Boredom Eating

lucille_heather
lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'll have a few days where i find myself losing weight easily, sticking to the right foods and exercising. But then il have one day where im just stuck at home doing nothing, and find myself eating terrible foods due to boredom. Any helpful tips on how to avoid this? :) xox

Replies

  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    I have this problem too. And it is a result of just what you said, boredom. Try to keep busy and active and then food won't be so on the brain.
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    Is there anything you think thats best to eat or drink during moments like that? or just to go out and do something?
  • Tahneeleiper
    Tahneeleiper Posts: 28
    I suffer the same problem... I suppose the right answer would be to snack on healthy food and exercise when you start to feel bored.

    But honestly I dont generally have time to exercise much and the wrong food is always the easiest to grab on the go...
  • Tahneeleiper
    Tahneeleiper Posts: 28
    Is there anything you think thats best to eat or drink during moments like that? or just to go out and do something?

    I think water is best to drink and things the like carrot sticks and small portions of fruit. You dont want to eat too much fruit as it contains natural sugars but they still count!!
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I have the same problem! Usually I try to go out and be active (if I'm not doing anything in the evening then I'll go to a class at the gym, for example), but sometimes you just want to relax. For those times, I usually keep low calorie snacks around - sliced veggies, fruit, or pop chips if I feel like munching on something and can spare the additional calories. Low calorie soup or broth is also a good option for those moments when I'm feeling peckish out of boredom but know that I'm not actually hungry.
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    Haha it so is always the easiest thing to grab onto! especially with being home from university this summer, my little brother and sister can pack away loads and loads of junk food so its always in the house! gotta hate temptation! haha
  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    This happens to me sometimes too, I make sure to drinks lots of water and to stay active. I try to get out of the house and walk the dog, or do yard work or clean the garage. That way I'm not going too far from the house as to where I'll eat out lol.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I have this problem too. When I find myself wandering into the kitchen out of sheer boredom, I make a point to pace the floor instead. Sometimes, I will go ahead and grab a stick of celery. I figure that I can eat all the celery that I could ever want. It helps.

    Mostly, you have to train yourself to be aware of the problem, then either find something like celery or lettuce leaves that you don't mind snacking on, or simply pace the floor or find something that needs to be cleaned. I am trying to take the advice that I give my kids: "Find something to do!"

    Good luck.
  • KellyUK1987
    KellyUK1987 Posts: 75
    When I'm bored, I put some music on and I'll do something like jogging on the spot / jump rope / jumping jacks in my front room :)
  • laurenleighlugo
    laurenleighlugo Posts: 21 Member
    Is there anything you think thats best to eat or drink during moments like that? or just to go out and do something?

    I think a lot of people have trouble with that. I know I do! Try drinking water, that usually helps fill me if I chug it. You can munch on foods like cucumbers or celery. Those can't really hurt.
    Hope I helped! :)
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    thanks hun :) defiantly helped :)
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Keep a giant bowl of sugar free jello in your fridge and enjoy to your hearts content.
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    haha never tried that before. will defiantly give that a shot!
  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
    I'll have a few days where i find myself losing weight easily, sticking to the right foods and exercising. But then il have one day where im just stuck at home doing nothing, and find myself eating terrible foods due to boredom. Any helpful tips on how to avoid this? :) xox

    Don't keep terrible foods in the house.

    That's my #1 reason for being careful with what I buy, so that I don't get tempted.
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    I completly stick to that when im living in my university home. but with being back at my parents over the summer whilst im not at uni and having two younger siblings that eat absolute junk and not put weight on means there is always junk food in the house! terrible temptation!!
  • thebrianmo
    thebrianmo Posts: 108
    A lot of avoiding boredom eating comes from will power and self control. Therefore it won't be easy. I used to do just that as part of my eating disorder, but I've learned that just because I'm bored doesn't mean I have to eat.
  • coreyoreyoreo
    coreyoreyoreo Posts: 23 Member
    I do this, a lot. I also just eat because stuff tastes good, but I'm not hungry. When you think about it, like "ooh, that ___ sounds so good right now." drink some water (more than just a sip), and think about whether you're hungry or not. More often than not, you'll figure out that you're just bored.

    When I'm home after work, I get pretty bored because there's no one fun home until I go pick up my boyfriend like 3 hours later. I normally forget to do "productive" things and just sit around on the computer and stuff, so I'll do a workout video, or go to the gym, or go for a walk/run. If I don't feel like working out or if I'm not feeling so hot that day, I'll get some stuff done that I really need to do like laundry, some cleaning, organizing, cooking. By the time I'm done, it's time to go pick up the BF. :)
  • cici1028
    cici1028 Posts: 799 Member
    Sugar free chocolate pudding is my little helper!! :) But it's tough. Try to avoid foods that you can endlessly snack on and if you do choose to snack, measure out the serving size in advance. No snacking from box/bag/pint. (Easier said than done, I do realize!) Or keep veggies and fruits around.
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    Yeah im usually always busy, but im one of those people that like to have just one day every so often to myself to unwind and relax. and its usually those days where i find i boredom eat! defiantly need to do something to keep myself busy and away from bad foods whilst im at my parents house over summer! sooner i get to my uni house then the sooner bad foods wont be in my kitchen! haha.
    yeah i think thats my problem sometimes, just eating out of the bag, measuring out my food will defiantly help! thankyou! :D
  • Goldenwoof
    Goldenwoof Posts: 535 Member
    Eating out of sheer boredom has always been one of my biggest downfalls. Nothing to do? Send out for a pizza! :)

    Lately, I've just made myself do something else. Anything. Doesn't matter what...just ANYTHING. Go outside and throw tennis balls for my dog. Better yet, take my dog for a walk. Play Wii (I loves me some Mario Kart). Study something online.

    But if I have to put something in my mouth, it's something healthy. Maybe an apple. Some low-fat yogurt. Celery. A mango. Holy crap, do I ever love mangoes. Popcorn. And water. Lots and lots of water. And more water.

    It's a mental thing. Just make yourself do something other than eat the next time you're bored, and afterward, you'll feel so good about the decision that it'll be even easier to do the next time and every time after that.

    Good luck! :)
  • JackShow70
    JackShow70 Posts: 49
    Just log into MFP and get distracted :)
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    yeah thats what ive got to get into my head! and the will power! haha. thankyou! :D
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    Is there anything you think thats best to eat or drink during moments like that? or just to go out and do something?

    lots of water
    nonfat yougurt
    trail mix, or any nuts
    a harb boiled egg
    fruit
    veggies
    100 cal snack packs (everything from cookies to chips.)
  • Robinsond61
    Robinsond61 Posts: 25
    I always seem to chug a glass of water, and brew up some coffee to drink - takes up some time and it satisfies me for some reason...may just be that I LOVE coffee. It's a better option than eating junk for sure.
  • lucille_heather
    lucille_heather Posts: 650 Member
    yeah im a MASSIVE coffee lover, and i do drink one or two cups of it in the afternoon between lunch and dinner to keep me happy, but its just those lazy days where i think ooo i fancy crisps or a biscuit right now. jsut need to get that out my head and replace it with water!
  • skylily4ever
    skylily4ever Posts: 28 Member
    I have this problem, because I am a stay at home mom and my daughter is constantly hungry, yet never gains a pound (jealous). But I've found that cleaning (especially not so appealing things like the bathroom) curbs my appetite, or working on stuff, I crochet like crazy to keep food out of my mouth.
  • jeanasumrall
    jeanasumrall Posts: 3
    Don't keep more food than you will eat in one week. It helps because there won't be as much to snack on and you won't want to have to go back to the grocery store so soon. What also helps me is instead of eating get something yummy to drink. Tea, Coffee, lime water, cucumber water, are all really tasty and have close to no calories. Actually today is my day off and I have a huge mug of coffee on my desk right here. Trust me, I understand. I have ADHD to like the infinity power. Sometimes I chew on a toothpick to keep my mouth busy.
  • twake14812
    twake14812 Posts: 11
    Just log into MFP and get distracted :)

    I do this same thing! I also look up other fitness info online. I also drink lots of water, and have recently started drinking some broth which is low in calories, but still satisfying. I still do have some boredom issues as well, but I always try to find something to do around the house, or just get online and try to keep my mind occupied on something else. Before I know it, an hour has flown by!
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Recognizing it is the first step so congrats to you on that! Most of us think emotional eating typically related to stress or being sad or lonely but technically boredom fits in the category as well.

    The first way to avoid this is to find something to do. Go for a walk, bike ride, hike, etc. If it's nasty out, go to the mall. Start up some music and dance around your room. Or less active things like reading, watching a movie, doing something crafty. Just be careful with TV because, I don't know about anyone else, but as much as I love those shows about food, if I'm in that boredom eating phase, they just make me want to eat even more.

    It stinks that you can't avoid the bad food! Find alternatives that are still yummy but won't mess with your calories too much. There's protein bars, low cal snack bars, sugar free/fat free pudding and jello, fruits like grapes and berries where you feel like you're getting a lot for little calories, veggies with hummus or a low fat dip, or even light popcorn.

    Oh, one more thing I've done before... if you REALLY want that ice cream or whatever, walk/bike/run there to burn the calories.
  • Ivana331
    Ivana331 Posts: 230
    I am a SAHM, so I had so many days like that before I started this. Now that I can see what I am putting in my body, I try to plan out my food the day before, then enter it all at breakfast time. I stick to my diary and don't let myself eat anything extra.

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