where do you guys like to go when you are trying to watch what you eat, but still have to resort to fast food?

i like chick-fil-a. I get a sandwich, completely plain, with a fruit cup. looking at the nutrition facts, excluding the butter on the sandwich makes a huge difference.

4/29/2012 5:47:30 PM

chick fil a has grilled chicken tender things on their kids menu that aren't bad for you.

4/29/2012 5:49:09 PM

You'd be better off just going for the grilled chicken sandwich.

But yeah, last time I ate there I noticed the bun was buttery as all hell.

4/29/2012 5:49:16 PM

^you know those things where a roller is partially submerged in water that they use to wet lots of envelopes? they have those in the back at CFA, instead using butter. they run the bun right over it.

4/29/2012 5:50:55 PM

the key is to only get one item and drink water or diet drinks.

4/29/2012 5:51:19 PM

you can go pretty much anywhere. most have a grilled chicken option and salads.

i go to subway a lot since it's near where i work, but i've been happy with wendy's too when i worked near one.

[Edited on April 29, 2012 at 5:53 PM. Reason : ]

4/29/2012 5:53:00 PM

I'd avoid diet sodas. In some people, they cause overeating because of the artificial sweeteners.

4/29/2012 5:53:09 PM

I found out that a Bojangles chicken biscuit had less fat and calories than Starbucks' pumpkin bread

The chili at Wendy's is a decent option.

4/29/2012 5:55:23 PM

i just don't eat fast food anymore. i have had one bojangles chicken biscuit since november, and it made me sick it was so greasy.

4/29/2012 5:56:28 PM

Jimmy Johns

4/29/2012 5:57:13 PM

i've learned not to blow all your calories on fast food breakfast. this usually only happens to me when i am running late and want to pick up something on the way to work. i feel really hungry in the morning but i can get away with eating much less than i feel i want as long as it's got a decent amount of protein.

4/29/2012 5:57:24 PM

sometimes the salads at fast food places are worse for you than a hamburger or chicken sandwich - mostly because of the dressing or if they add things like cheese, bacon, or candied nuts.

just stick to grilled, plain options. try to nix or limit things like ketchup and condiments as much as possible (lots of added sugar) and like others mentioned, try to drink water over soda or even diet soda.

4/29/2012 6:00:26 PM

I sometimes get the egg mcmuffin if I'm really desperate for breakfast and just toss the English muffin. I think even with the English muffin it's only 300ish calories.

4/29/2012 6:01:41 PM

^^^I make an egg sandwich with ham in the microwave in the morning. Takes about three minutes which I'm sure is faster than the drive thru.

[Edited on April 29, 2012 at 6:02 PM. Reason : slow]

4/29/2012 6:02:18 PM

I've done a lot of research on this. Lots of CFA, even the grilled shit, isn't that healthy. I don't even go there. Anything with subs/sandwiches is a no-no. Don't go to JJ.

The absolute best thing for you is Wendy's chilli. When I was on my big diet (went from 360 to 203), I ate that once or twice a week only when I had to.

Obviously, stay away from fast food when dieting at all costs. I used to pack my lunch for road trips and eat that when they all stopped at McD's or wherever. Hell, I went to Atlantic City for 4 days and brought every single meal with me.

4/29/2012 6:02:42 PM

i wish i had more of an appetite in the morning. typically, my stomach feels empty and i'm 'hungry', so to speak, but i just don't want to eat.

4/29/2012 6:02:46 PM

i've been getting better about giving myself more time in the morning so i can usually make breakfast (which is usually some egg dish) even if i have to run out with it and eat in the car.

[Edited on April 29, 2012 at 6:05 PM. Reason : ]

4/29/2012 6:05:02 PM

You all fool yourself if you think you're too busy to make food. You can take some time Sunday and make meals for all week. Excuses are the worst thing of dieting. You fool yourself into eating unhealthy. You won't lose weight unless you JUST DO IT!

4/29/2012 6:06:38 PM

^^, ^^^

I make my breakfast and eat it at work, which helps save time and also makes me not have to eat right after waking up, which makes me feel funny sometimes.

4/29/2012 6:10:01 PM

Quote :

"You can take some time Sunday and make meals for all week."

Heh I used to know a girl who did this. She would use the fact she had to make lunches for the week as an excuse to not go out and socialize. She's now a 31-year old virgin that lives with her mom and makes elf costumes.

4/29/2012 6:16:17 PM

Maybe she just didn't like you guys?

4/29/2012 6:19:50 PM

it all comes down to your choices. If you want to lose weight, you'll make better choices. Even from a fast food restaurant.

4/29/2012 6:20:02 PM

H8R, SPEAKING OF CHOICES, YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TO ANSWER THE PM I SENT YOU.

KTHX

4/29/2012 6:23:12 PM

^ 3 that is a possibility since she only hangs out with her mom now

4/29/2012 6:24:57 PM

BoJangles is a scary place for a dieter. On the breakfast menu, the country ham biscuit is the best entree. That freaks me out.

4/29/2012 6:28:26 PM

bttt

4/30/2012 3:23:27 PM

Quote :

"the key is to only get one item and drink water or diet drinks."

4/30/2012 5:15:17 PM

Nobody should "have to resort to fast food" in this area. Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, and Fresh Market all have great options in their salad bar/hot bar/prepared foods sections. Not to mention all the good restaurants and sandwich shops around here that can get you in and out or give you a takeout plate in about the same amount of time as a fast food joint. If it really comes down to it a can of soup, a piece of fruit, a bag of nuts, and a bottle of water from any grocery store or gas station will suffice. I mean, I guess you might find yourself spending $8 instead of $5 on your meal, but it's a small price to pay.

The only time I have trouble avoiding fast food is when I'm on the road; especially in Eastern NC where fast food reigns supreme at every highway exit and good food is a little more difficult to find. A little planning in terms of eating before leaving, bringing food, or relying on a decent snack goes a long way in that situation. Around here it's pretty damn easy to avoid fast food if you have an extra $10-20 a week to add to your food budget though.

[Edited on April 30, 2012 at 6:21 PM. Reason : l]

4/30/2012 6:19:16 PM

Qdoba- naked chicken, extra meat. No beans, no sour cream, no guac, no cheese. Just salsa
Wendy's- Chicken/blue cheese salad
Hardees- Original Turkey Burger no mayo
Taco- grilled chicken soft tacos

I don't really like McDonalds.

4/30/2012 6:38:35 PM

Quote :

"No beans"

Why no beans?

4/30/2012 6:40:00 PM

Subway

4/30/2012 6:45:18 PM

The beans are too starchy and farty

And the rice is more than enough. I do carbs, I just try to stay away from the "bad" carbs. Hard to do at fast foods but I make compromises. For instance, if I order the turkey burger from hardees, I'll just do a burger with one bun (usually the bottom half) and fold it over.

For the tacos as well, I'll ask for double meat or double it from the other 2 or 3 or 4 I ordered.

For the salad from Wendy's, I pick off the cheese and my fat comes from the pecans.

It's boring, but I don't care. It does the job...

4/30/2012 6:49:40 PM

If you're trying to stay away from bad carbs, then you should keep the beans and nix the rice, not the other way around.

I'd go with chicken, beans, salsa, and guacamole actually.

[Edited on April 30, 2012 at 6:55 PM. Reason : And rice and extra cheese and extra sour cream!]

4/30/2012 6:52:36 PM

I have problems with beans in general, on my stomach. The rice is not so bad because I ask for "a little".

And you're right about the beans, it's more nutritious than white rice.

4/30/2012 6:56:45 PM

I don't go anywhere near a mexican restaurant if I am dieting. I can't resist the chips

4/30/2012 6:58:35 PM

Especially when it's free unlimited chips and salsa. Grrrrr lol

4/30/2012 6:59:31 PM

Quote :

"Heh I used to know a girl who did this. She would use the fact she had to make lunches for the week as an excuse to not go out and socialize. She's now a 31-year old virgin that lives with her mom and makes elf costumes."

sigh....

One person did it because she didn't want to converse with people and it's a bad idea?

I can think of 20 people right off the top of my head that I meet with nearly weekly that do it and they've lost over ONE TON (2000 lbs for those of you gossipy type that might not have the brains) combined...

don't knock it till ya tried it.

4/30/2012 7:09:24 PM

yup, tonight is a Chick-fil-a dinner night

4/30/2012 7:13:43 PM

You can eat whatever you want, but if you're trying to cut you'll have to eliminate calories elsewhere. Fast food tends to be heavy on carbs/fat and light on protein, making them particular hard to fit into a fat loss diet that preserves muscle.

If I'm going to eat fast food, it's going to be something like Chipotle. Fresh ingredients and big portion sizes. I like to do a chicken burrito bowl with light brown rice and extra beans.

5/1/2012 10:01:19 AM

Quote :

"Fast food tends to be heavy on carbs/fat and light on protein, making them particular hard to fit into a fat loss diet that preserves muscle."

This is why I try to avoid fast food when possible. I wish they had less carb-heavy options. But carbs are cheap which is why they reign supreme on the fast food menu.

5/1/2012 10:10:17 AM

5/1/2012 10:13:23 AM

DON'T COOK FOR YOURSELF

YOU'LL TURN INTO AN ELF VIRGIN!

5/1/2012 11:32:25 AM

This thread is real motivation!

5/1/2012 11:35:20 AM

Quote :

"The absolute best thing for you is Wendy's chilli. When I was on my big diet (went from 360 to 203), I ate that once or twice a week only when I had to."

Wendy's Chili is good. I also like Chick Fil A's Chicken Tortilla soup (or whatever it's called).

5/1/2012 11:36:32 AM

Quote :

"DON'T COOK FOR YOURSELF YOU'LL TURN INTO AN ELF VIRGIN!"

Don't be an Elf Virgin. Get DirecTV.

5/1/2012 11:38:59 AM

^hahaha

5/1/2012 11:44:19 AM