How Do You Unwind without Food/Netflix?

JustaNoob
JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I find more and more that I need to unwind mentally after work or when I have been around people for a couple hours. My go-to is to turn on Netflix and eat. Once I turn the TV on, I find it really difficult to turn it off and therefore spend 4 hours just sitting in front of the TV. I hate a quiet house at night.

During that time, I find it hard to stop eating. I'll be full, have had a treat, and have had sufficient calories for the day, but just want to keep eating. I think Netflix is a bit of a trigger and I want to break the habit.

I go for a 30 minute walk, but just haven't found anything that helps me to unwind. What do you do?
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Replies

  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    I started saving my clean laundry to fold in the evening. I put on a podcast and sit on my bedroom floor. I listen to audiobooks or read books that I have been meaning to get to, but... It's tricky because TV is a great brain break for me and my husband, but the food and drink habits around it are totally counter to our goals. With the weather getting warmer, we tend to be outside after dinner, even if it's just sitting on the deck and talking.
  • Thoin
    Thoin Posts: 961 Member
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    I find more and more that I need to unwind mentally after work or when I have been around people for a couple hours. My go-to is to turn on Netflix and eat. Once I turn the TV on, I find it really difficult to turn it off and therefore spend 4 hours just sitting in front of the TV. I hate a quiet house at night.

    During that time, I find it hard to stop eating. I'll be full, have had a treat, and have had sufficient calories for the day, but just want to keep eating. I think Netflix is a bit of a trigger and I want to break the habit.

    I go for a 30 minute walk, but just haven't found anything that helps me to unwind. What do you do?

    This may be way off but sometimes it has to do with depression or something. I have found myself trying to fill a void with food many times.

    Also I found I wanted food when watching Netflix. I basically trained my body to want food when I watch it because that's when I would eat. I think it was a reward system that my body grew used to. I needed to relax and eating and watching netflix was a great way to do that. However I also use food as a comfort system.
  • MidlifeCrisisFitness
    MidlifeCrisisFitness Posts: 1,106 Member
    read
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    @girlwithcurls2 I don't know whhhhyy that just sounds so peaceful to me! Folding while listening to something does sound like something I would enjoy.

    @PAV8888 I have definitely been trying to make myself get out more with the time change. I think Covid gave me an excuse to stay in and be lazy and I have to encourage myself to get out and do stuff now.

    @cwolfman13 I think I would be okay with 1 hour of TV a day but I don't want to waste my life watching TV. I am in school online and sometimes spend a couple hours studying-- but my TV is alwaysssss on in the background
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I find walking and reading to be incredibly relaxing. I just pick up a book and walk around my kitchen island (which is pretty big). Yes, at first you may feel like a giant weirdo. Rosseau apparently even did this outside (https://medium.com/@mathieu.roy.freelancer/reading-and-walking-surprisingly-compatible-883094c227f4) but I am a klutz so I will stick to my kitchen.

    I find this works best at a slow, deliberate pace. The goal isn't to get a cardio workout, just to add some extra steps to the day. A bonus: I can walk and eat, I can read and eat, but I don't think even I could manage walking, reading, AND eating.
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    Thoin wrote: »
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    I find more and more that I need to unwind mentally after work or when I have been around people for a couple hours. My go-to is to turn on Netflix and eat. Once I turn the TV on, I find it really difficult to turn it off and therefore spend 4 hours just sitting in front of the TV. I hate a quiet house at night.

    During that time, I find it hard to stop eating. I'll be full, have had a treat, and have had sufficient calories for the day, but just want to keep eating. I think Netflix is a bit of a trigger and I want to break the habit.

    I go for a 30 minute walk, but just haven't found anything that helps me to unwind. What do you do?

    This may be way off but sometimes it has to do with depression or something. I have found myself trying to fill a void with food many times.

    Also I found I wanted food when watching Netflix. I basically trained my body to want food when I watch it because that's when I would eat. I think it was a reward system that my body grew used to. I needed to relax and eating and watching netflix was a great way to do that. However I also use food as a comfort system.

    Thanks! I don't find that I am depressed, but I do find myself to be more anxious than normal. I feel like I am trying to feed something in my brain to release that "Ahhhh" feeling. I went to the doctor this morning to get bloodwork to make sure all of my hormones are working properly.
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    @missysippy930 @KHMcG @janejellyroll

    Wow all readers. It makes sense, sometimes scrolling FB helps. But sometimes it hurts depending on the political climate. Then I have to decompress from my decompress time lol!

    I bet if I found a good book series, I could get into it. I've always been a book binger though.
  • suzij27
    suzij27 Posts: 199 Member
    I understand about having the tv on as background noise, especially when I use to live alone.

    Reading in the bedroom instead of putting on the TV in the living room really helps me. Perhaps you could try a new hobby to keep your hands and mind busy. I like coloring or doing a puzzle.

    Breaking the association between Netflix and eating is what you’re ultimately after. Perhaps turning the tv on later to unwind, as opposed to when you first get home will help. Then there is a duration to your viewing and will get you to select something you want to watch rather than just having things on in the background.

    I have struggled with eating in the evenings, in front of the tv, after everyone has gone to bed. A friend and I have made signs that say “Kitchen Closed” as a visual reminder to stop the mindless roaming which leads to snacking.
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    Thoin wrote: »
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    I find more and more that I need to unwind mentally after work or when I have been around people for a couple hours. My go-to is to turn on Netflix and eat. Once I turn the TV on, I find it really difficult to turn it off and therefore spend 4 hours just sitting in front of the TV. I hate a quiet house at night.

    During that time, I find it hard to stop eating. I'll be full, have had a treat, and have had sufficient calories for the day, but just want to keep eating. I think Netflix is a bit of a trigger and I want to break the habit.

    I go for a 30 minute walk, but just haven't found anything that helps me to unwind. What do you do?

    This may be way off but sometimes it has to do with depression or something. I have found myself trying to fill a void with food many times.

    Also I found I wanted food when watching Netflix. I basically trained my body to want food when I watch it because that's when I would eat. I think it was a reward system that my body grew used to. I needed to relax and eating and watching netflix was a great way to do that. However I also use food as a comfort system.

    Thanks! I don't find that I am depressed, but I do find myself to be more anxious than normal. I feel like I am trying to feed something in my brain to release that "Ahhhh" feeling. I went to the doctor this morning to get bloodwork to make sure all of my hormones are working properly.

    That is likely very habit driven...both the behavior as well as the psychological "release". Unfortunately, breaking habits suck. I experienced the same when I quit drinking...I was at a loss as to what to do our how to "unwind" in the evening without drinking. There is a lot going on there subconsciously and there is some retraining that has to take place and unfortunately, that isn't the most comfortable thing in the world.

    For alcohol I did a lot of cognitive behavior reading and journaling and saw a therapist for a short time as well...though I think I would have gone along just fine with the reading itself and journaling. I've heard of people doing this with food stuff as well.

    How long did it take to break that habit? I definitely think it is my habit and normally I am seeking out some type of sugar for that mental release. For the 100th time, I have removed all sweets from my house because I just can't handle them in moderation right now. I will eat them until there is none left.
  • vanmep
    vanmep Posts: 410 Member
    I started piano lessons, I started hand piecing a quilt (portable!), I read a fair bit, I ride my bicycle when the weather is good, I just bought a rebounder off kijiji and I’m thinking about using it while I watch tv.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,415 Member
    As far as "on in the background...." If I'm not actively watching it I'll put Pandora on instead.
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Associations are hard habits to break. So if Neflix = Food that would be an association I'd have to break, and it was in the past.


    Now I have my three meals and an after dinner snack or dessert. That's it.


    Boundaries.


    I had to create a lot of them when I lost weight.

    What did you do to disassociate Netflix from food? Was it just quitting both that lead to new habits?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,415 Member
    edited April 2021
    No, I still watch a couple or three hours of Netflix a day.


    I had to make RULES.

    I have a lot of food rules. One of them is - "Three meals a day and one after dinner snack or dessert." PERIOD.

    No exceptions, and they are pre-logged so I know where I stand for calories.


    It isn't easy. It has to be done, though. Everyone has some food rules, and everyone makes different food rules. Maybe if it's super important for you to eat while watching, you can save your calories for when you're in front of the TV, or limit your TV time.

    I mean, you have to come up with a plan.
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    No, I still watch a couple or three hours of Netflix a day.


    I had to make RULES.

    I have a lot of food rules. One of them is - "Three meals a day and one after dinner snack or meal." PERIOD.

    No exceptions, and they are pre-logged so I know where I stand for calories.


    It isn't easy. It has to be done, though. Everyone has some food rules, and everyone makes different food rules. Maybe if it's super important for you to eat while watching, you can save your calories for when you're in front of the TV, or limit your TV time.

    I mean, you have to come up with a plan.

    Right, I am just trying to get ideas on the plan lol. I've known this was an issue for a while, I have just been unsuccessful at implementing anything. So I'm just trying to think it through-- I maybe over thinking.

    My current plan of action is to see if I can sub-out some of my Netflix time for a while with something else. I wake up every morning saying "no matter what, I'll stick to this." But my will isn't quite so strong when I'm hanging on the couch-- so I need to break the habit.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    Thoin wrote: »
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    I find more and more that I need to unwind mentally after work or when I have been around people for a couple hours. My go-to is to turn on Netflix and eat. Once I turn the TV on, I find it really difficult to turn it off and therefore spend 4 hours just sitting in front of the TV. I hate a quiet house at night.

    During that time, I find it hard to stop eating. I'll be full, have had a treat, and have had sufficient calories for the day, but just want to keep eating. I think Netflix is a bit of a trigger and I want to break the habit.

    I go for a 30 minute walk, but just haven't found anything that helps me to unwind. What do you do?

    This may be way off but sometimes it has to do with depression or something. I have found myself trying to fill a void with food many times.

    Also I found I wanted food when watching Netflix. I basically trained my body to want food when I watch it because that's when I would eat. I think it was a reward system that my body grew used to. I needed to relax and eating and watching netflix was a great way to do that. However I also use food as a comfort system.

    Thanks! I don't find that I am depressed, but I do find myself to be more anxious than normal. I feel like I am trying to feed something in my brain to release that "Ahhhh" feeling. I went to the doctor this morning to get bloodwork to make sure all of my hormones are working properly.

    That is likely very habit driven...both the behavior as well as the psychological "release". Unfortunately, breaking habits suck. I experienced the same when I quit drinking...I was at a loss as to what to do our how to "unwind" in the evening without drinking. There is a lot going on there subconsciously and there is some retraining that has to take place and unfortunately, that isn't the most comfortable thing in the world.

    For alcohol I did a lot of cognitive behavior reading and journaling and saw a therapist for a short time as well...though I think I would have gone along just fine with the reading itself and journaling. I've heard of people doing this with food stuff as well.

    How long did it take to break that habit? I definitely think it is my habit and normally I am seeking out some type of sugar for that mental release. For the 100th time, I have removed all sweets from my house because I just can't handle them in moderation right now. I will eat them until there is none left.

    My first week sober was pretty tough. The first thing I used to do when I walked in the door was to pop open a beer and poor a shot. That first week or so, I really didn't know what to do with myself and was pretty uncomfortable. From there things just got easier by the day. After my first 3-4 weeks it was much easier and was no longer the first thought in my head when I arrived home. I'll be going on 90 days here and I rarely think about it now except for implicit social situations where others are drinking...but I don't really think about it on the day to day anymore. Even when others around me are partaking, it has become much easier...I will usually have an initial craving that passes fairly quickly when I turn my attention to something else...but also, after about an hour or so people start acting...well...drunk, and it's very interesting watching while sober and generally leaves me with an even lesser desire to drink as I know exactly how foolish I can be when I'm inebriated.

    Fortunately, I have a lot of other things that take my time and focus so it was probably easier for me to pivot to just concentrating more on those things and less on drinking. I do have to keep myself busy though...if I go just hang out on the patio for hours those cravings will kick in...I have to keep occupied.
  • wunderkindking
    wunderkindking Posts: 1,615 Member
    Knitting.

    I already knit when I watch TV. I can't knit and put food in my mouth.
  • Speakeasy76
    Speakeasy76 Posts: 961 Member
    I can relate to this. This is also the time of day when I can be uninterrupted, which with of all us being home a lot, I think I needed more downtime. My habit was to drink a glass of wine and eat plain mini Triscuits. I, too, found it soothing--the wine and the crunching/chewing.

    I did make room for the wine and crackers in my daily allowances, although did quit for a time. I also don't drink a glass of wine every night. I tell myself I should just portion out the crackers and then put the rest away, but again, I think it's become a bad habit and association with sitting down at night to "unwind." I also have gotten into the habit of an earlier bedtime with a wind down time before bed, because I've really been trying to make sleep a priority, too. Therefore, maybe will watch 2 hours of TV at most, as I have a cut-off time. I also have outside dance classes 2 nights a week that keep me from it a bit. Maybe some kind of alternative hobby for you could be an idea?

    I am going to be forced to cut out this habit tomorrow, though, as I'm starting an elimination diet for food sensitivities. I'm curious and a bit anxious about this for many reasons, but am wondering what my anxiety will be like at night.

  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,495 Member
    The gym/exercise, reading. TV to excess is the devil :).
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    I'm probably not the best person to comment, because frankly I find I don't have the attention span any more to just sit and *watch*, with food or without, whether in my obese phase or now. I do usually have podcasts or in-depth radio reportage (not shouty-people news!) or music on in the background.

    I think some of the things I find soothing or relaxing might not be so for others, but I'll mention some just in case: * Learning to play a musical instrument;
    * Working on sketching, visual journaling, or other similar stuff (for clarity, this is not "therapeutic journaling", it's just random fun creative play; coloring could work for some people);
    * Stretching or foam rolling, or "small-sized" exercises like squishing a hand-strengthening ball, rolling Chinese exercise balls in my palm, etc.;
    * Warm shower or bath;
    * Crafts of whatever sort (I make jewelry, crochet, sew, . . . .).

    Some of the things on the list above could be done while (mostly) watching Netflix. It's always easier (IMO) to break an undesired habit like Netflix+snack by replacing it with a different/more desired habit, so in this case maybe something like Netflix+knit or whatever. As snack/food replacement habits, I often suggest people seek out things that either require clean hands (like the needlework or coloring) or create dirty hands (like painting or carpentry).
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    I really like hobbies and leisure activities that "make" something or have some kind of tangible result. I embroider, garden, and cook and bake (be careful here, though!) I like to organize, too, which some people would find horrible but I find it soothing to see everything tidy, plus it makes the rest of my life run more smoothly! As others have mentioned I read a lot, and will listen to audiobooks when my hands are busy or while on a run or walk if I'm alone. It doesn't always occur to me, but being outside is also a big mood lifter, so anything I can do just as well outside as in I try to.
  • TrainerRobin
    TrainerRobin Posts: 509 Member
    There are all kinds of food-related associations we all have. Things that 'go together' in our minds. For you, snacking and Netflix go together. To simplify it, you have two choices -- either work to break this association or modify it so it doesn't negatively impact your weight loss journey. Most folks find it easier and more durable to modify the habit ...

    If you know you're going to eat while watching television, plan for that. Know what you are going to eat while binging on your favorite show, and plan that into your day. Find foods that you already love that are less calorie dense (think frozen grapes instead of chips or nuts). Denser foods will fill you up faster and even if you're in the 'mindlessly munching' mode, a pile of super chill carrot sticks in ice water and a pile of frozen grapes will eventually signal you that you've had enough .... whereas chips (calorie-dense foods) can pack a serious calorie surplus that will derail your progress. Just rethink WHAT you eat and ensure that you plan for it so that even after you're full of Netflix and munchies, you're still on track.

    I'm sure there are thinks that are NOT calorie-dense that you love ... so you really CAN find a way to navigate this habit wisely instead of thinking you have to give it up altogether. :)
  • hipari
    hipari Posts: 1,367 Member
    As a member of the Netflix tribe, I find that I need to keep my hands busy somehow, and using them to move food from plate to mouth is what I end up doing if my hands aren’t otherwise occupied. What I mostly do is play slow-paced games on my iPad while watching. When I say slow-paced, I mean puzzle/strategy games where time doesn’t matter and I can stop glancing at the game any time there’s something interesting happening on the tv that requires my full attention. These games range from solitaires, sudoku, Candy Crush etc to pretty much any kind of puzzle game. I do sometimes also enjoy coloring or working on a physical jigsaw puzzle while watching a show, but those are harder to do for longer periods of time without hurting my back or neck.
  • nanastaci2020
    nanastaci2020 Posts: 1,072 Member
    Reading, taking a relaxing bath, walking.

    If you associate TV with eating, perhaps allow yourself shorter bouts of time to watch TV where you intentionally do NOT eat. Change the habits. Learn to knit or crochet, just to have something to do with your hands while watching TV perhaps. If a quiet house is a concern, turn on music?
    JustaNoob wrote: »
    I find more and more that I need to unwind mentally after work or when I have been around people for a couple hours. My go-to is to turn on Netflix and eat. Once I turn the TV on, I find it really difficult to turn it off and therefore spend 4 hours just sitting in front of the TV. I hate a quiet house at night.

    During that time, I find it hard to stop eating. I'll be full, have had a treat, and have had sufficient calories for the day, but just want to keep eating. I think Netflix is a bit of a trigger and I want to break the habit.

    I go for a 30 minute walk, but just haven't found anything that helps me to unwind. What do you do?

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