Emotional Eater/Bored Eater..HELP!?

msgabismit

Ok, half the time I eat because I'm hungry. That's normal. Stomach growls, I'm hungry, need food and I eat. But often I eat because I'm bored, happy, sad, stressed..I know I'm an emotional eater..and I know self control is key. I just want to know what I may eat that's low cal, low carb in these cases that won't kill me at the end of the day in my calorie intake if I indulge.
Any suggestions??? Some salty and some sweets..Either, or.

WBB55

For a sweet craving at the end of the day, something like roasted sweet potato or a banana/orange/apple

For a salty craving at the end of the day, kale chips, air popped popcorn with salt

For a hunger craving, fat free milk or roasted light tofu

For a more substantial belly filler, lettuce and tomato with balsamic vinegar

msgabismit

For a sweet craving at the end of the day, something like roasted sweet potato or a banana/orange/apple

For a salty craving at the end of the day, kale chips, air popped popcorn with salt

For a hunger craving, fat free milk or roasted light tofu

For a more substantial belly filler, lettuce and tomato with balsamic vinegar

banana is high in carbs..apple and orange I'll have to check.
oooh kale chips..never thought of that..

edit: orange is ok in carbs..apples are high as well for a snack

WBB55

For a sweet craving at the end of the day, something like roasted sweet potato or a banana/orange/apple [edit: or whatever high fiber fruit you like... I was trying to recommend fruit that are common/cheap/easy to keep in the house or in your purse for on the go.]

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

I eat low carb, too and it's hard to stay away from carbs when you're an emotional eater since most comfort foods seem to be carb heavy. Some low calorie/low net carb snacks are green vegetables like cucumber slices, pickles, celery, and seaweed. Check out thelowcarbrecipes.com for some good low carb foods.

Another suggestion is to just deal with being bored. Go for a walk, clean the house, walk the dog, etc. If it's more of an emotional reason my go-to solution is to call a friend. It distracts you and helps you deal with the issue.

One last suggestion, 5-HTP. It's a supplement that helps with serotonin regulation and it makes me sleep better (you can take it during the day because it doesn't make you sleepy) and it helps regulate my appetite/cravings. I got it at vitamin shoppe for like $15 for 60 pills.

ahamm002

Just have some coffee or tea when you're bored and want to sip on something!

benflando

Tea, fruit, rice cakes.

fihealth

Try reading "Food: the good girl's drug" to understand why you emotionally eat and strategies for managing it in addition to finding some yummy healthy snacks?

KANGOOJUMPS

eat radishes and celery.

msgabismit

celery, I cannot do..
thelowcarbrecipes.com is something I will do though..that sounds good.

Thank you all for suggestions. I will read this over again when I get home and take something from each of you..low cal/low carb is hard to find..i eat not only when i'm bored..but I do eat when i'm happy too..my bf comes over, i cook and usually make desert that's YUMMY but not low in the things I need it to be in..everyone indulges sometimes..i love it..but it's becoming more frequent lately

Richie2shoes

When I want something sweet, I grab a piece of gum or hard candy. Some of the Extra Dessert Delight flavor gums are pretty good. When I want something salty, I grab a kosher dill pickle. Also when I realize I want to eat out of boredom, I try to change that and do something to keep my hands occupied, like play a game on the Wii or work on a puzzle.

SugarFemme24

I am also an emotional eater. I always joke that I'm an emotional eater, when I have an emotion I like to eat!

One thing that I have done is to set some rules. I follow the no-s "diet" (google it)

Essentially, it's no snacks, no sweets, no seconds except for on days that start with S (Sat, Sun, and "Special" days like holidays) I have found that knowing that I don't eat snacks makes my emotional eating much easier to deal with. I just can't have it so there is no reason to stew over it. Plus, food tastes so better when you are actually hungry!

Check it out, that might help!

msgabismit

I am also an emotional eater. I always joke that I'm an emotional eater, when I have an emotion I like to eat!

One thing that I have done is to set some rules. I follow the no-s "diet" (google it)

Essentially, it's no snacks, no sweets, no seconds except for on days that start with S (Sat, Sun, and "Special" days like holidays) I have found that knowing that I don't eat snacks makes my emotional eating much easier to deal with. I just can't have it so there is no reason to stew over it. Plus, food tastes so better when you are actually hungry!

Check it out, that might help!

That actually sounds like something I am able to follow through with. Thanks! And you're right. Food is amazing when you're hungry. When you aren't, then you don't enjoy it as much as you think. Your emotions are enjoying it more than your belly is. lol

msgabismit

Just have some coffee or tea when you're bored and want to sip on something!

This is actually what helped me yesterday. I'm Bosnian, so I drink Bosnian style coffee with friends a lot (it's like Turkish coffee and beats fat Starbucks any day). Yesterday, I just even sipped on it while watching my favorite show and I found myself hours later finally getting actually hungry with no "emotional or bored" snacking in between.

MinnieInMaine

I'd like to repeat the advice to find a way to change the behavior. It's not easy - I know, I'm a bored/lonely emotional eater - but at least trying and making small changes is a step in the right direction. The first step is to be more conscious of why you're eating. It's not meal time, are you really hungry and/or can you afford the calories? How about go for a walk or do some exercises in your room or read a good book or play a game or call your friends or start a craft? Whatever gets you distracted enough to forget about it.

My biggest problem is on the weekends when I'm supposed to be cleaning. It's definitely not my favorite thing and sitting on the couch watching TV is much more appealing but that tends to lead to boredom eating. So I make little deals with myself. I'll start heading to the kitchen for a snack but then stop myself and say "ok, if you can get the floors done by 11am, you can have that square of chocolate you want" and once I start working ont he floors, I'm distracted enough so that I get the cleaning done and forget about the chocolate and just skip it since by the time I'm done cleaning it's lunch time.

The only low carb snacks I can think of off the top of my head are eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt.

714rah714

Pistachio's, they keep you occupied as well

Riemersma4

emotional/bored eating usually has a little psychology that comes with it.... 'why' are you bored? 'Why' turn to food for comfort then?

Keep a book with you at all times, something that is engaging - entertainment, educational, self help - and read when you are bored. You will fight the boredom AND expand yoru horizons. Maybe get a better job even???

if you are going to eat: green peppers, green tea make great friends. A little clear broth soup is good too. Warmth makes you happy!

If you eat, make sure that you measure out what you are going to eat, like 2 Tbls of pistachios. An open can or bag is your enemy when grazing....

Good luck!

msgabismit

I'd like to repeat the advice to find a way to change the behavior. It's not easy - I know, I'm a bored/lonely emotional eater - but at least trying and making small changes is a step in the right direction. The first step is to be more conscious of why you're eating. It's not meal time, are you really hungry and/or can you afford the calories? How about go for a walk or do some exercises in your room or read a good book or play a game or call your friends or start a craft? Whatever gets you distracted enough to forget about it.

My biggest problem is on the weekends when I'm supposed to be cleaning. It's definitely not my favorite thing and sitting on the couch watching TV is much more appealing but that tends to lead to boredom eating. So I make little deals with myself. I'll start heading to the kitchen for a snack but then stop myself and say "ok, if you can get the floors done by 11am, you can have that square of chocolate you want" and once I start working ont he floors, I'm distracted enough so that I get the cleaning done and forget about the chocolate and just skip it since by the time I'm done cleaning it's lunch time.

The only low carb snacks I can think of off the top of my head are eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt.

Thank you for the low carb snacks advice and the rest of it. I did that yesterday. Just cleaned my apt and totally forgot to "snack" cause i was bored. )

msgabismit

If you eat, make sure that you measure out what you are going to eat, like 2 Tbls of pistachios. An open can or bag is your enemy when grazing....

Good luck!

VERY TRUE! Thank you!