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| I am 21 years old and just about to graduat from college -- woohoo! Anyway for the last four years I know I've been really bad to my body by grabbing the fastest food I possibly could... I know that when I graduate I won't have much more time to prepare food than I do now (I'm going to be a newspaper reporter!) but I've decided to use my graduation as a turning point in my eating habits.... no more fast food... no more potato chips... I'd love to start eating organic, but the expense is killer..
Anyway, I wondered if you anyone might have some suggestions for me. What is the best way to go about making such a drastic change and how might I incorporate it into my crazy schedule? |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
    
| Hooray Erica! Good for you - the graduating and the decision to eat better. There is a thread or two about what you are talking about here. One in particular talks about simple steps. I would work on adding in fruits and veggies first and think about organic later when you are ready mentally and financially. Some will disagree with this but small steps are easier to accomodate. You might just want to start with adding an apple and carrot a day to your meals. They are cheap and keep and travel well. Even if you have a fast food day, keep eating your apple and carrot. Then one day you might grate them up and make a salad out of them, add a few sunflower seeds, slice up some roasted chicken from the deli and so it goes... Read all the posts here and see if you can get some more ideas. Just remember small steps. Rome was not built in a day  |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
I agree with the small steps recommendation. You might be able to upend
you whole diet for a couple of months, but it will be very hard to sustain that
kind of change over a stretch of years. A few more simple thoughts:
--- breakfast cereal: switch to one with no added sugar & high fiber.
--- yogurt: it's easy to make a cup of yogurt into a daily habit.
--- coffee: if you add sugar, nix it.
--- Orange juice: usually easy to find, essentially the same dietary value as
an actual orange. Get 100% juice, not a "juice drink" or a "fruit cocktail"
b/c juice drink may be 10% juice with corn syrup for sweetner.
--- Just don't eat at Micky D's or KFC or their many cousins (barf!)
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| Thanks for your ideas.. I guess I should read everything before I post from now on.
I have actually been adding more fruits and veggies into my diet for a while.. The more I eat, the less bad things I seem to crave. In fact, the latest addition to my diet has been a whole cucumber everyday... I have a salt tooth and I've found that a salted cucumber is as satisfying as potato chips and other snack foods that I really love.
But when I do falter and binge on fatty foods, I feel really guilty. I want to learn to feel good about what I put into my body. Perhaps patience is the key.
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
Yo! But go easy on the salt. It raises your blood pressure.
Sorry to add to the burden of heathly eating!
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| I know I know.. but I like it...
A lot!
And I'm young!
And it won't clog my arteries AND raise my blood pressure like 'tato chips!
Okay... I'll try to eat less, but just a wee little bit everyday is healthy right? |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Salted cucumber and sugar in coffee are two of the best things in life. Don't give 'em up without a fight! But you might be able to cut down the salt if you sprinkle a little vinegar on the cucumber first Sounds like you are headed in the right direction. Just keep making it up as you go along. That's what most of us do anyway |
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| I worked hard on changing my eating habits also after graduating from college, and after being diagnosed with endometriosis, both 4 years ago. Be prepared...it took me a solid 2 years to totally do it. The best thing you can do is constantly read about nutrition, make small changes, and don't hate yourself if you absolutely must have one night a week where you eat whatever you want, especially in the beginning. Another thing, be prepared for when you get a "real job." I will guarantee that people will ask you if you're "dieting" because you're eating vegetables for lunch, or cutting up an apple for a breaktime snack. The college diet is no longer just a college lifestyle; the college diet has completely saturated our culture, and our workforce. One day after work, around six o'clock, drive by some fast food places, and while you do, remember all the news stories you've heard in the last few years about obesity in America, and heart disease prevention...then, look at the cars wrapped around all these fast food places! The math adds up. Good luck to you!  |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | But the good news is that if you make a habit of eating well, you'll be driving
by those fast food places thinking "Oh Barf! How can anyone eat that!" I'd go
hungry first.
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| Bay Guy, I totally agree with you. To me, there is nothing on this earth more disgusting than the smell of a Burger King restaurant. Unfortunately, I have to drive by one nearly every day. Every once in a while, I must have a bean burrito (no red sauce, add fiesta, plus 3 packets of fire sauce) from Taco Bell, but that's IT!
What always makes me mad are fast food commercials that feature extremely thin women, and athletic men eating fast food. Ever look at the people who are wrapped around those fast food places for dinner? I've gotten way off topic...
Anyway, for halfmoonbender, try to focus on food being for fuel, and the better quality fuel you feed your body, the better your body will perform. Fruit and veggies are nature's fast food. You don't actually have to leave the office for lunch to get them, so they're even faster! Also, once you begin preparing your food, you will notice you may eat less. Preparing your food allows you to focus on it, smell its aroma, and it will begin to satisfy you before you even begin eating. Fast food won't do that. What I do is pack a bag full of several food options for lunch, and I decide what I want to eat at lunch time. I'll cut up a few veggies, maybe eat them together as a salad, or eat them separately, maybe add a packet of tuna for lean protein, or some soup. Once you start doing it, it's easier than you think.
Sorry for being so long-winded. |
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| although i agree with butterfly about making good choices and preparing several options, i am finding myself struggling with good and bad food choices - and i have only been back to school for a little over a week!
juan valdez has snuck into my flat a few mornings!! i am not eating my five small meals as i should and have skipped a few meals or had bigger meals (because i am starving!) and then feel horrid after because i am bloated and too full.
it is easy for me to avoid fast food (well western ideas of fast food anyway!). i will admit that the crap carbs (white rice and bread) are trying (so far unsuccessfully) to sneak their way back in too.
good luck to the OP! i am trying to fuel up on good stuff! i think of it as brain power!!
ps does anyone know where i can rent a few extra thousand brain cells? i seem to have "lost " some of mine since the last time i was in school full time |
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| Hey I am new here and I am in the same situation as you are. I am graduating in a year and for the past three years all I have done is eat fast food and junk; basically everything that is bad for you. I have gained so much weight. I remember how thin I was in high school and when I look at pictures I just get so frustrated. I want to make a turn a round now and I also want to try and get back into shape. It is horrible being 21 years old and getting so tired because of your weight, in addition to having low energy levels. But I made a commitment to myself that I will try and lose weight. Just how do you make that huge turn-around? It seems really hard to imagine having a cup of fruit over a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake from McDonald’s.
Anyone have any advice that would help me get through this, I would really appreciate it. Thanks
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
Well, my first piece of advice is don't eat at Mickey D's. If you can't
manage that, the next piece is to dump skip the fries, order a green salad
with the burger (not slathered in blue cheese dressing and not one of those
"Caesar salad" numbers with lots of cheese and bologna), and to get water
instead of the shake. Those two changes knock more than 1000 calories
out of the meal you described (figuring 500 for the shake and 500-1000 for the
fries).
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| If your craving for a burger and chips (UK term for chunky fries; we call your chips, crisps!) gets too much when trying to eat healthily, then try making them yourself as home recipes can knock loads of calories off.
Tips include :
1. Using extra lean minced meat.
2. Grilling the patty rather than frying it, or putting it on a grill in the oven so the fat falls away.
3. Not using cheese at all.
4. Adding flavour with herbs and onion (even apple if using pork or chicken).
5. Having a baked potato with it instead.
A company in the UK, Lakeland, have recently added a no-fat deep fryer to their range which is supposed to produce chips and other deep-fryable goodies without using any fat at all but still producing that deep-fried flavour and texture. I've not tried one myself as yet, so I can't say whether it works or not, but this company is usually has amazing products and customer service.
Fee |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| In Canada we say chips for both chips and, ummm - chips  We didn't call them "fries" until you-know-who arrived with the goofy clown and cheap, cheap burgers... I gotta say though, there are days when NOTHING is as good as some McDonald's fries and I say that even after watching all the bonus material in "Supersize Me." OTOH - English chips are the gourmet version. I think we had them for breakfast, lunch and supper (errr - tea) a couple of times when we were there. Oh - I should stop now and go eat some tofu or something..... |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
Oh my. Don't forget that those fries, or chips, or pommes frits, usually show
up glittering with salt that you don't need in your diet. Do you know that added
salt raises blood pressure --- for everybody, not just the unlucky few?
BTW, if you get stuck eating at one of the places, go for the grilled chicken
sandwich in place of the burger. I mean grilled chicken, not the deep-fried,
batter-coated stuff. You'll save on saturated fat by dodging the beef. You'll
also cut your risk of Mad Cow disease, which the US is not doing enough to
keep out of the food supply....
I'm cooking pasta and veggies for dinner tonight, if the wife ever gets home.
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| Not to give a rah-rah to the fast food places, but don't some of them have some pretty good salads nowadays? Granted, you can't smother them with dressing, but I think they're kinda good without it (I hate salad dressing though, so I'm not a good example). Wendy's even has a little fruit plate. I haven't tried it yet, but sometimes there's just no time to make lunch! Eating a Clif Bar at one's desk is just so unsatisfying. A big bowl of leaves with a little grilled chicken on top isn't so wrong, is it? |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State |
Leaves with grilled chicken sounds good to me! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Bay Guy - I am such a salt fiend. It is a hard habit to break! (Anyone remember the salt-sucking monster on the original Star Trek? I totally identified with her...) But your point has a flip side - I have always had lowish blood pressure and I am at least halfway convinced that my salt craving exists to balance that. I may be forced to confront it when I become menopausal and my arteries lose their hormone-induced flexibility but I plan to cross that bridge when it presents itself. |
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| Tourist.... did you try chip butties as well *gggg*
Actually, the really traditional English Fish and Chip shop's actually a weapon.... downs foreigners in one deliciously greasy stomach full 
Fee |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| The chip buttie fascinates me but I did not succumb this time! The starch plus starch sandwich for (spagetti sandwich, mashed potato sandwich) has never appealled to me, thank goodness or I'd be a gazillion pounds by now. Our main food complaint in England was not the food but the fact that all the locals were drinking Budweiser and Corona while we were wanting the good local brews. What a shame! |
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| Ah, I can see you only visited the mega chain pubs owned by the big brewers or resturants. What you really needed was a friendly local with a healthy line in vices to take you to a traditional Free House (no, Bruce, Afroyogi, don't get excited, it means the landlord owns the pub and can choose his own ales, not that the beer's free!).
Have a look here > http://www.camra.org.uk/SHWebClass.ASP?WCI=ShowCat&CatID=1
You really haven't lived until you've had a night out with a Black Sheep, taken an Old Peculiar and rounded things off with some 6X and a nice greasy lamb kebab!
Fancy coming to my home town for the Beer festival next year? >
http://www.readingcamra.org.uk/beer_festivals/Reading.asp
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2005-05-18 11:55 AM
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Oh no, we did manage a few cozy locals in there. We were only there a week but managed to hit quite a few pubs! My DH got quite picky about wanting only the very oldest places we could find - established in 1700's was just a young pup once we had been in one from the 1500's. We just are not used to that age out here in the wild west. Yes, I would LOVE to do a beer fest sometime, although I must say that our local brew pubs on the west coast do a pretty good job of keeping us in beer and festivals |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | jeansyoga - 2005-05-17 9:33 PM
Not to give a rah-rah to the fast food places, but don't some of them have some pretty good salads nowadays? Granted, you can't smother them with dressing, but I think they're kinda good without it (I hate salad dressing though, so I'm not a good example). Wendy's even has a little fruit plate. I haven't tried it yet, but sometimes there's just no time to make lunch! Eating a Clif Bar at one's desk is just so unsatisfying. A big bowl of leaves with a little grilled chicken on top isn't so wrong, is it?
Jean,
You haven't lived until you tried a "Zaxby's Salad". We have these restaurants in the South called Zaxby's. I would be starving if we didn't have this place for my days on the road. The salads are so good. They don't call themselves a fast food place and everything is fresh...even though you can get the food very quick and they have a drive thru. The main dishes they serve are Chicken, Chicken fingers, Chicken Zalad and Wings, but they salads are so great and cheap...only $3.49 and its huge....$5.99 if you get chicken fried or grilled. So yes, things are changing...THANK GOD!! I was at Chick fil a the other day and saw they had fruit cups...they were really good. Now McDonalds has one too with Walnuts too. I'm so happy about this, I think its great that restaurants are finally taking some notice about healthier choices for our children. You watch, kids do really love to eat fruits and veggies...its all in the presentation, they will be trashing those nasty fries...although, I really do like to eat fries sometimes with ketchup...especially MY home made ones.
BTW, I only eat HONEY French or Catalina dressing, loved it since I was a kid loaded with cucumbers. Most salad dressings are loaded with MSG if your trying to avoid a headache - especially Ranch which is one of my favorites!! But, Cindy did come out with her own line of fresh organic dressings....Yum, Yum!! |
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| I'm so pleased you managed some 'real' hostelry hospitality
This reminds me of an British archeology program I saw once that was doing a special in the States :
US Digger : "I don't suppose you're used to excavating sites this young?"
Brit Digger : "No, you're right. Most of our 100 year old buildings are still in use".
I'm afraid the ironic tone went right over the head of the US chap
Fee
tourist - 2005-05-19 11:49 PM
Oh no, we did manage a few cozy locals in there. We were only there a week but managed to hit quite a few pubs! My DH got quite picky about wanting only the very oldest places we could find - established in 1700's was just a young pup once we had been in one from the 1500's. We just are not used to that age out here in the wild west. Yes, I would LOVE to do a beer fest sometime, although I must say that our local brew pubs on the west coast do a pretty good job of keeping us in beer and festivals
Edited by Orbilia 2005-05-19 5:33 AM
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| Wow, I guess I never realized how many calories is actually in fries, or just McDonalds in general. You think I should try and substitute salads instead of this? What else could I do to lose weight? What kind of exercise should I be doing? |
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| The best advice that I could give is to go easy on yourself. Jumping into a 100% healthy eating lifestyle will surely result in a 100% unhealthy binge down the road.
Just try to take things one decision at a time. When you're hungry and you feel like McDonald's, choose the grilled chicken or salad or only finish half your fries. Slowly replace fatty, greasy foods with healthy ones. Pay attention to how you feel after each meal and try to isolate the foods that make you feel good from the ones that make you feel bad.
ENJOY yourself when you're eating poorly. Realize that you're eating for enjoyment (rather than nourishment) and don't beat yourself up for it. Just slowly train your body and mind away from the bad stuff and towards the good stuff. And if you slip up, you always have another chance to do better!
For exercise, you might want to try yoga. I hear great things about it! |
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| Good tips, Mitch! It's important not to be TOO strict with yourself all the time. Think of how you would tell your best friend or significant other to eat - you'd want them to be healthy so they'd feel good and live long, but you wouldn't want them to be deprived of the things they love.
One thing that helps me is to make sure I eat ALL my healthy food before I dive into the junk food. For example, if I have to sit at a desk all day, I'll bring a salad, some fruit (fresh and dried), some nuts or trail mix, a little bag of cereal (like Kashi), lite yogurt, etc. If I finish all that and still crave a candy bar, then I just have the candy and enjoy it! Or stop at McD's on the way home for whatever it is I can't get out of my mind.
That way, the focus is on making sure I get all the nutrients I need, rather than on counting calories. The more nutritious foods generally have fewer calories than whatever junk I'm craving anyway. Plus, if I'm getting all the nutrients & vitamins to stay healthy, the junk food has less of a detrimental effect on my system. Especially if I'm getting enough fiber, it doesn't stick around too long!
What you may also find is that a regular yoga practice (or whatever exercise you enjoy) can be hampered by poor eating habits. A Big Mac and fries can make you feel pretty bloated and sluggish, and you'll enjoy your exercise more when you keep your meals lighter. Then the more you exercise, the less opportunity you'll have to really enjoy the occasional big greasy meal! |
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| Hey thanks for all the help. I will try yoga I know a lot of people that do it and love it. I will def. take your advice though and not be so strict with myself. I like your philosophy with eating all the healthy things and then after I have eaten it all and if I am still craving a chocolate bar then I can eat it. I will try to little by little move away from the junk food and try to substitute it with healthy things.
Has anyone heard of xenadrine nrg? I know a few people who are taking it and I was considering it also. I'm just confused about it and don't know whether or not I should take it. It is supposed to help with low energy levels and suppress appetite, so I was thinking about taking it. What do you guys think? |
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| I dunno, before taking anything that would mess with your natural system, I would try to boost energy levels naturally through diet and exercise. You'll feel a lot better in the long run!
By diet, I mean getting lots of nutritious, vitamin-packed foods into your body - not going on a "diet." You don't have to start running marathons right away, either. Just 20-30 min/day of getting yourself moving will probably help you feel more energetic than you might think. It's hard when your tired and it just sounds like more exertion! But it will help create more energy in your body, you'll be amazed.
The best thing is, no side effects! And it doesn't cost anything to try!
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Well, I did it. I tried McD's new fruit salad and I LIKE it a lot!! I like the little *neon* green forks that go with it too! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | tourist - 2005-05-18 12:20 AM
Bay Guy - I am such a salt fiend. It is a hard habit to break! (Anyone remember the salt-sucking monster on the original Star Trek? I totally identified with her...) .
I totally remember the salt-sucking monster. They kept finding crewmen dead with
sucker marks all over them. She showed up as a lovely woman, no? I find it very
scary that you identify with her. Good thing that we are separately by the internet.
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| JennFank848 - 2005-05-24 12:06 PM
Hey thanks for all the help. I will try yoga I know a lot of people that do it and love it. I will def. take your advice though and not be so strict with myself. I like your philosophy with eating all the healthy things and then after I have eaten it all and if I am still craving a chocolate bar then I can eat it. I will try to little by little move away from the junk food and try to substitute it with healthy things.
Has anyone heard of xenadrine nrg? I know a few people who are taking it and I was considering it also. I'm just confused about it and don't know whether or not I should take it. It is supposed to help with low energy levels and suppress appetite, so I was thinking about taking it. What do you guys think?
xenadrine nrg like many other fat burning and appetite suppresors contains A LOT of caffeine.
that of course means, it's a pick me up--some people will experience a huge energy high--
when the drug wears off then you'll experience an energy low-- rollercoastering like this is not a good thing for the body. Long term caffeine consumption can also lead to oterh problems like loss of calcium, osteoporosis, irritability, nervousness, stomach problems, etc.
so --yeah think twice before taking that pill. there are other better ways to be energetic and fit |
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| I know that there can be potential side effects from taking something that help you lose weight, but it effects everyone differently. Anything nowadays can harm us. I think that I will start using xenadrine nrg to help me lose weight. However, I will still eat healthy and still exercise regularly. I just feel that by taking this it will help me lose even more weight. Thanks for all the advice given! |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| You are remembering correctly BG. It IS a bit scary that I identify with her, I admit I rather think tha tthe reason I really crave salt is that I was on a salt restricted diet for a time as a small child. I just have never gotten over that feeling of deprivation - who knows? and yes, I have several internet acquaintances I am glad to have some distance from! I myself am relatively harmless unless you happen to be holding a bag of Miss Vickies salt and vinegar chips... |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | When they finally unmasked her, I think that she was covered with white fur and suckers.  |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Yeah, she was pretty scary. You'd think that would have cured me, but no! |
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| Cyndi - stop torturing me with references to Zaxby's and Chik-Fil-A that I can't have up here in the great white north! I actually was good friends with the Zaxby's owner's brother-in-law for a time so I definitely learned to love it. And Chik-Fil-A was one of my favorite junk treats when I wanted it bad - they had such good sweet tea! I know we've mentioned the sweet tea thing before, but my cravings have been worse than ever now that I'm dating another Southern boy....Luckily his mom was up here a couple weeks ago and made him a pitcher - tasted just like my friend Marla's momma's sweet tea. (I think I might have let him have 1 glass out of the whole thing!)  |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| OK - now I really need to know how to make sweet tea! |
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| I've tried to make it taste just like Marla's Momma's tea about 100 times, using the exact same brand of teamaker, sugar, and tea but it doesn't work. Apparently you have to have been born in the South to make it work out exactly right. But, as long as you're using more sugar than tea it shoudl be just about right. |
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| Cyndi - 2005-05-24 5:39 PM
Well, I did it. I tried McD's new fruit salad and I LIKE it a lot!! I like the little *neon* green forks that go with it too!
Just an FYI about that McD's fruit salad. An ex-coworker of mine tried that salad a couple of weeks ago, and she had a severe allergic reaction to it, and was taken to the ER two hours after eating it. I realize this probably won't happen to most people, but the point is that the fruit is NOT FRESH! They use preservatives. In my opinion, it's just another fast food "health food" gimmick, putting junk in our bodies that we don't need. If you like it, hey, that's cool, but you won't see me pulling around a McD's ever! (Did you recycle that fork?) |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | Hey Jean,
I have at least 20 of those green forks packages in the console of my car. I don't eat fruit and yogurt with a fork..I eat with my fingers. NO, I haven't had a reaction to the salads, at all. This is very interesting and I really appreciate you coming forward and telling me this, really I do. I'm always on the road and am sick of fast food and junk being the only thing available....so, guess I'll stick with my old routine....and, I'm certainly going to write to McD's and say something.  |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 5098
Location: Somewhere in the Mountains of Western NC | LoraB - 2005-06-03 9:31 AM
Cyndi - stop torturing me with references to Zaxby's and Chik-Fil-A that I can't have up here in the great white north! I actually was good friends with the Zaxby's owner's brother-in-law for a time
Sorry about that Lora....did this brother-in-law live in Athens, Ga?? I always thought that is where the company/owners originated from. My sister lives there. Anyway, one thing I can say is that Zaxby's is totally FRESH food and I know that 150%...I'm so pissed about my McD's fruit salad...I was really hoping....as my daughter would say...THEY ARE EVIL  |
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| You're right Cyndi - they did originate in Athens. I think he lives out that way now (he sort of vanished one day). And yes, they were always fresh (and soo yummy).
Of course there are preservatives in the salad (which I'm trying today, BTW) - they get them shipped in and throw them in the fridge. I wouldn't want brown fruit! : ) Is it the ideal solution? Nope - but it's better than a big mac and large fries! |
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| Oh boy! I was wondering what to have for lunch today--Big Mac and fries for me--thanks Lora! |
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college lifestye