Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UIC chapter.

 

The easiest way to break our so called “diet” is through a visit to a fast food restaurant.
Going to a drive-through once in a while is ok, but the problem is that if you did it once, it is likely you’ll do it again.  When you do this is when the consequences are greater. A 15-year study at the University of Minnesota found that people who eat junk food more than twice a week gained eight more pounds than people who only did it once. There are also health consequences involved: those who frequent these places have a higher risk for diabetes.

To fix this, savor your sin, that is, it’s ok to give in to your craving, for some it is fast food, but for others it may be a chocolate or candy. The trick is to concentrate on every bite that you give, remember it is a “treat” and something you will not eat again tomorrow, so take your time and savor your food.

The next time you do it, choose food that will not be as bad for your diet. For example, instead of asking for a regular size burger, which has 670 calories, ask for a Jr. or a small, which has 290 calories, that is a difference of 380 calories! And always avoid eating fries: a small bag has 250 calories, of which half is fat. Instead, ask for a salad that has 20 calories only.

Finally, do not skip dinner to compensate. Such deprivation of food is always worse, the day after these types of restrictions; you will want to eat everything, even the walls! What fast food can you not resist?

Claudia was born in Mexico and moved to Chicago at the age of 8. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Marketing major. She is really excited to be a part of the HerCampus team and is ready to make HC grow at UIC. She can’t go a day without exercising and especially enjoys Zumba! She loves fashion and reads blogs every day, that’s where she gets her inspiration when she dresses, and hopes to one day have her own! Claudia is currently a representative for AKIRA Chicago, for discount codes contact her at (cmarti74@uic.edu). She strives to be a better person every day, and is really thankful for everything she has. One of Claudia’s favorite quotes is “Enjoy all that you have while you pursue everything that you want”.