" choices at fast foods. But, trust me I do not recommend going to fast food restaurants while trying to lose weight unless you do some research before you go. If it's unavoidable, I'll go to their website and look up all of the "healthier" choices they have and choose from those. I say "healthier" although the food itself is probably not healthy at all.
I agree with NevD...Whole wheat bread is probably enriched bread (white flour with fortified vitamins). The meats probably have antibiotics and hormones... Soups have preservatives to make them last longer...Salads have pesticides...
I'm sure you can find hormones, preservatives and pesticides in grocery food items also. Unless you buy complete Organic all natural foods, which I don't. Personally This extra weight is giving me extra hormones (you have more estrogen the fatter you are) and the extra weight is like a pesticide to my health so I'm just looking to lose the weight, maybe the health food kick will kick in onces I get the weight off. :):D
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slimming
New Member
| Joined: | 2 February 2006 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 3 February 2006 04:37 am |
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The Angus Steak Burger has the lowest calories at = 560
I had half of it yesterday :yumm: I wanted to get something else but we were both hungry and it was getting late
-- Edited to comply with Terms of Use
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Living4JC
New Member
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Posted: 3 February 2006 06:03 am |
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The Angus Steak Burger has the lowest calories at = 560
I had half of it yesterday :yumm: I wanted to get something else but we were both hungry and it was getting late
When we hit the BK for a quick dinner. I usually get either
Veggie Burger No Mayo extra Onions at 340 calories and 8 grams of fat
or
Chicken Whopper no mayo extra onions at 410 calories and 7g of fat.
If we take it home to eat, I will slap on a piece of fat free cheese at only 25 calories and 0 grams of fat extra :)
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BCinAC
New Member
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Posted: 3 February 2006 06:31 am |
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My usual fast food meal used to be 2 Doulbe Whoppers with cheese, large fry and diet coke. Or Double Quarter pounder with cheese, 10 piece chicken select and (you guessed it) diet coke.
Now I try to avoid fast food but if I have to stop I get the salad with chicken at McDonalds or at WaWa (which is like 7-11 only better) soup and a salad or a turkey sandwich on wheat Kaiser (cleverly named a Wiser Kaiser but I can't bring myself to actually order it that way, I just say "Give me one of those wheat Kaisers" and they say "Do you mean a Wiser Kaiser?" and I say "Yeah") with mustard.
I did eat out tonight at a Fridays, which isn't really fast food but close enough, and had their chicken with Jack Daniels sauce, vegetables and rice and the menu said 500 calories for the whole meal. It took all of my will power not to order two. So I ordered a salad with it. It was very good. I will probably be back for lunch there soon.
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quester
New Member
| Joined: | 11 February 2006 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: 11 February 2006 08:15 am |
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I try to plan my meals in advance, but there are times when fast food is just soooo convenient. Here is my approved list...
Wendy's - small chili, their salads are also good, the best and freshest of all the fast food places IMO.
Burger King - salad, no cheese
McDonalds - salad, no cheese
Jack in the Box - Southwest Chicken Pita
Taco Bell/Taco Bueno - Chicken soft taco, no cheese and I don't eat the tortilla (I don't eat anything made with white flour)
My local chinese takeout place also has a great dish called Teriyaki grill which is grilled chicken, steamed veggies and rice. I order it with the sauce on the side and no rice. This is great because they deliver and it is a great alternative to having a pizza delivered when you don't have time to cook.
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Analyst
New Member
| Joined: | 5 February 2006 |
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| Posts: | 8 |
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Posted: 12 February 2006 08:32 am |
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Living4JC wrote:
I'm sure you can find hormones, preservatives and pesticides in grocery food items also. Unless you buy complete Organic all natural foods, which I don't. Personally This extra weight is giving me extra hormones (you have more estrogen the fatter you are) and the extra weight is like a pesticide to my health so I'm just looking to lose the weight, maybe the health food kick will kick in onces I get the weight off. :):D
Even "organic" food isn't grown in a vacuum, free of an environment which, for many, many years, has been contaiminated by industrial byproducts, insecticides, etc. I think it's safe to say no such place exists on the planet.
The bottom line is that there ARE no perfect, toxin-free, untainted foods. There are only matters of degree. And I concur with earlier posters: it is quite possible to lose weight while eating fast food. I think it's tougher to do if you eat ONLY fast food, given how calorie-dense a lot of it is, but it is possible.
One of the ways I lost weight last year was to control, rather than cut out completely, fast food intake.
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NevD
New Member
| Joined: | 26 October 2005 |
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| Posts: | 1536 |
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Posted: 12 February 2006 12:44 pm |
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it is quite possible to lose weight while eating fast food.
Agreed. But since most peope want the 'weight' off ASAP, then eating junk (however little) only slows things down.
And as to degree: if there's a choice between very adulterated and slightly adulterated, what's the smart move?
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drumforengland
New Member
| Joined: | 16 February 2006 |
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| Posts: | 77 |
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Posted: 25 February 2006 08:05 pm |
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i work at a subway so i eat there pretty regularly. i saw someone post above about the fresh value meal. it's purely to make a bit more profit on the sale of the meal as the cookies and drinks hadly cost a thing to make. i normally have the veggie delite because i don't see the point in having any of the reformed turkey or ham, the salad makes it tasty enough. sometimes i just have a salad bowl (the veggie salad is only 60cals!!) or if i am having bread il have the wheat or honey oat as it has more fibre. hold the cheese and sauce and my 6inch veggie is only 210cals. and it fills me up for the rest of my shift. the cookies are pretty high in fat and calories, but every few weeks i allow myself an oatmeal and raisin cookie (the least calories and the most tasty!!)
i havn't been to macdonalds or anywhere else since i started working there, i dont see the point in having all that processed stuff when you can get a fresh sandwich that fills me up for much longer. i am a true convert and jared fogle is the god!! lol
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