How do I keep from eating because I'm bored?!

sweetlyybroken

I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

How do you stop yourself from eating??

melr01

I tend to do the same thing. I want to eat right now but instead I came on here to see what other people were talking about. I try to distract myself. I drink water or go for a walk or get on the phone with a friend. Anything to busy myself. I try to keep a 20 minute rule with food. If I'm still hungry, craving, etc after 20 minutes I ask myself again why I want food. Does my body need nutrition or am I just bored, emotional, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes I delay myself for hours and then give in.

Evilmuffin666

I smoke. :laugh:

PilatesConvert

I get bored when all I'm doing is sitting on my butt surfing the web or watching TV. I'm more inclined to eat out of boredom then.

If the goal is to not get bored and eat, don't do things that are boring! Find a hobby! Get out of your house. Do something. Volunteer. Experience the world.

nomeejerome

I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

How do you stop yourself from eating??

1. You cannot get "toned", but you can lose body fat to reveal the muscle underneath it.
2. If you are bored, why not go outside and do some type of activity? yardwork? walk? run?
3. If it is ridiculously hot outside, maybe find a project indoors? laundry? clean the house? read a book?
4. Ultimately, it will be up to you to stop eating when you are bored

ETA: My fault. You are 18 years old and probably don't want to put laundry or clean the house at the top of your list. :laugh:
Anyhoo....find activities that you enjoy and go do them. enjoy the young life while you can :laugh:

ambermichk

esp at night. I home from work, hungry... the house is quiet so I don't want to make a ton of noise (which is a joke and excuse) and I eat... and eat.... and eat..... I eat a lot because I am bored

Ce87girl

If I'm eating while bored and i catch myself I will stop and do something healthy (depending on my location). For example - just sitting on the couch, when i catch my gaze wandering to the kitchen, i'll drop and do 10 pushups, 10 sit ups, and/or some stretching and squats to get myself doing something, and it usually takes my mind off of it for the time being. If i'm at work I just take a walk - get up and move around.

misscristie

I clean something, create something or go to bed.

melmckay99

I do this too. Sometime I will buy a pack of gum and spend the afternoon eating piece after peice until i've finished the whole pack. Gum is about 3 cals/piece X about 15 pieces per pack so I'm only consuming about 45 cals and keeps my mouth busy which keeps my mind off food cravings

LauraBalyk

I play around on mfp on the success stories thread ! seeing peoples pictures and posts about their goals and their successes, make me distracted enough so I don't want to eat, but also makes me feel that the next thing I should eat is healthy lol

eazy_

Big glass of water.

karaeb621

I drink water instead of eating. Most of time if you are feeling hungry it is just your body telling you it needs more fluids!

candylilacs

Develop a hobby. Something that keeps your hands busy, such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, dollmaking, latch-hooking, scrapbooking, drawing, coloring, origami, or anything really. If you have something to do when you're bored, you don't always look for food.

SchroederNJ

gum is actually a real good idea --- my struggle time is at home after dinner --- even after i workout, when on the couch watching mindless television, i tend to snack

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RobynLB83

I tend to do the same thing. I want to eat right now but instead I came on here to see what other people were talking about. I try to distract myself. I drink water or go for a walk or get on the phone with a friend. Anything to busy myself. I try to keep a 20 minute rule with food. If I'm still hungry, craving, etc after 20 minutes I ask myself again why I want food. Does my body need nutrition or am I just bored, emotional, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes I delay myself for hours and then give in.

I'm going to try that 20 minute rule. That sounds really thoughtful and practical. Thanks. I was about to grab something to munch on while I start my reading assignment. My rationale was that I worked out hard this morning, and I had a small lunch, so really it's just the rest of my lunch, but I don't think I'm even hungry. I'll start that reading and check back in 20

MelsAuntie

Gardening ,landscaping reading, farm work, arts and crafts, art courses, beadwork, sewing, gourd art websites, art fairs, music, exercise, cooking, there is SO much to do, I cannot see how it is even possible to be bored. Take classes, learn a new skill, take up a hobby, go to a concert, whatever.....

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Stop being bored. Go do something. Go for a walk, go to the gym, read, play vidyas, etc.

ncmedic201

I smoke. :laugh:

^^me too

erindh87

I chew gum or brush my teeth. The minty taste helps kill cravings for me. I also drink a lot of water.

magerum

I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

How do you stop yourself from eating??

Drink water or...





Don't become bored.

ryry_

I play video games. Keeps my hands busy and my mind off eating.

corgicake

Go outside. It helps.

2013sk

I'm a nightmare for eating when I'm bored.....I stand there eating out the cereal box......constantly

My body isn't even hungry, and I do it all the time....I am sure I would drop a few lbs just by cutting this out

twinketta

I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

How do you stop yourself from eating??

You are probably hungry?

You seem to put in a lot of exercise cals in your diary, but do not eat enough?

If you want to lose weight and get toned then eat more and carry on with the exercise x

Confuzzled4ever

How about.. go do something..

there's this great big playground just waiting for you..

its' called.. outside.. go for a walk!

When I was young I had 1 toy to play with..it was called "outside" eveything I did revolved around this

Get a hobby.. i used to make jewelry when I had a lot of free time.. I even sold it.
Take up a sport
start reading
take a class (there are free ones! i'm in a few now!)
Get a second job..
Go hiking or biking
Volunteer somewhere

benno1978

first of all as others have said are you eating enough? calculate your TDEE and eat to that (eat clean though) try eating more protein and good fats (like oily fish) these can help you feel full

And make sure you're getting enough water at least 2 litres a day

If you're still reaching for the snacks something else is going on. I'm terrible for snacking when bored try going for a walk or busting out some press-ups etc to take your mind off it plus if you do 'crack' at least you've earnt some of those calories

Finally you've got to ask yourself what do you want more this snack or to reach your goals? I try and ask myself this every time I'm tempted - sometimes the snack wins lol

but basically you have can results or excuses pick one #toughlove

cwolfman13

get off your *kitten* and do something...then you won't be bored.

pghtrader

In case you didn't pick up on the recurring theme, what you are hearing is an undertone of jealousy from people that have left the school environment years ago and are knee deep in the responsibilities of their world.

I quickly found that marriage, children, work, and ongoing maintenance on our home has pretty much eliminated any chance of boredom showing it's pleasant face around me

So, don't take peoples' comments about getting off your rear too seriously. I'd recommend that you enjoy your time and try out whatever that strikes you as fun (assuming it is healthy and safe, of course.)

Maybe think about what kind of clubs you might want to try in college: drama, singing, instrumental chamber ensemble, sports, chess club (ok, probably not the chess club, but you get the idea) and get a head start. Take some online classes. Search youtube.

If none of those are interesting, maybe find something a little different like learning Mandarin, Japanese, Russian, Latin, or sign language.

Still not enough to occupy your mind? Volunteer at a local charity. Learn how the stock market works and open a demo account. Learn to draw or paint or both. Write your first novella.

Ok, I'll stop now. I'm as envious as everyone else. Many of those are things that I would love to do if I had the time or are things that I have done and really enjoyed.

Anyway good luck and stay busy!

DanielleJoy129

In case you didn't pick up on the recurring theme, what you are hearing is an undertone of jealousy from people that have left the school environment years ago and are knee deep in the responsibilities of their world.

I quickly found that marriage, children, work, and ongoing maintenance on our home has pretty much eliminated any chance of boredom showing it's pleasant face around me

So, don't take peoples' comments about getting off your rear too seriously. I'd recommend that you enjoy your time and try out whatever that strikes you as fun (assuming it is healthy and safe, of course.)

Maybe think about what kind of clubs you might want to try in college: drama, singing, instrumental chamber ensemble, sports, chess club (ok, probably not the chess club, but you get the idea) and get a head start. Take some online classes. Search youtube.

If none of those are interesting, maybe find something a little different like learning Mandarin, Japanese, Russian, Latin, or sign language.

Still not enough to occupy your mind? Volunteer at a local charity. Learn how the stock market works and open a demo account. Learn to draw or paint or both. Write your first novella.

Ok, I'll stop now. I'm as envious as everyone else. Many of those are things that I would love to do if I had the time or are things that I have done and really enjoyed.

Anyway good luck and stay busy!

^^this!
Thanks for this post.

NanaWubbie

Set some goals and work towards them! Boredom is an excuse, and not a good one. Go to Active.com and find a 5K 3 months from now...and start working to be able to complete it.