What do you do when you put down the food?

persistent33
persistent33 Posts: 43
in Motivation and Support
Im a 49yr old stay at home mom that has no interests or hobbies. I've tried knitting, go to a bible study once a week, go to a lot of movies, but have no passions. I feel empty and unfulfilled, which makes me want to eat to fill up the time and the emptiness.

I am 10lbs from fitting in my clothes, which means I'm in workout clothes or sweats all the time and try and avoid any type of social event.

I am a compulsive over eater so I think about food a lot. I feel like I am holding my breath and then I exhale and binge on nuts.

What did you do to fill up the time and yourself when you put down the food??

Replies

  • oddyogi
    oddyogi Posts: 1,816 Member
    Read, exercise, sleep, blog, plan finances, do schoolwork, workout, or get hooked on a new TV series on Hulu or Netflix. :-)
  • fallenoaks
    fallenoaks Posts: 19
    Read
    Run
    Volunteer work

    Perhaps a Job would help, assuming the kids are in school part of the time of course. I don't need to work financially, but I do. It's where I get purpose and satisfaction from accomplishing something.
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
    Play guitar, surf the Internet, watch TV series, go for hikes, yoga, workout, volunteer at the hospital, work 2 jobs, do homework.

    Maybe you should try some workout classes like Zumba? Get you out of the house, and maybe find a new passion? :)
  • ashlbubba
    ashlbubba Posts: 224 Member
    I started taking music (harp) lessons..it keeps my mind challenged!!!
  • raneylfrick
    raneylfrick Posts: 380 Member
    I don't know about where you are, but here we always have some kind of free class going on up at the hospital. There are also lists in the paper daily about different things going on in our valley...you should check out something like that!
  • Roboartist
    Roboartist Posts: 99
    Read from cookbooks to literature, fiction and nonfiction

    Volunteer, I teach art classes and work with advanced and at risk readers at local schools.

    Drawing, every day I draw.

    Dog training. Classes with my youngest pooch. Cannot recommend having a companion animal enough- and taking classes is fun!

    Play Wii with my kids. Watch their gymnastics classes two nights a week.

    I like trying all sorts of stuff. I tried a ballroom dance class with my husband and we both hated it.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Lots of internet! Play on pinterest. I go to my happy land perfume site. I close the kitchen as soon as dinner is done. Lights off and not allowed to go in there anymore. Avoid food porn as I like to call it so that means no cooking channels or recipe sites. I do play on MFP a lot! Change your focus it might not be a hobby but maybe its rearraging the bathroom cupboards or giving yourself a home makeover complete w/ pedicure.
  • aross001
    aross001 Posts: 237
    Same as I did before, I suppose. Come to think of it, I haven't really decided on "replacement behaviors" or what have you to keep from eating when I'm not hungry/don't want the calories.

    I have weak moments, so perhaps I should find something....

    edited to add that I play a crap ton of games.. but I suppose that isn't entirely positive
  • AdamFaris
    AdamFaris Posts: 10
    I've got kids, so they have lots of ways to fill my time. But for you I might suggest going for a walk. If the weather isn't friendly, go for a mall walk. Then you aren't having to convince yourself to do heavy exercise AND you get the benefit of swapping positive net calories for negative. It won't just happen though. You have to overcome inertia to start that habit.

    I don't undersell the difficulty at all. Just saying that you are going to have to make a conscious decision to make this change. I promise it will feel good once you make the choice though!
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    Wow, spare time is a luxury that I dont have these days. I know what you mean though, I m naturally a bored eater. Scanning the cupboards and fridge (and then inhaling what you find) is certainly a way to pass the time...

    These days I'm lucky if I get an hour of 'me' time once work is finished, the kids are in bed, house tidy etc etc... so it's not really an issue.

    Unfortunately no-one can tell you what to do, we don't really know who you are or what you like. I find having an excuse to get out of the house worked well though, even getting out into the garden or dragging myself up to go for a walk/jog. You remove yourself from the food, and you feel better for getting some activity in (and in my case less likely to want to eat crap when I'm done). If you find this happening at regular times, say a particular day/time that you have a lot of free time, schedule something regular in to avoid the temptation.

    Over time the compulsive boredom induced eating compulsions will lessen.
  • persistent33
    persistent33 Posts: 43
    I don't know about where you are, but here we always have some kind of free class going on up at the hospital. There are also lists in the paper daily about different things going on in our valley...you should check out something like that!
  • Emtabo01
    Emtabo01 Posts: 672
    MFP forums, search Internet for healthy recipes to try, lifting weights.....and stop keeping things in your house that trigger binges.
  • persistent33
    persistent33 Posts: 43
    What kind of classes at the hospital?

    Also someone mentioned they have a job, but they don't have to but it gives them purpose.
    What kind of job?
    I turn into a taxi around 2.

    I workout at home in the am alternating kettle bell DVDs and treadmill or neighborhood hills.
    I used to go to he gym and spin, but got burned out after 9 years of that.

    Workouts are only an hour, and it is definitely not my passion.
  • persistent33
    persistent33 Posts: 43
    I don't know how to directly reply to someone's post, which is why you see the quote by itself. :)
  • NRSPAM
    NRSPAM Posts: 961 Member
    Try zumba!!! I love it, and definately have a passion for it! Also, to reply to a post, quote the post, and then type underneath that post, then hit reply. :smile:
  • NerdyTXChick
    NerdyTXChick Posts: 155 Member
    I struggle with compulsive over eating as well, and I think you're right that finding something to keep busy is the best way to fight it. My toughest time is in the evenings after work. So far I work puzzles, do my nails, read, and plan out my meals for the next day (as well as cook them). I'd like to start doing something that will give me a creative outlet though, maybe jewelry making or painting, but I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to starting something new.
  • RawTriGal
    RawTriGal Posts: 190 Member
    If there were nothing holding you back, not your weight, not obligations or responsibilities, not money... what would you do? what brings you joy? listen to your heart and not what you think others think you should be doing...

    for me, depending on time and mood I like creating art (mixed media), riding my bike, reading, playing with my pupster Baxter, walking, taking classes, teaching workshops, just to name a few.

    hoping that you find some things that fill you with joy!
  • JUDDDing
    JUDDDing Posts: 1,367 Member
    Take a college class. Maybe something outside your normal life - like paper-making (art), glass blowing, welding, computers or something. I'd imagine there is a community college close that has interesting and affordable classes during the mid-morning. If you don't want to deal with exams, etc - usually you can audit for a discount.

    You could also volunteer your time in a thousand different ways.

    You're way too young for knitting and bible study being the highlight of your life. :)
  • NerdyTXChick
    NerdyTXChick Posts: 155 Member
    I also had a problem with bingeing on nuts, and one thing that has helped me is to buy the unsalted kind. I take one serving to work in my lunch, and eat them for an afternoon snack. I don't like them as much unsalted, but at work when that's the only thing I have to eat, they seem to taste a lot better. But I don't get the urge to snack on them when I'm at home.

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