How to stop boredom eating?!

91lovehandles
91lovehandles Posts: 15
in Food and Nutrition
I have been eating great all day and exercising. Then at night around 9-10 , I tend to get bored and want to snack. I've tried brushing my teeth, gargling with mouthwash. But I still lay there and think about food! It's ridiculous!

Any suggestions??

Replies

  • mrydavis
    mrydavis Posts: 32 Member
    Do something! Or allow yourself some calories for a light snack (air-popped popcorn, a glass of milk, etc)
  • SarahSmilesCA
    SarahSmilesCA Posts: 261 Member
    This is going to sound funny but I am fasting TV shows right now. The commercials were killing me, and so was the inactivity. Can you go to the gym in the evening and do some swimming, suana, and/or a yoga class...anything to get you moving and not thinking about food...even some reading or music...call a friend and have them talk to you until you get tired. Volunteer at a shelter...just do something, just don't watch TV...lol it adds pounds by the minute ;)

    I take a protein shake at about 9 pm with a tablespoon of MCT. It cuts off my hunger...you might want to try it. Be sure you have eaten enough through out the day, especially in protein.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    i love eating at night, and don't think as much about food during the day, so, I eat less during the day and leave more calories for a larger dinner and night time snacking. I also make sure that my dinner has a good amount of protein and fats, so I feel satisfied.
  • SarahSmilesCA
    SarahSmilesCA Posts: 261 Member
    i love eating at night, and don't think as much about food during the day, so, I eat less during the day and leave more calories for a larger dinner and night time snacking. I also make sure that my dinner has a good amount of protein and fats, so I feel satisfied.

    Yes this exactly....This is why I do 16/8 Intermittent Fasting to help with late night time eating.

    Eating enough protein and fat during the day and evening is critical to not over eating at late night. And research is showing us that timing on food is not as critical as calorie intake and macro-nutrient balancing....
  • lisahewitt22
    lisahewitt22 Posts: 102
    Distract yourself, drink some water, tea maybe, glass of milk, chewing gum always helps me when I get really bored/hungry.
  • 91lovehandles
    91lovehandles Posts: 15
    I think I'm lacking enough protein in my meals.

    I'm more active during the day, walk 2-4 miles a day. I don't feel comfortable being out doors walking that late at night.

    Thanks for the gum tip! I haven't given that a try.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Obligatory questions for this problem: what is your daily calorie limit? How did you determine it? Have you considered whether or not it is too low? Are you eating back your exercise calories (or are you working from a TDEE-based calorie limit)?
  • SteelySunshine
    SteelySunshine Posts: 1,092 Member
    It's really really hard to over eat veggies.
  • 91lovehandles
    91lovehandles Posts: 15
    Well to shamefully to say up until a week ago I was consuming anywhere from 2,500-3,000 calories. So when I started dieting last week I set my calorie limit @ 1,800 . I used an app and entered all my body/health information and it came up with 1,800 calories.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    If it's really boredom, then just find something interesting to do to occupy your mind. Watch a film, read a book, start a new hobby. There are an infinite number of things you could do to occupy your time. It might be more that it's habit though, especially as you seem to have only just started.

    Like others, I found that I really just prefer eating more later on in the day, so I eat lighter in the morning/lunchtime and save most of my calories for dinner and evening snacks. I usually go to bed right after eating some chocolate.
  • WhosThirsty
    WhosThirsty Posts: 28 Member
    I've got a pretty good set-up going. I bring my breakfast, lunch, and dinner to work. Also have a gym here at my job, so i work out after getting off, shower, then eat my dinner in the work center. So I buy ALL my groceries for one week, take out two days worth and leave them at home, and then bring the rest to the office. (No, nobody eats my food...it's too healthy! lol)

    I started eating dinner AT work so I could have a concrete rule: No eating after I leave the workplace. It works pretty well most of the time.

    However, those last 3-4 hours at home before I go to bed are tough sometime to not want to snack.

    When that happens, I look at my daily caloric count, tell myself, "mind over matter. you have enough nutrients to survive the night. drink some water."

    If I get REALLY hungry, I'll CHUG water, 20-40oz. Then my stomach is full and I don't want to eat.
  • 91lovehandles
    91lovehandles Posts: 15
    I've been drinking close to 2 liters of water a day.

    Tonight I think I'll drinking a good amount when I start to feel hungry and I'm going to try the gum chewing!
  • Mainebikerchick
    Mainebikerchick Posts: 1,573 Member
    Find something interesting to read? Or at that time of night, brush you teeth and go straight to bed! Then you can get up early in the morning and get a good workout in!
  • rotill
    rotill Posts: 244 Member
    I play video games ;-) Keeps my hands occupied so I can't keep stuffing my face, and I don't get bored.

    If I watch television, I knit. Same thing.

    But I do snack a little, mostly on fruit. I log it, and keep it as part of the plan of the day.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Find something interesting to read? Or at that time of night, brush you teeth and go straight to bed! Then you can get up early in the morning and get a good workout in!

    Indeed...and more sleep has all kinds of benefits, many of them relevant to weight loss/overall health.

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