Help! I eat when I'm bored.

I have the same problem.

My only solution has been not having any type of junk in the area and available for consumption. Keep nuts on hand. Etc.

I'd be interested to know other opinions as well.

I think EVERYONE eats when they are bored! I usually just look at a picture of someone that I wanna look like, and it totally changes my mind frame! Or just drink some water!

Drink a glass of water. Sometimes that fills me up so much that the idea of food hurts my stomach.

ask your self if your truely hungry, say your goal weight out loud to yourself, remind yourself that your strong and can do this!

or snack on something healthy, frozen grapes are awesome because theyre tastey and it takes a while to eat one!

or keep busy! : paint your nails, clean your sock drawer, vaccume your car, go for a walk, play an instrument, angry birds!

Stay busy. Force yourself to fill your weekend with activity. Totally clean every crevice of your house, go rock climbing, buy a bike, walk around the mall for a few hours, find a hobby. If all you do is sit in front of the TV all weekend then of course you're going to want to eat constantly. You have to stay busy.

School cannot be the only thing you have going on in your life? Get out, go for a walk, earn those exercise calories! Boredom should not be an option, squeeze in some exercise!

I always have a bottle of water next to me...I'm more likely to reach for that then go snack. But I am terrible for eating when I'm bored. especially after dinner.

I use to do that and now when i am bored i drink water. I put in crystal light or mio and drink. I bought a 24 oz tumbler and drink 2 of those. If i am still bored i will go for a wal o do housework or do whatever i need todo to getmy mind of of it. I am truly hungry thani will eat something healthy and and i quit buying junk food so i am only tempted with healthy things

Exercise can curb your hunger, stop boredom and burn calories. Work out for 30 minutes when you want to go look in the fridge.

I have been trying to overcome this. Some days are good and some days are not so good. I'm a mom and Goldfish crackers are my vice. lol. Anyway I have been trying the following. Water first. If that doesn't work I go do push ups or sit ups or cleaning. But the best distraction I have found is getting outside. Go for a walk around the block, pick up sticks in the yard etc.. Just deciding to do something else seems to help.
I also jump on MFP and look at the success stories that is a great motivater and keeps me away from the bad snacks. Good Luck!

There are some great suggestions! I am a picker too!

I have read that chewing mint gum or brushing your teeth can help. Brushing sometimes helps me.

I also don't keep junk food in the house. If it's not there you can't eat it. Look into some low-cal alternatives that you like, such as fruit and veggies.

Good Luck!

You have some great ideas here. I'm a recovered bored eater, and I do all of the above. You can do it! :happy:

I have the same issue. Here is what I found works for me:

Pack away your baking supplies. Make it clear to yourself that these are for baking, and not snacking. (I love to snack on nuts, chocolate chips, dates etc... And by snack, I mean the equivalent of a full meal)

I have bins of cut up vegetables, washed fruit, ready to use beans etc on hand and packed up in separate containers in case I want to make a quick meal.

Most importantly, I have different prepared meals that I've made on the weekend in different containers. I find when I am starving, I'll just go straight to the fridge and don't feel like cooking anything new. That way, I can just plop a serving on a plate, microwave it, and voila.

Cut up peppers, pre washed and cut carrots and hummus are a great snack to have on hand. I'll snack on those while I'm cooking if I'm super hungry.

Another tip, put treats in the freezer. I'll make energy date bars, protein bars, healthy cookies or muffins and then throw them in a container and stick them in the freezer. That way if I want one, I'll eat JUST ONE because I have to take it out of the freezer and defrost it before I can eat it. This is also great for chocolate. Somehow frozen chocolate just lasts a million times longer

EDIT: I just realized I misread your post. I eat carrots to curb random hunger, you get full fast. Either that, or go for a refreshing walk. It always gets my mind off of food!

I realized over the weekend that I eat when I’m bored. During the week, when I am at work and school, I eat better than I do on the weekends. It makes perfect sense: during the week, I am too busy to snack between meals, and at home on the weekend, I am surrounded by food in the kitchen and it seems as though nothing I do at home can distract me away from it.

So, the point of this post: what do all you MFP-ers recommend to take my mind off of non-stop eating when I am at home? How can I overcome eating out of boredom?

I too have a tendency to do this...so I find things to do OUTSIDE; take a walk, go for a bike ride, go inline skating, work in the garden, sit out on the back porch and read (it's further from the kitchen), go talk to a neighbor, ....find an activity. I have found that I am less inclined to eat when I'm bored when I am doing an activity and staying busy, even if that is cleaning a closet, cleaning the kitchen, preparing my meals for the week, cleaning the bathroom, whatever it is....find a craft or hobby if you don't like any of the other suggestions.