Former Junk Food Junkie

This challenge couldn't have come at a better time for me! Just last week, I was thinking to myself, "I really have to stop eating so much $%@#," after I've been loading up on fried food, meat, fat, sweets, and alcohol this past month.

It's going to be easy for me, since I rarely eat junk food, instant food, and fast food these days. But I'd also like to take the opportunity to be more mindful of my intake of fried food, sweets, and alcohol this week. The problem with me is that I can get away with it, because it doesn't show on the scale. Still, I can't help but think that there's this "heavy" feeling that I get from eating unhealthy food.

I actually used to be a voracious junk food eater, during my childhood and student days. I was capable of eating three-quarters of a bag of Ruffles potato chips WITH a tub of Philadelphia cream cheese as a dip. Really, really gross, I know.

Then, when I made the decision to lose weight, that's when I figured, I have to stop eating junk food, or at least stop eating so much of it in one sitting.

Just like that. Cold turkey. I didn't have trouble with quitting my junk food habit. No cravings, no problem.

I used to associate eating junk food with watching TV, so I would mindlessly be close to eating an entire large bag of chips. One of my resolutions as well while losing weight was to stop mindless eating situations. I very rarely bring snacks into movie theaters.

Another thing that helped me curb my junk food eating habit was to read the nutritional labels and ingredients list. If that won't be enough to scare you off eating junk food, I don't know what else would be. Look at the calories, fat, and sodium content of those snacks...as well as all those unpronounceable ingredients! Imagine putting all that in your body!

But I do admit, I do sometimes grab a handful of junk food from time to time; often only at parties or in social situations. My particular favorite right now would be cheddar jalapeño Cheetos. I've also employed a trick—when I can no longer taste the flavor of the junk food, that's when I stop eating.

Gone are the days when I would resort to them as merienda. And somehow, since I've done so, I haven't had a weight problem. That just goes to show that the quality of your food definitely matters!