How do you stop yourself from eating when you arent hungry?

maea5040

I always want to snack on something, even when i'm not hungry. I already traded my chips in for veggies, but I want to keep snacking on something throughout the day, especially when Im bored. What do you do to stop this feeling?

kshama2001

I get the snack attacks when I'm sleep deprived, haven't had enough protein, or slack off on my regular exercise program. I work very hard on my sleep hygiene, and make sure I get enough protein and exercise.

kshama2001

Fiber is important as well. Would you please change the Sodium or Sugar in your food diary to Fiber?

cbihatt

Distraction works best for me. Also, I drink a lot of hot tea.

Cherimoose

When i'm engrossed in doing important stuff, i don't think about hunger.

rachelmarie1

maybe try gum or drinking more water?

DaniettaF

I do it with hot drinks, like tea. I have a number of flavours so I don't get bored of them.

DrifterBear

Keep busy, drink extra water or hot tea, or snack on some veggies. Also, remind yourself why you're doing it. I downloaded a bunch of motivational images on my phone and put them on my lock screen. Right now it says "You don't want to look back and know you could've done better." Whenever I unlock my phone I see that and it keeps me focused on to goal. Another good one is "Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most."

Seffell

It's a habit. Try to distract yourself now and after a couple of weeks you will completely forget. I promise

TeaBea

aim_3 wrote: »

Distraction works best for me. Also, I drink a lot of hot tea.

When I'm sitting in front of the TV - a large glass of ice water and something (anything) to distract me......solitaire, crochet, adult coloring book.....whatever.

What gebeziseva said "It's a habit." Break the habit by any means necessary.

samwiserabbit

Step One: Notice that you're not hungry. Check.

Step Two: Do something besides eat.

Some things I've done that actually help me move on from the urge to snack are a hot shower, a walk, reading, writing, knitting, and (ahem) sex, etc.

Snacking on veggies never did it for me, and chewing gum only helps me hold off eating for a little while. Drinking water helps when I'm actually thirsty, not hungry.

I don't know what you're doing when this happens to you, but I can tell you that I've found that I get the urge to snack when I'm trying to work if I'm not sufficiently stimulated by my work. For me, that means listening to an audiobook or radio show while I work if I can manage both at once.

Also:

It's a habit. Try to distract yourself now and after a couple of weeks you will completely forget. I promise

Afura

Boredom eating gets me bad especially at work. Usually I try and distract myself, and play a game of 'drink the water'. Think I'm hungry and I know I can't be? Drink water! Brain thinks I should be hungry? Water! It helps me make sure I drink water which can also be a symptom.
If it's honest to goodness grazing issues (you just like to mindlessly snack), get rid of the snack foods. The only things I usually keep around for snacks are granola bars, and fruit in fruit juice. Lately I reintroduced chips, but I can weigh them out with no issue now.

KiwiAlexP

I find I sometimes just want flavour instead of the water I'm drinking at work so maybe try sugar free mints or gum

MommyL2015

Walking on my treadmill at a reasonable pace (where i'm just walking, not panting hard or sweating or anything) watching a netflix show does wonders for me. I forget that little trick sometimes when I get lazy and don't think I need to get up and walk.

I have done 6 miles today and it's amazing how my hunger just goes away. I need to keep remembering that because these last few days, I've been letting calories creep up on me. Find something that can take your mind off of eating.

shadowfax_c11

I don't remember what it is like to be bored. I have not had that experience since I was a kid.

Find something to do besides eat. As other suggested read, color, clean house. Go for a walk. Get a hobby.

Do something.

cwolfman13

maea5040 wrote: »

I always want to snack on something, even when i'm not hungry. I already traded my chips in for veggies, but I want to keep snacking on something throughout the day, especially when Im bored. What do you do to stop this feeling?

It's just a habit...habits can be uncomfortable to break, but they can be broken. Establish feeding times and pre-plan what you're going to eat during those feeding times and stick to the plan.

Also, in some cases, boredom cannot be helped...but by and large we are in control of what we're doing. If I find myself bored on the weekend at home, that's a good indicator to me that I need to get up and go do something. So I find a project or I go for a ride or go for a hike or otherwise engage myself with one of my hobbies.

ElvenToad

If its not time to eat yet I will find something to do. There's always a drawer or a closet that could be sorted and organized. Chores that need to be done, etc. It's really hard to eat while you are jogging in front of the TV too. Time flies by and then whoo hoo time to eat!

creativecritters77

Distraction helps me as well, especially keeping my hands busy. Knitting is always good for that, and if I'm following a pattern that helps distract my mind as well as keep my hands busy. I tend to get the munchies late at night, especially if I'm having trouble sleeping, so that's when I turn to knitting or sculpting (and I'm accomplishing something while NOT adding extra calories to my diet). It's not always easy, but with practice the habit of mindless munching can be overcome.

azulvioleta6

Get out of the house and do things which do not involve food/where there are no snacks around.

Live a life that is interesting enough that you don't need to fill up the empty holes with food.

When you have the urge to snack, drink instead--water, coffee, herbal tea with no sugar...

Christine_72

Pre-log your day in the morning and stick to it.
Also, when I feel the hunger pangs in the afternoon a hot cup of tea or coffee with milk helps.

ajsawrie

maea5040 wrote: »

I always want to snack on something, even when i'm not hungry. I already traded my chips in for veggies, but I want to keep snacking on something throughout the day, especially when Im bored. What do you do to stop this feeling?

I use green tea. I drink iced, unsweetened green tea all day long. It's a natural and healthy source of caffeine to keep me awake and focused, and it doesn't have sugar or calories. It's also chock full on vitamin C! I have a dietician friend who told me that staying hydrated is the best way to keep yourself from snacking all day, because many people mistake thirst for hunger and eat when they should be drinking. If the caffeine bothers you, you can always buy decaf!

eatmorepaleo5

I feel like eating right now...but I'm out of calories for the day...so I'm having a mug of hot water. It's helping.

mom23mangos

I'm a boredom eater, especially at work when there are not a lot of meetings. That's how I packed on the pounds. Constantly snacking on calorie dense foods. Since I do like to eat frequently, but can't eat a lot at once, I do 6 smaller meals. I basically eat every 2-3 hours with low calorie, nutritionally dense foods like meat, veg and complex carb. I also try to drink 10 glasses of water a day. You stay so full, snacking is not an issue, and if the urge hits you are usually pretty close to your next mealtime so you can just grab your next scheduled meal. Takes a lot of planning and prepping however.

Larissa_NY

Just because you want to do something doesn't mean you have to do it. I want to sleep until noon every day, but I don't, because if I do then I can't meet my goal of remaining employed and paying the rent. What's more important to you, your weight loss or eating whenever you feel like it?

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Christine_72

Larissa_NY wrote: »

Just because you want to do something doesn't mean you have to do it. I want to sleep until noon every day, but I don't, because if I do then I can't meet my goal of remaining employed and paying the rent. What's more important to you, your weight loss or eating whenever you feel like it?

Lol true! Priorities OP

Linzon

Lots of great suggestions already, so I'll add that I play a video game that requires two hands. Lately my game of choice has been Stardew Valley, where I grow virtual food and seduce potential mates with my home-made pickled parsnips.

annette_15

I pre-log my meals and have a rough idea when I'll be eating them. If I'm hungry before meal time I'll make some coffe, have a diet soda, try to keep myself busy or just have my food a bit early. Or ill change one of my meals and have a snack and a smaller meal. I never pick at food. I cant when I know I dont have the calories for it.

kshama2001

Linzon wrote: »

Lots of great suggestions already, so I'll add that I play a video game that requires two hands. Lately my game of choice has been Stardew Valley, where I grow virtual food and seduce potential mates with my home-made pickled parsnips.

That's awesome!

evastar

Diet pop can do the trick for me!

positivepowers

Figure out why you want to snack. If it's boredom, distract your hands and brain. If it's stress, try to get rid of the stress. If you can't do that, find another way to deal with the stress. Meditate, take a walk, read a book, etc.