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    Does anyone know how to watch TV without eating?

    Posts: 497
    in Motivation and Support
    I realize that question sounds ridiculous, but I really do have a problem watching a TV show (or going to a movie) without munching my way through it.

    Even worse, unless I'm working, I tend to want to eat whenever I even sit down!

    I know I'm not the only one. Have any of you had this problem in the past and found a solution?

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    • Posts: 1,301 Member
      That's easy, don't watch TV, problem solved. Go for a walk, or to the gym, besides, there's not much worth watching on TV anyway, except The Walking Dead.

      Rigger
    • Posts: 126 Member
      I normally watch tv when I eat dinner...........Otherwise a lot of my television time comes when I am doing some cardio on a machine. Kind of hard to eat when I'm huffing and puffing.
    • Posts: 4,698 Member
      Eat only at a table to dissociate sitting down and watching TV with eating. If you want a snack, switch off the TV, sit at a table and eat it. That'll soon make it seem like too much trouble!
    • Posts: 664 Member
      Find something else to do with your hands. I started addressing and stuffing some envelopes for my sister's real estate business in my free time, and I found that it drastically decreased my snacking. I would do it while watching tv and the snack food stayed in the box. You could learn to knit or crochet. Or do sudoku. Whatever.
    • Posts: 531 Member
      Me!! If I know I'm going to have some time to veg in front of the TV, I leave myself some calories to do so. I enjoy munching while I watch TV, so I make sure I work it into the day. The only show I don't eat while watching is The Biggest Loser. :wink: :wink:
    • Posts: 1,023 Member
      I know how you feel, I am a serial TV snacker. But for that reason I only watch maybe 2 hours of TV a day, and one of those I do while on the treadmill. For the other hour I sit down and eat dinner so problem solved. :) If you absolutely must snack, have something light like grapes, carrots with hummus, or no butter popcorn.
    • Posts: 442
      Start switching a beverage, no cal, for your nibbles.
    • Posts: 25 Member
      I only watch tv while I'm on the elliptical at the gym. I watch Netflix on my Kindle.
    • Posts: 15,694 Member
      I realize that question sounds ridiculous, but I really do have a problem watching a TV show (or going to a movie) without munching my way through it.

      Even worse, unless I'm working, I tend to want to eat whenever I even sit down!

      I know I'm not the only one. Have any of you had this problem in the past and found a solution?

      Save some calories for tv time. Find lower calorie snacks to munch on. Air popped pop corn, rice cakes, popchips, raw veggies & hummus, pretzels, fruit, etc.

      I personally like to have a nice snack when I sit down to watch tv at night. So, I save 200-300 calories for that each day.
    • Posts: 1,089 Member
      This is going to be totally mind blowing : )

      Don't. Watch. TV.
    • Posts: 1,269 Member
      You just need to retrain yourself to enjoy it without the food. Like anything new, it will feel odd at first, but then it becomes normal.

      I'm a huge movie popcorn girl... Most of the time I just get it an enjoy it, but there are times that I've tried moderation. Totally didn't work for me... I did however find that I can go to the movies and not buy popcorn and I'm fine. I just can't buy it and think I'm not going to pig out...
    • Posts: 1,013 Member
      Knitting, obvs.
    • Posts: 1,100 Member
      This is going to be totally mind blowing : )

      Don't. Watch. TV.

      I don't watch much tv and never eat when I am.

      I do allow for popcorn when I go to the movies. I have to have it!
    • Posts: 608 Member
      What helps me is a mug of tea or a coffee when I see a movie :) Something very low carb that will take a while to finish :)
      Or eat dinner beforehand so you're full.
    • Posts: 6,630 Member
      Pop a piece of peppermint chewing gum in your mouth before you sit down to watch T.V. and/or brush your teeth. Find something else to keep your hands busy. Eat something healthy and filling before you sit down to watch so that you are full. Put on gloves so that you "can't" eat. Before long, it will become a habit NOT to eat.
    • Posts: 10,740 Member
      While I don't actually have diagnosed OCD I have a lot of OCD type habits and behaviors and it is kind of icky to me to eat anywhere other than at a table. So this is not an issue for me. Perhaps others could make it a "rule" that they eat only at the table to avoid TV snacking? Then again I don't really watch TV either!
    • Posts: 7,436 Member
      It's a bad habit,

      Apparently, it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. So you need to set yourself a 21 day goal (or a 1 month goal, to be sure) to not eat while watching TV or going to the movies or at any other time. Find a way to reward yourself for every day that you comply and have 1 week targets if you like... do whatever it takes to stay on track for 21 days (or 1 month) and by the end of that time, you should have trained yourself in a new habit and it should be easier to stick to after that.
    • Posts: 431 Member
      I've heard it helps to find something else to do with your hands, like knitting. If it's really an issue, think of something you can do...might even be taking care of a chore like shinning your shoes, folding laundry...whatever.

      Personally, I allow myself a healthy snack and carefully measure out just one serving into a bowl. I usually go for premade light popcorn (skinny pop is my favorite at 155 calories for 4 cups). I eat it one kernel at a time so it takes longer and also take the opportunity to drink lots of water, which helps fill you up plus meet your water quota for the day. String cheese is another good snack for me, again because I can take a long time to eat it.
    • Posts: 2,530 Member
      I realize that question sounds ridiculous, but I really do have a problem watching a TV show (or going to a movie) without munching my way through it.

      Even worse, unless I'm working, I tend to want to eat whenever I even sit down!

      I know I'm not the only one. Have any of you had this problem in the past and found a solution?

      Have a 24 ounce glass of "PLAIN" water at hand. Every time you think about eating, take a sip of the water. Just lifting the glass of water should burn a few calories.
    • Posts: 938 Member
      I recently got an iPad so if I really want to watch something, I watch it on the treadmill on my iPad on Netflix, HBOGo, etc.
      Otherwise, I really stopped watching TV because of it. And started going to bed early.
    • Posts: 829 Member
      That's easy, don't watch TV, problem solved. Go for a walk, or to the gym, besides, there's not much worth watching on TV anyway, except The Walking Dead.

      Rigger

      VEroLcp.jpg

      Seriously, when you sit in front of the TV and eat, do you do it mindlessly? If so, maybe doing something else with your hands will help. I usually have some knitting, crocheting, sewing or beading handy in a bag. I start doing that while I'm watching TV. That way, my hands are busy and I can't eat.

      There are drawbacks, though. Eventually your family will have all the afghans and sweaters they need (LOL)! If the crafting thing doesn't interest you, what about keeping some light weights near? You can watch TV and tone at the same time. After a while, your muscles will be too tired to lift the food to your mouth! :laugh:
    • Posts: 207 Member
      Knit. It actually works really well. Also, as some have said, I put my elliptical in front of my TV, so most of the time I make myself get on it to watch TV.
    • Posts: 158 Member
      Get a treadmill or something, and work out while you watch TV. You could try sipping water, hot tea, hot chocolate, sparkling water, or something while you watch; or eat carrots sticks, celery, broccoli; or chew gum.
    • Posts: 55 Member
      I know this may not sound very helpful, but you are in control, not someone else.

      Don't eat while watching TV, plain and simple. As someone else pointed out, take TV away from the food equation. If you need to eat, do so at the table, then return to watching TV after.
    • Posts: 16,947 Member
      I don't watch TV in the kitchen.


      Also - I found other things to keep my hands busy, like crafts or sketching. Sometimes, I just don't even bother with the tv.
    • Posts: 1,953 Member
      I knit and crochet so I'll often do that while watching TV. I will admit, I also like to color. I get the more "grown up" coloring books at the craft store and color or doodle while watching TV. Or I'll just put my laptop on my lap and mess around online while watching. I can't just sit and watch TV for some reason. I can't even sit through a church service, I have to doodle the entire time. My husband laughs at me for doodling possible tattoo designs (I'll get one someday!) while I'm sitting in church.
    • Posts: 12 Member
      I am the same way. My hands need something to do, so have have taken to doing cross stitching or knitting. Something to keep them busy and my mind off food because if my hands and mind are focused on something constructive then it gets in the way of eating. LOL I know it sound silly coming from a 26 year old...cross stitching and knitting what are you 80?
    • Posts: 6,998 Member
      That's easy, don't watch TV, problem solved. Go for a walk, or to the gym, besides, there's not much worth watching on TV anyway, except The Walking Dead.

      Rigger

      Just watch The Walking Dead exclusively. Watching people get torn apart tends to suppress my appetite.
    • Posts: 14,517 Member
      Find something else to do with your hands. I started addressing and stuffing some envelopes for my sister's real estate business in my free time, and I found that it drastically decreased my snacking. I would do it while watching tv and the snack food stayed in the box. You could learn to knit or crochet. Or do sudoku. Whatever.

      This!^

      Sounds goofy but I play solitaire on my Kindle.....anything to keep your hands busy will work. I used to snack too.....those darn commercials!
    • Posts: 39 Member
      I found that eating dinner later helps me with my night munchies. Because I now workout right when I get home, I start dinner at 6 and we eat at 7. My munchies come on around 9:00 and I save 150-200 calories for some Chick a boom popcorn (3 cups is 90 cal) or a 1/2 c ice cream. I also do a sweet hot chai tea, but in the summertime I like Ice cream. I also love to do needlpoint and knit, but a true muncher knows you will find a way to eat even doing those things. Basically I just allow for it so no guilt. no nothing...its just a planned snack.

      Before MFP I would eat ALOT at night, as in a whole peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I am so much more in control now with my night eating.

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