Boredom Binges!

strawberryshortbread

Hi All!

Unfortunately i'm a sufferer of BB (Boredom Binges). I'm absolutely fine when im doing stuff, especially if i am out of the house and busy even when i'm at home i get around it by finding things to do or doing some exercise.

BUT.....

What do you do when you sit behind a desk all day? Don't get me wrong i am busy at work but sometimes i just get that quiet spell where i'm doing a mundane part of my job and i think ooooohhhhh let's see whats in the sweetie box! Over the past week or so i have become more conscious of it and i'm trying to eradicate it. This is what i'm trying to do at the moment:

1. Make a drink, whether its coffee or water just have a drink and see if it passes
2. I try to keep a diary at what triggers my boredom and avoid those triggers where i can
3. Five minute rule......if i think i want something to eat....leave it five minutes do i still want it?? if so i go to the drink rule
4. psychology - i try to imagine how i'd feel afterwards if i ate that choclate, all fat and fed up with myself and then imagine how i feel if i didn't eat it and got on the scales and lost weight!
5. I've actually told people at work to not let me have anything from the sweet box and if i buy anything from there i have to put double money in (its a charity box) - the mentality here is it's costing me twice as much money to feel good for 2 mins and then feel crap for rest of week - worth it? naaaahhh!!!

Does anybody else suffer boredom binges and how do you get around them?

Thanks and keep up the good work everyone!!

chanstriste13

i think those are all great ideas, and if you are consistent with it you are going to overcome this. i'm the same way - but sometimes i sit down with a book and a snack even if if *do* have things i should be doing! best of luck to you!

SamHughes15

I suffer form them badly, but can't overcome them anywhere near as well as you, i just normally think to myself "that one sweet wont hurt" then it turns into about 4 sweets in the end :laugh: whoops

I work behind a desk aswell and completely get what you mean, i might try a few of your rules to see if it helps.

lind3400

We have a sweets box at our work too and have to pay to eat out of it. So I just leave my money in the car haha. But at my other job I work in a grocery store and my manager is a sugar freak and is always buying candy and making us share the guilt! So everytime I want a piece I distract myself with a chore or a job until I dont want it anymore

peteb79

Those are great ideas! I sit behind a desk all day and used to suffer from this. I got around it by leaving my loose change at home, can not visit the vending machine without money.. (Not the same with a charity box, but it could still work). I also bring something from home to snack on to help control my hunger, usually a bag of dry cereal...

brooksingletary

I tend to binge when I'm at home (I live alone, so it makes it all the easier!). If I don't have plans that night, or just zoning out to television, I think about food SO much more than normal. I try to do the things you are doing (though I haven't invested that much time into it...). I also do things (at home, mind you) like chew gum, turn the channel when food commercials come on (and turn if I'm watching a cooking show), or if things are really bad, I'll hop in the shower or brush my teeth.

I think the idea of keeping yourself occupied is a really great idea. I would (if you can) pop in some gum when you crave food. The act of chewing actually tricks my brain into thinking it's eaten something. Also, I go on walks with my coworker in the afternoon when the cravings hit. I work at a hospital, so we just do a longer loop around it. Also, try carbonated water (if no one tears me a new one...). The fizzy aspect also tricks my brain into thinking it's eating.

Good luck!!!

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Hi All!

Unfortunately i'm a sufferer of BB (Boredom Binges). I'm absolutely fine when im doing stuff, especially if i am out of the house and busy even when i'm at home i get around it by finding things to do or doing some exercise.

BUT.....

What do you do when you sit behind a desk all day? Don't get me wrong i am busy at work but sometimes i just get that quiet spell where i'm doing a mundane part of my job and i think ooooohhhhh let's see whats in the sweetie box! Over the past week or so i have become more conscious of it and i'm trying to eradicate it. This is what i'm trying to do at the moment:

1. Make a drink, whether its coffee or water just have a drink and see if it passes
2. I try to keep a diary at what triggers my boredom and avoid those triggers where i can
3. Five minute rule......if i think i want something to eat....leave it five minutes do i still want it?? if so i go to the drink rule
4. psychology - i try to imagine how i'd feel afterwards if i ate that choclate, all fat and fed up with myself and then imagine how i feel if i didn't eat it and got on the scales and lost weight!
5. I've actually told people at work to not let me have anything from the sweet box and if i buy anything from there i have to put double money in (its a charity box) - the mentality here is it's costing me twice as much money to feel good for 2 mins and then feel crap for rest of week - worth it? naaaahhh!!!

Does anybody else suffer boredom binges and how do you get around them?

Thanks and keep up the good work everyone!!

Sitting behind the desk I always have coffee on hand (regular or decaf) and water and sip all day. I also make sure I don't have access to bingy foods (if there is a vending machine I make sure I don't have cash, if there is a candy dish I walk out of my way to avoid it so I don't see it's bright tempting contents). If I just can't stop I take a walk outside, which inevitably takes me past a store that has fruit cups, veggie plates, salads, and hard boiled eggs so I just give into one of these (no dressing on the salad, or egg whites only) to curb my appetite.

fat2fab4life

oh yes, i suffer also from bb! i stay home mom and take online classes and often get bored and just eat eat eat. i am going to try drinking some tea when i get the bb and see if it helps and waiting five mins.. we can do this~

BGabbart

I have a sit behind the desk job also, I bring healthy snacks from home to help me overcome BB. I also will get up and take a short walk down the hall. I love your idea's and may have to start using some of them.

SlimSadieG

I am exactly the same. Keep me occupied, and the thought doesn't even cross my mind. But once I'm sat at my desk, that's it!

And like you said, it's not so much boredom due to not having things to do at work. I have PLENTY to do, so I feel finding something to eat is actually more of a distraction and a way of procrastinating from doing that work!

We have the dreaded "shelf" at work, which is topped up on a regular basis with sweets, chocolates, biscuits etc.

Every now and then we try and change the "stock" to more fruity goodness, but it will eventually work it's way back to chocolately rubbish.

I have started carrying a bottle of water with me everywhere at work: at my desk, in meetings etc. and whenever I feel the urge to binge, I will take a few swigs of water and fight that urge, thinking of my holiday in less than 2 weeks!

I have also requested a pair of blinkers that I could wear whilst sat at my desk so I can no longer see the "shelf"...!

strawberryshortbread

Hi everyone,

thank you for your great ideas! I failed to mention that i bring snacks during the day but i really struggle to control the times i eat them....it's almost like my banana and apples turn into time bombs and if i dont eat them by 11am they will explode!!!

lol ...i think i am just greedy!!

strawberryshortbread

[if the blinkers work will you get me a pair? lol]


I am exactly the same. Keep me occupied, and the thought doesn't even cross my mind. But once I'm sat at my desk, that's it!

And like you said, it's not so much boredom due to not having things to do at work. I have PLENTY to do, so I feel finding something to eat is actually more of a distraction and a way of procrastinating from doing that work!

We have the dreaded "shelf" at work, which is topped up on a regular basis with sweets, chocolates, biscuits etc.

Every now and then we try and change the "stock" to more fruity goodness, but it will eventually work it's way back to chocolately rubbish.

Brilliant!!! if the blinkers work out can i have a pair!!!
I have started carrying a bottle of water with me everywhere at work: at my desk, in meetings etc. and whenever I feel the urge to binge, I will take a few swigs of water and fight that urge, thinking of my holiday in less than 2 weeks!

I have also requested a pair of blinkers that I could wear whilst sat at my desk so I can no longer see the "shelf"...!
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