Fast Food Crisis and Smoker Reborn?
Well, it has been a little known fact for many years of my love for Fast Food. It's really more of a love hate relationship, I love to eat it, but hate the results. One question that has always struck me is 'Why?' I ask this in many areas of my life, but the two main ones have been eating fast food, and smoking. I know that these things are bad for me, why do i keep putting it into my body?
For fast food, it's a matter of convenience. It seems much easier to jump in the car, run through the drive through and head home. Also, I can't truly cook to save my life. When I say truly cook, I mean cook properly. I can use the microwave fairly well, and I know how to heat up stuff on the stove. Really it's not a matter of not knowing how, more along the lines of I am just too lazy to do it. My own short comings I know. Now, I will admit, if given the choice I'd eat breakfast every meal of the day. I love it. As my wife can attest, it's probably my favorite meal of the day. Going to England, and allowing my wife to introduce me to the "English" breakfast, I have to say - England has the right of it people. Beans for breakfast is like that missing link. That being said, I would probably not suggest eating a full english breakfast 7 days a week (though, during my time in London that was probably what happened more often than not!).
Though, an interesting point can be made. I ate very well in London. I mean very well. First off, most of the places we ate, I barely saw the plate when it was presented (though witherspoon's is the exception...it's kind of like waffle house...the food is shit, but you can't help yourself sometimes...). I mean Sarah and I's cafe that we ate at, the plate was always stuffed. So much, I found myself having difficulty separating my food...Now, my point is that I ate like a horse for three weeks straight, including two very LARGE meals that my mother-in-law cooked (thank's mum!), and I didn't gain a pound.
After reading some things today, I figured out why. Two main reasons. First, the quality of food. I made myself a promise when I went there, that I would not eat anything I could eat in the States (starbucks my only exception). For the most part I did, though we did have domino's pizza one night - HOWEVER - it's nothing at all like american domino's. We ate at pubs, cafes, restaurants...the few fast food places we did eat, namely Nando's, wasn't that bad (in terms of it wasn't McD's or the like). The cafe's especially, the food was much different than eating at like IHOP or Bob Evans, etc. I didn't eat something a feel full for 30 minutes and famished after. Second, walking. I think I walked more in three weeks than I did the entire year before. The first few days was rough to adjust. My feet hurt, and I constantly had to ask my wife to slow down her unrelenting pace. But at the end, I wasn't minding it much. In fact, in Glastonbury, the only reason I didn't walk the Tor was because I pulled or stretched a muscle in my leg. Well that, and Sarah was unsure her ankle would make the trek.
Anyway, this brings me to my point. Fast food. Really, is it so fast? I went to McD's this morning (I have a vice for their breakfast), and "fast" wasn't fast. It took me 15 minutes to get through the drive through. From start to finish, it took me 25 minutes to get my fast food. In that time I could have easily cooked something. Also, the feeling after eating it. It's not a full feeling. It just sits there. In my stomach. All day. Then when my stomach realizes its hungry again it's usually 8-10 hours later, and I from feeling full to famished. Its a vicious cycle.
So well I stumbled across this site called AlmostFit.com. Particularly this three parter "How I quit eating Fast Food" which I swear to god, is like it's addressed to me. His words are almost divinely inspired. needless to say I am subscribed to his blog now, and I like his outlook on living and eating healthy.
So, I'm quitting fast food as of today. For real this time. General Service Annoucement. I've talked to Ryan and he promised no fast food this weekend, as he can't stand it. The only concern will be the traveling, but I may allow for those moments (as it says in the above blog entry, sometimes fast food is the only option.). Now, the idea is to keep it simple - so simple you can't fail. And really, if i evaluate when i eat fast food it's in the morning or for the first meal. Or it's at work. If its at work, it's usually because everyone else is doing it, and I am a weak person. At home, its usually because there are dishes in the sink, or I don't really know what I want, or [insert random excuse here]. I'm going to cut out fast food completely. Cold turkey. As a reward, if in one month I commit to this, I am going to get myself this. Why not make lunch time cool again? Basically, I think this will help me lose weight. Also, I'm going to pick up that exercising business again...i found a few things that I think I can do that will help considerably, and aren't going to feel like I'm scheduling, or forcing myself to do. This site has a 100 push up challenge which looks easily doable. Also, walking...I love to walk. Or so I discovered in England.
Now, at this point, I applaud you for reading all this. My next issue is this. Smoking.
I miss it. I really miss it. I've been quit now for two months, not once have i cheated, or relapsed. But the fact is, I'm miserable. I'm moody, I'm bored on my break (my late night one...I talk to Sarah on my first one). I don't *crave* it per say, but I miss it. I miss driving in the car and smoking, I miss talking to Sarah and smoking with her. Hanging out the window with her and smoking...the quietness we had...
Now, before you all say the whole health issues. I know them. I understand them. I get the cost factor too. $5.00 a pack is outrageous and Ohio's one of the cheaper states...$40 a carton or $80-$100 a month on them....but dammit I do miss it.
For fast food, it's a matter of convenience. It seems much easier to jump in the car, run through the drive through and head home. Also, I can't truly cook to save my life. When I say truly cook, I mean cook properly. I can use the microwave fairly well, and I know how to heat up stuff on the stove. Really it's not a matter of not knowing how, more along the lines of I am just too lazy to do it. My own short comings I know. Now, I will admit, if given the choice I'd eat breakfast every meal of the day. I love it. As my wife can attest, it's probably my favorite meal of the day. Going to England, and allowing my wife to introduce me to the "English" breakfast, I have to say - England has the right of it people. Beans for breakfast is like that missing link. That being said, I would probably not suggest eating a full english breakfast 7 days a week (though, during my time in London that was probably what happened more often than not!).
Though, an interesting point can be made. I ate very well in London. I mean very well. First off, most of the places we ate, I barely saw the plate when it was presented (though witherspoon's is the exception...it's kind of like waffle house...the food is shit, but you can't help yourself sometimes...). I mean Sarah and I's cafe that we ate at, the plate was always stuffed. So much, I found myself having difficulty separating my food...Now, my point is that I ate like a horse for three weeks straight, including two very LARGE meals that my mother-in-law cooked (thank's mum!), and I didn't gain a pound.
After reading some things today, I figured out why. Two main reasons. First, the quality of food. I made myself a promise when I went there, that I would not eat anything I could eat in the States (starbucks my only exception). For the most part I did, though we did have domino's pizza one night - HOWEVER - it's nothing at all like american domino's. We ate at pubs, cafes, restaurants...the few fast food places we did eat, namely Nando's, wasn't that bad (in terms of it wasn't McD's or the like). The cafe's especially, the food was much different than eating at like IHOP or Bob Evans, etc. I didn't eat something a feel full for 30 minutes and famished after. Second, walking. I think I walked more in three weeks than I did the entire year before. The first few days was rough to adjust. My feet hurt, and I constantly had to ask my wife to slow down her unrelenting pace. But at the end, I wasn't minding it much. In fact, in Glastonbury, the only reason I didn't walk the Tor was because I pulled or stretched a muscle in my leg. Well that, and Sarah was unsure her ankle would make the trek.
Anyway, this brings me to my point. Fast food. Really, is it so fast? I went to McD's this morning (I have a vice for their breakfast), and "fast" wasn't fast. It took me 15 minutes to get through the drive through. From start to finish, it took me 25 minutes to get my fast food. In that time I could have easily cooked something. Also, the feeling after eating it. It's not a full feeling. It just sits there. In my stomach. All day. Then when my stomach realizes its hungry again it's usually 8-10 hours later, and I from feeling full to famished. Its a vicious cycle.
So well I stumbled across this site called AlmostFit.com. Particularly this three parter "How I quit eating Fast Food" which I swear to god, is like it's addressed to me. His words are almost divinely inspired. needless to say I am subscribed to his blog now, and I like his outlook on living and eating healthy.
So, I'm quitting fast food as of today. For real this time. General Service Annoucement. I've talked to Ryan and he promised no fast food this weekend, as he can't stand it. The only concern will be the traveling, but I may allow for those moments (as it says in the above blog entry, sometimes fast food is the only option.). Now, the idea is to keep it simple - so simple you can't fail. And really, if i evaluate when i eat fast food it's in the morning or for the first meal. Or it's at work. If its at work, it's usually because everyone else is doing it, and I am a weak person. At home, its usually because there are dishes in the sink, or I don't really know what I want, or [insert random excuse here]. I'm going to cut out fast food completely. Cold turkey. As a reward, if in one month I commit to this, I am going to get myself this. Why not make lunch time cool again? Basically, I think this will help me lose weight. Also, I'm going to pick up that exercising business again...i found a few things that I think I can do that will help considerably, and aren't going to feel like I'm scheduling, or forcing myself to do. This site has a 100 push up challenge which looks easily doable. Also, walking...I love to walk. Or so I discovered in England.
Now, at this point, I applaud you for reading all this. My next issue is this. Smoking.
I miss it. I really miss it. I've been quit now for two months, not once have i cheated, or relapsed. But the fact is, I'm miserable. I'm moody, I'm bored on my break (my late night one...I talk to Sarah on my first one). I don't *crave* it per say, but I miss it. I miss driving in the car and smoking, I miss talking to Sarah and smoking with her. Hanging out the window with her and smoking...the quietness we had...
Now, before you all say the whole health issues. I know them. I understand them. I get the cost factor too. $5.00 a pack is outrageous and Ohio's one of the cheaper states...$40 a carton or $80-$100 a month on them....but dammit I do miss it.