WHILE WATCHING TV

SheilaTrueLove

Can anyone tell me or give me any ideas regarding what do they do while trying to relax watching TV, what do you do besides EAT. When watching TV I'm ALWAYS tempted to eat, even when I'm not hungry.

TavistockToad

Just watch TV?

nutmegoreo

Crochet, cross stitch, study...

Evamutt

I have 5 dogs, snuggle on couch while watching tv

shellyld2016

Not exactly relaxing, but I have done squats or Pilates exercises during commercial breaks. It take that time to plan your meals or workouts. ( planning is relaxing for me) or just save up some calories and munch on popcorn or veggies.

MissxAsh

I chew a piece of gum so my mouth keeps busy and I'm not tempted to snack on anything.

comptonelizabeth

It's about breaking the association. Habits take time to break. When I stopped smoking (I know it's not quite the same )I had to find different ways of doing things. Sitting watching TV was hard because I associated it with smoking and relaxing so I basically had to find different ways of relaxing,at least for a while.
Could you still eat but low calorie stuff like popcorn (sorry,I'm not aiming to lose weight so I'm not sure if that's low cal!)

Tucker3306

Like someone said, chew gum. Also, almonds are your friend. Just a handful is enough to take the edge off. 100 calorie kettle corn is great for movie nights!

steph198503

like someone mentioned before do squats or i sometimes walk in place while im watching t..v.

everher

I've replaced snacking with drinking water. It gives me something to do with my hands and occupies my mouth and is calorie free.

I also tend to multitask when I watch tv. Like I'll be writing out my grocery list or balancing my check book or researching something online. I can't just sit still and just watch tv.

Laceyden

I have a difficult time just watching tv too. I am also trying to not snack as much, but I typically plan my meals so I can have a small snack in the evening. My favorite right now is red raspberries and a small handful of pistachios. If I don't have calories to spare that day, I love a cup of hot tea. One of my favorites is Tazo sweet cinnamon spice. It is so good it doesn't even need sugar added! I also browse Pinterest or write to my sponsor kids.

ahlife27

MissxAsh wrote: »

I chew a piece of gum so my mouth keeps busy and I'm not tempted to snack on anything.

THIS! Totally how I fixed bored eating (for the most part, haha....still guilty some days.... But not nearly as much as before . Also drinking dark roast coffee (which kinda seemed like a treat, almost like dark chocolate?). Or, if you're trying to wind down and it's anxious eating, you could try herbal tea (like chamomile or peppermint).

But gum was definitely my go-to for awhile to cut back on snacking. It kept the "my mouth needs to be busy I need something tasty" part of my brain occupied.

Machka9

I've never been able to just watch TV.

So I ... do homework (I'm slowly working my way toward a Master's degree), process photos and post good ones on photography forums (I am so far behind on this!), browse various forums (this one, cycling forums, photography forums, facebook), do housework (I'm up and doing something during just about every commercial break), and exercise!

I find a cup of rooibos tea can be helpful as well if I feel the need for something just a bit sweet.

Lounmoun

Drink tea.
Do a craft project.
Walk around.
Brush the cat.
Watch less tv.

ldowdesw

2 big mugs of tea fills me up and something like a word search to get me engrossed whilst watching tv.

jennybearlv

I only watch TV while I'm folding laundry. That way I can say I spent all afternoon doing chores. TV is such a passive activity you likely just need something to keep your hands busy and your mind a little distracted.

Chef_Barbell

I breastfeed. Not much help but it burns calories. :laugh:

scarlett624kh

I have a lot of pain so I like to stretch or drink tea or sit on my massage chair.

ClosetBayesian

Hoop dance. Read. Write.

NEOHgirl

Anything that keeps your hand busy should work. I have my PC set up near my couch so I play online while I watch. Or I knit, or do word puzzles. You can get some adult coloring books & a set of crayons or colored pencils to keep your hands occupied. You can knit just scarves, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something to keep your hands busy. And if you don't need any yourself, you can always donate your work to a local shelter. Or baby blankets to a local hospital.

Francl27

Get on my exercise bike.
Otherwise, nothing. Maybe drink some tea or coffee... I don't like being distracted while watching tv (I only watch shows I really like and I skip commercials).

duncan04

Walking on the treadmill or a bike while watching tv is relaxing for me. Just a steady slow pace allows me to watch the tv and enjoy it. No food while watching tv is our rule.

ChristineE63

Hula Hoop, you have to get really good to be able to hoop and eat at the same time

rainbow198

I used to snack mindlessly often while watching TV.

Now I do things like jogging or walking in place or doing light bodyweight exercises (leg lifts, side bends, push ups, one-legged tricep dips off the couch, etc.).

Also I like to get on my mini-stair stepper. 15 minutes gets me 1 mile. Sometimes I use lightweights while using it too.

These are great ways to get in some light exercises/movement into my day and I don't sweat.

Other times I like to do small things like sew a button on a shirt, folding laundry, write in my food and exercise journal (planning out meals for the day or writing out what I ate and my exercises for the current day), writing out my grocery list or I play with my puppy.

You can also try saving up some calories, but personally I enjoy eating larger meals and not snacking so that didn't work for me. I learned once I start eating I eat!

These activities kept me distracted enough from mindless snacking, but still able to catch up on some of my shows. So now I've adjusted to not snacking while watching TV.

Good luck!

Edited to add...will have to try using my weighted hula hoop! Thanks for the suggestions!

Athomemermaid

I read mfp posts.. keeps me motivated,
Looking up new healthy recipes to get inspired. Play on phone. Anoy my sleeping cat. paint nails. Brush my cat.. I'm not very exciting sorry!

melodydee66

I drink tea or water, use my stepper, fold laundry and if all else fails and I really need a snack, I will bring an apple or pear to my chair with a pairing knife and cut it slowly while watching or I will have a little bit of air popped popcorn or Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt if I'm lazy.

kbmnurse

Watch TV.

WW1984

I actually have my Nordic Mini Stepper sitting next to my couch and use it in 30 minute intervals as I watch tv. I rest about 15 minutes between each interval. Often I'll go for 60 minutes then rest. I use the resistant bands that come with it and also separate hand weights to slim my arms and build muscle....all while watching tv. :-)

NewGemini130

Others have said it- but hot herbal tea. Another tip is after you are done eating brush your teeth. You can also plan for and pre- measure your evening snack. Then watch tv for a while till snack time, have the snack, brush teeth and that's it. Set yourself an eating curfew and stick to it. Mine's 8 pm.

Psychgrrl

I got rid of my cable and watch a few shows only on my phone and only when I'm walking around my apartment complex.