i'm addicted to junk food

do you ever notice when you start eating like garbage the bad food is so addicting and its so hard to get back on track? ever since the holidays my eating habits have been horrible. well now i am having a really difficult time cutting out the junk - i CRAVE it! and then when i start i overdo it and have a hard time stopping. what do i do?? my willpower sucks

i'm addicted to junk food

I find I get that way with fast food. I try to rarely eat it, but if I do one night, I find myself craving more the next day.

I understand what you mean about a craving... it's such a strong urge and it's ridiculous because it's food. You have to know yourself and what works. I have tried eating in moderation with bad food, but it doesn't work for me. I need to really just cut it out completely.

When I put my mind to it, I have my "last meal" and start fresh the next day. I'm currently doing a juice cleanse and I feel it helps reset my hunger patterns and craving for bad food. I know many hate that idea or don't believe in it, but I have found that by going pure for a few days, it decreases my appetite and when I do want food, I'm reaching for something healthier.

Some people allow themselves a junky meal as a goal, like after they lost the first 10 lbs or something. I think that works for some, but can be a way to spiral out of control again.

Maybe pick a day when you'll be really busy and eat pure and drink tons of water. See how it goes and how you feel.

I know how hard it is, though.

Re: i'm addicted to junk food

You are!!! There are so many things in junk food that are designed to have us release endorphins in our system, just the way mind altering substances do! You need to detox from them the way you would from any addiction, unfortunately.

A great documentary that discusses this in depth is Hungry for Change. Food industries suck. They know what they are doing to get people to buy mass quantities of crap for consumption! And, they disguise this with so msn different names for sugar and MSG. It's scary!

Re: i'm addicted to junk food

I ate an entire bag of cheetos between breakfast and lunch on Friday (a far cry from the spinach and bean salads I used to eat)By dinnertime I felt like I had eaten a desert. I literally felt like a blimp with shriveled up insides.

So yeah I kinda know what you mean.

Re: i'm addicted to junk food

thanks for the responses...i've been trying to cut it all out, the problem is its still in my house. i think i'm going to throw my favorites out so there's no temptation. i tried moderation but it doesn't work!

one of my goals is to cut out as much processed food as i can this year to start eating healthier. I feel tired and sluggish and i think a lot of it has to do with diet.

i'm addicted to junk food

You can totally do it. It takes maybe a few days of hell and then cravings tend to subside. I personally can't do "in moderation" either. If I could go to McDonalds and only order a Happy Meal, well, I'd rather not have it at all.

Also - I've noticed that I can't just have a cheat day and go back easily. It usually ends up in a downward spiral for about 4 days until I kick myself in the ass. Now that I know that, no more cheat days for me. I'm all in.

I can almost gurantee you will feel so much more energetic if you cut out the bad. :) When I eat very well, I'm like super woman.

You can start small with goals that can be easily attained and work your way up.

You don't even have to give up everything. I will NEVER give up my coffee! ever!

A lot of posters here I see - some are pros at eating clean. A few are very into plant-based/raw foods and I've dabbled in that, as well. Some foods and recipes are amazing. I've hit up a lot of vegan/raw restaurants in NYC and fell in love.

Overall, it's great that you noticed a problem with it & want a change. I think that is a success in itself.

Message edited 1/27/2013 5:40:57 PM.

i'm addicted to junk food

I get the same way! Sometimes I feel like my body sort of goes through withdrawal when I'm trying to kick the junk food/fast food habit and go back to eating healthy. Usually the first day or two is extremely difficult but I try to replace a bad junk food for something that sort of tricks me like a smoothie that way it's tasty and healthy at the same time. After a few days, I don't even want to eat the bad foods anymore!