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Fast Food Addiction - August 8, 2006

First Shot With New CameraFast food is a very strong temptation for me. I'm no expert on addiction, but I believe it can in fact become an addiction just like drugs, cigarets, or alcohol.  I know nothing of the mechanisms that cause cravings, but I certainly sometimes feel a strong desire for fast-food, such as a double quarter pounder from McDonalds.  I'm not sure if it rises to the level of that which a smoker feels for nicotine or a junkie for heroin, but it certainly a real physical force for me to resist.

It's easy to see why I could become addicted to fast food.  I'm a single man, who lives alone, and cooking for myself is often a pain. Fast food can be quick, convent, and tasty for me to consume, especially after a long day at work or during my lunch break. Fast food is easy to rely upon in these situations, which can generate a sense of relief.  I think this is due in part to the character and nature of fast food itself, it's "comfort food," and also from the stress relief it's speed provides. The brain is quick to make these associations, and soon when I am under stress my brain starts to link the fast food with relief.  It's not far from that from the brain craving that kind of "relief" feeling it gets from that and starts to demand it constantly.

I shouldn't have to explain all the ways that a constant diet of fast food is unhealthy for you.  It generally contains way more fats, sugars, proteins, and everything, then you really need.  But even worse is the stress relief habit that forms with it.  Like an addiction to drugs I find myself needing more and more of it to generate the same level of relief, which just compounds the already bad nutritional ssituation. And it's not like fast food offers real relief to the problem of stress in you life, it's just a psychological association. It can even cause it's own stress indirectly, due to it's cost. I'm not a rich man, and eating McDonalds or whatever can add up and eat into my budget.

Like I said at the start, I'm no expert on addiction, but I think the only way to break this habit is to quit cold turkey. That's why I have resolved to abstain from fast food, starting today. I've done this before, and was pretty successful, but during my recent period of unemployment I fell of the wagon so to speak and am now going to take up this vow again. The benefits of it are obvious. I'm a pretty fit guy, but I could always do better. My wallet will thank me, and maybe most important, the discipline of abstaining from something I crave will help me build willpower for other areas where it is more important.