Fast Food Is Healthy

In most people's busy lives, they don't always have time to cook extremely healthy meals at home. They often resort to quick stops at fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, or Wendy's. Conventional wisdom says that fast food = junk food, or is not healthy at all. Today, my kids and I had lunch with a friend and her kids. The restaurant of choice was Wendy's. She had the most typical fast food: hamburger, fries, and a pop. She started to complain about how unhealthy fast food is. Many people complain about this and the funny thing is, fast food is not inherently unhealthy. While eating fast food is probably not going to be the perfectly healthy meal, there are healthy choices. Also, the restaurants don't force their customers to "super size it", as in the movie "Super Size Me". People who eat at fast food restaurants have choices about 1) what they eat and 2) what portion size they eat. In fact, a study was done about this very subject at Eastern Illinois University http://www.eiu.edu/~pubaff/headline/2005/1017200590.php In this study, 2 students ate nothing but fast food for 1 month, but ate portions suitable to their body size. The result? Both of them ended up losing weight and lowering their cholesterol.
As my kids and I sat there sharing a large bowl of chili, chicken nuggets, and kid's milks, I knew I was doing nothing to sabotage my kids or my own health.
I do concede that most menu items at fast food restaurants are loaded with sugar and fat. These foods in standard or large portions are very unhealthy and contribute to obesity in America today. However, here are some tips for eating fast food in a healthy way:

1. PORTIONS: don't super size it. Portion size it! Try something like a JR. Whopper(or even 1 full Whopper if you are large) with no fries and a water.
2. NO MAYO: On all sandwiches, ask for them without mayonaise or ranch.
3. NO POP: Order water, it's cheaper too. If you have to get a pop fix, make it diet.
4. GRILLED: When you have a choice, make your chicken grilled, not fried.
5. HAVE IT YOUR WAY: Don't be afraid to special order. Say no cheese, no special sauce, etc.
6. HEALTHY MENU ITEMS: McDonalds has chicken salads, apple dippers, yogurt parfaits, etc. Wendy's has Chili(my personal fav), baked potato, side salads, etc. Every restaurant has healthier choices.

Today's Workout

Lift

• Warmup Dips = 15reps
• Weighted Dips = 50LB x 10reps
• Weighted Dips = 75LB x 3reps
• Incline Dumbell Press = 66LB x 12reps
• Close Grip (Tri) Bench = 135LB x 10reps

Bike (Strength Intervals)

• 52:00 Total Time
• 4 x 6:00 intervals
• -4:00 rest between intervals
• -Biggest Gear
• -59RPM average

Run (Treadmill)

• 24:00
• 3.1M