How To Eat Fast Food Without Gaining Weight? | A Detailed Guide

Whether we agree or not, fast food has become essential to our lives. Although eating fast food regularly has consequences, saying no to that juicy burger can be challenging. Don’t worry, though! This article will examine how you can enjoy fast food without gaining weight. 

Although it may be daunting, there are some ways to enjoy your share of fast food without worrying about gaining weight. Some of these tips are to set goals, portion out your food, eat only when you are hungry, and keep a count of calories. 

Fast food is elementary and convenient, and its availability has dramatically impacted our lifestyles. Most of us don’t have enough time to prepare fresh meals all the time, so fast food serves as an easy option to fill your belly.

Moreover, along with availability, fast food is also very moderately priced, which makes its consumption even higher. But, despite all of this, we all know that eating fast food is not the best thing we can do for our bodies. 

Along with many other complications that come with eating fast food, like cardiovascular issues and even blood pressure, weight gain is something that most people have to deal with. But, once you go through this blog post, I am sure you will better understand how to avoid the harmful consequences. So, let us get started! 

10 Simple Tips To Eat Fast Food Without Gaining Weight

Although fast food has become the most popular in the United States, it is now a staple in most countries worldwide. The convenience and price surely add up to make it a surreal meal, which, let’s face it, is also delicious. 

But, as the popularity of fast food has increased everywhere in the world, so have people’s waistlines. It is challenging since we all know fast food is not suitable for health, but the convenience makes it difficult to avoid it altogether. 

You don’t need to go off fast food to stop gaining weight. If you go cold turkey on fast food, you will probably have worse cravings later on. So instead, follow these simple tips to help you enjoy the food while watching your weight. 

1. Set Goals

The first and foremost thing you must do while cutting down your fast food consumption is set reasonable goals. Yes, watching your weight is a goal, but it is more definite a goal than you would want it to be. 

Instead, keep in mind how much weight you would like to lose in a month or whether you would like to retain the weight you are at, at the moment. It will give you a fair idea of how many calories you can consume daily to ensure you don’t overindulge in fast food. 

2. Set A Budget

Yes, fast food at most places is relatively cheap. So, unless you order everything on the menu daily, there are very few chances that fast food will burn a hole in your wallet. 

But, regardless of that, setting a specific budget always tends to help. Decide on a standard amount you will spend on fast food every week. Ensure you don’t exceed this amount, which will help limit your intake. 

3. Enjoy Every Bite

One of the reasons it is called fast food is probably also because we end up gobbling it all down in an instant. I mean, no one is to blame here, to be honest! Fast food is loaded with sugar and salt that instantly releases the feel-good hormone ‘dopamine’ in your brain. 

 This makes us want to feel that way for longer, which is why we eat fast food too quickly, making us feel hungry later on. One easy way to avoid overeating is by enjoying every bite you take, which will help you feel full for much longer. 

4. Don’t Eat Until You Are Hungry

Another inconvenience that the availability of fast food has caused is that we want to munch on it for no reason at all. Bored? Grab a portion of some fries or chicken wings! We don’t realize that all these little snacks add to our calorie intake. 

So, avoid indulging in fast food if you are bored or feeling peckish. In situations like these, make healthier choices and, instead, go for whole-grain snacks, nuts, fruits, and seeds, which will help you stay full longer.

5. You Don’t Need To Overeat If You Are Full

Has it ever happened to you that you feel starving, order a large meal, and cannot finish all of it? Yes, this happens to me quite often too. This is a widespread phenomenon, one of the reasons being that fast food portions can be too large. 

If you order a large meal where you cannot finish the fries or sides, you don’t have to! Remember that you don’t need to please people around you by completing all your meals. Instead, once you are 80% complete, put a stop to what you are eating. 

6. Keep A Count Of Calories

Just like setting goals to lose weight and stay fit, keeping track of your daily calories is just as important. As you already know, most fast food is high in calories, and a single meal can contain enough calories for the entire day! 

So, decide how many calories you want to consume in a day and how much your body needs. It is best to do so with the guidance of a health professional. Then, watch for the calorie count of each option on the menu before you order a meal. 

7. Choose The Right Fast Food

Along with tracking calories, choosing the right fast food is also essential. Certain types of fast food, like salads, are healthy options and the best thing to choose from a fast food menu. 

But, this does not necessarily have to be true. Although salads are healthy, most are loaded with sauces high in calories, sodium, and sugar, leading to weight gain. So, keep an eye on the little details of all the food, and then decide what to get. 

8. Don’t Go For Food Labeled As “Diet”

Another misconception about fast food is that it is healthy if something is labeled with a “diet” sign. Now, let us take Diet Coke as an example here. Diet Coke has no added sugar and has zero calories. 

The sweet flavor of this beverage, however, comes from artificial sweeteners. Many studies prove that these artificial sweeteners can spike your blood sugar levels and make you feel hungry more often, eventually leading to overeating. So, don’t get caught up with these signs; look for the ingredients used. 

9. Drink Water Before Eating Fast Food

One trick that may sound funny, but has helped me quite a lot to control my portions, is having a large glass of water before eating fast food. One of the main reasons why fast food causes massive weight gain is that most of us tend to overeat. 

An easy way to avoid overeating is to drink water before meals. It will make your stomach feel fuller and help you avoid overeating. It will only work for some, but this trick is worth a try! 

10. Make Your Fast Food

Lastly, if you are a bit of a chef, this trick is worth a try. For someone who loves experimenting in the kitchen, making fast food right at home is the best way to handle cravings while managing weight. 

The best part about making fast food at home is that you can experiment with as many recipes as you would like while also knowing what goes in your food. This way, you can also easily cut out on any excess calories. 

Final Word

I need to emphasize more how bad fast food can be, especially if you are trying to watch your weight. But, if you eat in moderation and keep little tricks in mind, then it will not be or cause as much trouble as you may think. There is no need to go off fast food completely! Instead, try practicing these little tricks to help you stay fit. 

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