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Where we last left off, I was still eating fast food up to four times a week. Let’s keep going to see what I did to finally give it up.
Plan E: Find a Distraction
In the great province of Ontario it is still legal for me to talk on my cellphone. So I made sure that I did. I called clients, family, friends all through that 25 minute drive. They started to expect it like clockwork. This helped, but only until I learned I can end the conversation as soon as I pulled up to the drive-through. But some days I wouldn’t even notice the Golden Arches. I just kept driving on by, chatting all the while.
Fast food consumption after Plan E: Three times a week.
Lesson to take from Plan E: Find a distraction that works. Some people like to run on a treadmill in front of a TV, others with some Zeppelin blasting in their ears. If you find music works really well for you, check out some tunes here that get me through a good workout.
Plan F: Call in a sub
Remembering that I probably would be tempted by fast food (70% of the time). I decided to plan for it. I started buying food and keeping it in the car. I would pack a huge lunch and not leave for home until everything was eaten. I would make sure to have a snack in the car and eat wasabi peas and almonds the whole ride home. This worked really well until I realized I had a hollow leg. I would literally eat five sandwiches throughout the day and grab some fast food on the way home. Have you ever been stuffed from a huge thanksgiving meal and still had room for pie? Yeah, same thing. But I would make sure I would not start the drive hungry. It worked, sometimes.
Fast food consumption after Plan F: Two to three times a week.
Lesson to take from Plan F: For the most part, you can only eat so much. So fill yourself up with something healthy. You can only drink one glass at a time, so fill it with water.
Plan G: Compromise
I made a deal with myself. I would eat out once a week. On Wednesday. The King Deal at Burger King was a Whopper and that was my favorite one. It cost my about 4 bucks and tasted great. Every week I would look forward to Wednesday. This actually worked pretty well until I realized that I didn’t have any consequence if I ate out on Friday as well. I could but a dollar into a jar, but I didn’t really care. It just meant that a bucket of chicken cost me 21 bucks instead of 20. Despite this, this plan worked for the longest period of time. I probably ate fast food only once or twice a week for two months. Then it started to get bad again.
Fast food consumption after Plan G: One to three times a week.
Lesson to take from Plan G: Compromise with yourself. Slowly take baby steps to eliminate your bad habit. I never tried to use positive or negative reinforcement but this does work for some people.
Plan H: Did you know they won’t give you fast food for free?
I got my last idea when I tried to use my AMEX at Subway. They turned me down. So I grabbed my Visa and went was on my way with a chicken, bacon sub lathered in mayo, delicious. But just as bad as a double cheeseburger. But that gave me the idea. The next day, before I left for work I went into my wallet and grabbed all my cash, my Visa card, and my debit card and left it at home. With the exception of my American Express. At the time McDonald’s didn’t take American Express, neither did Harvey’s, Subway, Burger King and Arby’s. But Shell did. I had a way I could buy gas and not fast food. The perfect plan. Until I realized I could cut into my back-up money. I keep about $100 hidden in my car in case of an emergency, tow truck, etc. This was now my new found fast food fund. So if you ever steal my car, don’t bother looking in the glove compartment. There’s nothing left.
But I didn’t give up. This was a good idea. I decided to take the next step and alter my glove compartment plan. I used my air miles and bought gas gift certificates. I realized I mostly used by emergency fund for gas when I forgot my wallet. Now I just used the gas gift certificates. Still have the emergency fund, but no way to get fast food.
Fast food consumption after Plan H: Nil
Lesson to take from Plan H: Set yourself up for success. I really had absolutely no choice but to avoid fast food. Problem solved. If you have problem with debt, then cut up your credit cards. Don’t rationalize, cut them up. If the cards got into debt, then chances are, you can’t control you finances. Remove your freedom of choice and then slowly give it back to yourself when you get some control. A fellow blogger, J.D. at Get Rich Slowly used this approach to remove his debt. He now owns a credit card and handles it well.
In Review
Eight plans. Seven failures. I seemed to have the will of a smoker who just quit an hour ago. But this wasn’t all the time. It was just during that one drive home after work everyday. Those 25 minutes of temptation. So I had to recognize the problem and devise a plan. Now a few months later, I really don’t get that temptation. A few months later and I drive by with my wallet in hand, and drive past each and every restaurant. I now have control, but in order to get over the hump I realized I couldn’t trust myself. So I didn’t and it worked.
Your Digital Trainer,
Jeremiah
Images by benbrown, tasteful_tn, xctmx, and g-ratphotos
Comments: Having trouble with fast food? Have you tried any of these habit changing ideas and failed? What works for you? Let us know!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
ROFL!!..This was about the most humorous account of success with food. I was laughing throughout the story and the end result was great. I have to get my food addictions under control too. My problem is eating at night. Im a nibbler and can’t seem to shake the temptations of my cupboard. Anything is game. But sweets are the best. I’ve been exercising like a demon girl and trying pretty hard at eating clean all day, but the night time wrecks it all. I’ll have to stand back and take a good look at this problem. Maybe then I will be able to devise some plans. Got any ideas?
LOl… Thats a really funny article. I love how addicts get really creative in avoiding food. I also sympathize and applaude all the careful planning on your part. I just ate a fatty meal from Hardee’s out of my back-up money.
I hope I have the strength like you to overcome this problem. Thanks for this, really inspiring.