strategies for avoiding boredom eating?

murphyraven

I am almost 9 months out, and have found boredom eating sneaking back into my life. It doesn't help that office has free flowing goldfish crackers, pretzels AND peanut m&ms. >_< I don't get dumping syndrome so thats not a deterrent. I KNOW I want to eat out of boredom and get mad at myself when I do give into temptation. Which I don't think is a healthy attitude to take.

I have a selection of sf gum at my desk to keep my mouth busy most days. I try to make reasonably food choices 90% of the time. I get away from my desk at every break and lunch to go walking outside (rain or shine). I've brought in raw veggies to "snack" on some days and it does help me avoid eating the empty calories plus getting some vegetables into my diet. I've been meaning to try making my own dehydrated veggie chips for snacks but have not yet gotten around to it.

More often lately I just want the bad stuff even though I know it will be detrimental to my weight loss. I know that everything in moderation is fine. But for me, its hard to moderate the simple carbs. I'm still staying under my calories and meeting my protein goals almost everyday but I think my weight loss has slowed due to letting in those empty carbs, even though its not a daily occurrence.

Do you struggle with wanting to snack/eat out of boredom? What are your strategies for avoiding the behavior or redirecting it to healthier habits?

kcbhopkins

This is a huge problem for me. Especially on days I work from home. Everything is just so accessible and no one is here so I don't feel like I have to hide.

I've tried doing the 5 day pouch test to get back on track, and it seemed to help a bit. But I find the more I exercise the more I tend to "snack". Which isn't totally bad, since I've burned the calories, but doesn't help if I'm snacking on the wrong foods.

The only thing that really helps me is to keep the bad stuff out of my house. And at work, I take my lunch and snacks every day so I'm not tempted. I don't know if that will help you, but I do find if I take the healthier stuff with me, and know I have it on hand, I'm less likely to partake in office snacks. I also set my calendar to remind me of "snack" time. So I have something to look forward to.

aylajane

You may actually want them more because of hunger than you think . As you get farther out from surgery, your body isnt using as much of your fat stores for energy as it used to and it is settling in on the low calories you have been feeding it - it can respond by either making you more tired (so you burn less calories and it can relax) or you get cravings (trying to get you to give it some energy!). Especially as you are becoming more active as you lose weight, you really shouldnt stay ultra low calorie forever - your body will need more energy from someone eventually, or you will start slowing down/getting hungrier.

So you might try actually upping your overall calories - increasing your protein and a little more fat. You may find it easier to resist the carbs/sweets then. Just try adding maybe 100 calories a day. And move a little more than you were to offset it just a little. It more than likey will not hurt your weight loss and many people find it actually helps them.

Remember, the ultimate goal when you reach your "goal weight" is not so much the weight, but the lifestyle. Do you want to live forever with the number of calories you are currently eating? Then dont let your body become more efficient so that it burns less - that is what you are training it to do . Slowing, as you lose weight, you should be upping the calories and the activity together. By the time you reach your goal weight, you should be an active person who consumes nearly the same calories of a person the same weight who never had surgery.

rpyle111

You hit the nail on the head, aylajayne! Other than the restriction, I aim to be indistinguishable from others now that I am at my goal.

Thaeda

What aylajane said. Totally!! Also I find it is helpful for me to have protein based snacks available- string cheese, nuts, protein bars, or even rolled up deli meat or hard boiled eggs if you have a fridge at work.