How do I keep from eating because I'm bored?!

sweetlyybroken
sweetlyybroken Posts: 209 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

How do you stop yourself from eating??
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Replies

  • melr01
    melr01 Posts: 70 Member
    I tend to do the same thing. I want to eat right now but instead I came on here to see what other people were talking about. I try to distract myself. I drink water or go for a walk or get on the phone with a friend. Anything to busy myself. I try to keep a 20 minute rule with food. If I'm still hungry, craving, etc after 20 minutes I ask myself again why I want food. Does my body need nutrition or am I just bored, emotional, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes I delay myself for hours and then give in.
  • Evilmuffin666
    Evilmuffin666 Posts: 132 Member
    I smoke. :laugh:
  • PilatesConvert
    PilatesConvert Posts: 55 Member
    I get bored when all I'm doing is sitting on my butt surfing the web or watching TV. I'm more inclined to eat out of boredom then.

    If the goal is to not get bored and eat, don't do things that are boring! Find a hobby! Get out of your house. Do something. Volunteer. Experience the world.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

    And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

    But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

    So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

    How do you stop yourself from eating??

    1. You cannot get "toned", but you can lose body fat to reveal the muscle underneath it.
    2. If you are bored, why not go outside and do some type of activity? yardwork? walk? run?
    3. If it is ridiculously hot outside, maybe find a project indoors? laundry? clean the house? read a book?
    4. Ultimately, it will be up to you to stop eating when you are bored

    ETA: My fault. You are 18 years old and probably don't want to put laundry or clean the house at the top of your list. :laugh:
    Anyhoo....find activities that you enjoy and go do them. :smile: enjoy the young life while you can :laugh:
  • ambermichk
    ambermichk Posts: 108 Member
    esp at night. I home from work, hungry... the house is quiet so I don't want to make a ton of noise (which is a joke and excuse) and I eat... and eat.... and eat..... I eat a lot because I am bored
  • Ce87girl
    Ce87girl Posts: 24 Member
    If I'm eating while bored and i catch myself I will stop and do something healthy (depending on my location). For example - just sitting on the couch, when i catch my gaze wandering to the kitchen, i'll drop and do 10 pushups, 10 sit ups, and/or some stretching and squats to get myself doing something, and it usually takes my mind off of it for the time being. If i'm at work I just take a walk - get up and move around.
  • misscristie
    misscristie Posts: 643 Member
    I clean something, create something or go to bed.
  • melmckay99
    melmckay99 Posts: 358
    I do this too. Sometime I will buy a pack of gum and spend the afternoon eating piece after peice until i've finished the whole pack. Gum is about 3 cals/piece X about 15 pieces per pack so I'm only consuming about 45 cals and keeps my mouth busy which keeps my mind off food cravings :)
  • LauraBalyk
    LauraBalyk Posts: 219 Member
    I play around on mfp on the success stories thread ! seeing peoples pictures and posts about their goals and their successes, make me distracted enough so I don't want to eat, but also makes me feel that the next thing I should eat is healthy lol
  • eazy_
    eazy_ Posts: 516 Member
    Big glass of water.
  • karaeb621
    karaeb621 Posts: 24 Member
    I drink water instead of eating. Most of time if you are feeling hungry it is just your body telling you it needs more fluids!
  • candylilacs
    candylilacs Posts: 614 Member
    Develop a hobby. Something that keeps your hands busy, such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, dollmaking, latch-hooking, scrapbooking, drawing, coloring, origami, or anything really. If you have something to do when you're bored, you don't always look for food.
  • SchroederNJ
    SchroederNJ Posts: 189 Member
    gum is actually a real good idea --- my struggle time is at home after dinner --- even after i workout, when on the couch watching mindless television, i tend to snack
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  • RobynLB83
    RobynLB83 Posts: 626 Member
    I tend to do the same thing. I want to eat right now but instead I came on here to see what other people were talking about. I try to distract myself. I drink water or go for a walk or get on the phone with a friend. Anything to busy myself. I try to keep a 20 minute rule with food. If I'm still hungry, craving, etc after 20 minutes I ask myself again why I want food. Does my body need nutrition or am I just bored, emotional, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes I delay myself for hours and then give in.

    I'm going to try that 20 minute rule. That sounds really thoughtful and practical. Thanks. I was about to grab something to munch on while I start my reading assignment. My rationale was that I worked out hard this morning, and I had a small lunch, so really it's just the rest of my lunch, but I don't think I'm even hungry. I'll start that reading and check back in 20 :)
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Gardening ,landscaping reading, farm work, arts and crafts, art courses, beadwork, sewing, gourd art websites, art fairs, music, exercise, cooking, there is SO much to do, I cannot see how it is even possible to be bored. Take classes, learn a new skill, take up a hobby, go to a concert, whatever.....
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Stop being bored. Go do something. Go for a walk, go to the gym, read, play vidyas, etc.
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    I smoke. :laugh:

    ^^me too
  • erindh87
    erindh87 Posts: 94
    I chew gum or brush my teeth. The minty taste helps kill cravings for me. I also drink a lot of water.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

    And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

    But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

    So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

    How do you stop yourself from eating??

    Drink water or...





    Don't become bored.
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    I play video games. Keeps my hands busy and my mind off eating.
  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    Go outside. It helps.
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    I'm a nightmare for eating when I'm bored.....I stand there eating out the cereal box......constantly

    My body isn't even hungry, and I do it all the time....I am sure I would drop a few lbs just by cutting this out
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    I get bored. Especially in the summer. A lot.

    And it makes me want to eat. Because I love eating.

    But I want to lose weight. And get toned.

    So. If you guys feel/have felt the same way.

    How do you stop yourself from eating??

    You are probably hungry?

    You seem to put in a lot of exercise cals in your diary, but do not eat enough?

    If you want to lose weight and get toned then eat more and carry on with the exercise x
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    How about.. go do something..

    there's this great big playground just waiting for you..

    its' called.. outside.. go for a walk!

    When I was young I had 1 toy to play with..it was called "outside" eveything I did revolved around this

    Get a hobby.. i used to make jewelry when I had a lot of free time.. I even sold it.
    Take up a sport
    start reading
    take a class (there are free ones! i'm in a few now!)
    Get a second job..
    Go hiking or biking
    Volunteer somewhere
  • benno1978
    benno1978 Posts: 90 Member
    first of all as others have said are you eating enough? calculate your TDEE and eat to that (eat clean though) try eating more protein and good fats (like oily fish) these can help you feel full

    And make sure you're getting enough water at least 2 litres a day

    If you're still reaching for the snacks something else is going on. I'm terrible for snacking when bored try going for a walk or busting out some press-ups etc to take your mind off it plus if you do 'crack' at least you've earnt some of those calories

    Finally you've got to ask yourself what do you want more this snack or to reach your goals? I try and ask myself this every time I'm tempted - sometimes the snack wins lol

    but basically you have can results or excuses pick one #toughlove
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    get off your *kitten* and do something...then you won't be bored.
  • pghtrader
    pghtrader Posts: 44 Member
    In case you didn't pick up on the recurring theme, what you are hearing is an undertone of jealousy from people that have left the school environment years ago and are knee deep in the responsibilities of their world.

    I quickly found that marriage, children, work, and ongoing maintenance on our home has pretty much eliminated any chance of boredom showing it's pleasant face around me ;)

    So, don't take peoples' comments about getting off your rear too seriously. I'd recommend that you enjoy your time and try out whatever that strikes you as fun (assuming it is healthy and safe, of course.)

    Maybe think about what kind of clubs you might want to try in college: drama, singing, instrumental chamber ensemble, sports, chess club (ok, probably not the chess club, but you get the idea) and get a head start. Take some online classes. Search youtube.

    If none of those are interesting, maybe find something a little different like learning Mandarin, Japanese, Russian, Latin, or sign language.

    Still not enough to occupy your mind? Volunteer at a local charity. Learn how the stock market works and open a demo account. Learn to draw or paint or both. Write your first novella.

    Ok, I'll stop now. I'm as envious as everyone else. Many of those are things that I would love to do if I had the time or are things that I have done and really enjoyed.

    Anyway good luck and stay busy!
  • DanielleJoy129
    DanielleJoy129 Posts: 46
    In case you didn't pick up on the recurring theme, what you are hearing is an undertone of jealousy from people that have left the school environment years ago and are knee deep in the responsibilities of their world.

    I quickly found that marriage, children, work, and ongoing maintenance on our home has pretty much eliminated any chance of boredom showing it's pleasant face around me ;)

    So, don't take peoples' comments about getting off your rear too seriously. I'd recommend that you enjoy your time and try out whatever that strikes you as fun (assuming it is healthy and safe, of course.)

    Maybe think about what kind of clubs you might want to try in college: drama, singing, instrumental chamber ensemble, sports, chess club (ok, probably not the chess club, but you get the idea) and get a head start. Take some online classes. Search youtube.

    If none of those are interesting, maybe find something a little different like learning Mandarin, Japanese, Russian, Latin, or sign language.

    Still not enough to occupy your mind? Volunteer at a local charity. Learn how the stock market works and open a demo account. Learn to draw or paint or both. Write your first novella.

    Ok, I'll stop now. I'm as envious as everyone else. Many of those are things that I would love to do if I had the time or are things that I have done and really enjoyed.

    Anyway good luck and stay busy!

    ^^this!
    Thanks for this post.
  • NanaWubbie
    NanaWubbie Posts: 248 Member
    Set some goals and work towards them! Boredom is an excuse, and not a good one. Go to Active.com and find a 5K 3 months from now...and start working to be able to complete it.

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