FAST FOOD

Congrats on the tris!

As for the food, well, if you're anything like me, telling yourself "you cannot have a hamburger and fries" is a recipe for failure.  It's a setup.  Then, once you have the burger and fries, you start believing "well, I screwed that up, might as well have another."  This is my head talking, but anything sound familiar?

A hamburger and fries will not kill you, so long as it's in moderation (and yes, I know not eating them will help lose weight faster).  BUT, and only if this applies to you, denying yourself anything may not be a good approach.  So, give yourself one free day a week, or every two weeks, or every month.  That day, you have a burger and fries, you don't worry about it, no guilt, no failure, blah blah blah.

My .02 

I'm a PRO at weight loss...and I used to eat a horrible diet. But I've managed to keep 100 pounds off for four years now, so here are some suggestions.

1. Look at the number of calories in your favorites. Are they worth it? When I see that one of my old favorite burgers (aka grease bombs) is over 600 calories with 50 grams of fat, I realize I could eat TWO full meals for the same burger...and we're not even touching the fries.
2. As suggested, build it in as a post-workout meal for extra long/hard workouts. Any time I run more than 10 miles I indulge in my one favorite candy, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (well, two). I've just burned over 900 calories, so a bit of candy isn't going to hurt me. Since I try to make at least one run a week over 10 miles, that means I can indulge weekly. If I want to change my "treat" for that day, I do it. It's a reward well earned.
3. Find some alternatives to the things you "like a lot" and save the treats for the things you can't live without. So let's say you really like a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, but you could live without it. Replace it with a cheeseburger and small fries. Calories saved: old meal: 1080, new meal: 550 almost HALF the calories! Then save the really "good" stuff you think you can't live without for that workout treat! (Personally I like to do the Happy Meal 'cause I get a toy.)
   
4. Look up some of the alternatives at your favorite fast food restaurants. Just because you want to lose weight doesn't mean you have to completely cut out the convenience of fast food. Calorieking.com has lists of almost everything on the menu at local fast food joints. 
   

I like the quote that food is fuel, not entertainment. That is so true, but it is NOT easy to make lifestyle changes and often those who have never had to lose weight come up with comments like "Just eat less...it's easy." There are studies that show that certain components of the fast foods we eat so often do have some addictive qualities to some people. Again, if you've never HAD a weight problem this would be very difficult to understand. The key is make small changes, but make them permanent. Work on a single change per week. Eat out one day less. Replace full fat milk with 1%, etc.

You're on your way with your training, now to set yourself at the athlete's table! Keep telling yourself that you are in training and an athlete eats a healthy diet 80-90% of the time! Nothing is off limits. That food will always be there, but while you're in training you limit the lower quality foods and focus on high quality, high flavor, and high satisfaction.

As horrible as fast food is I don't think that eating it once a month is going to hurt you all that much.  Once a week starts getting bad, once a day and you have got a problem .

If you do happen to eat it don't dwell on it.  Just make sure that they next meal is nice and healthy and get back on track. 

I agree with the idea that eating a burger and fries once in a while is not the end of the world.  I think the key is NOT overdoing it.

Also, beating yourself up for it is counterproductive.  So what?  You ate a burger.  If you're seriously training, you probably needed the calories anyway.  Ok, you could have made a more healthy choice, but if that was what you REALLY wanted, then eating it is fine.  Just don't do it all the time.

Heehee!  Yes, I've found that a Happy Meal once every month or two solves my Mickey D's craving from my past life.  And my niece and nephew reap the benefits. 

LOL. 

Mark