Does anyone know how to watch TV without eating?

Someone mentioned taking a sip of water every time you felt the need to reach for food when watching TV. Since you're not really hungry, you shouldn't eat. Can't go wrong with drinking water.

If I'm sitting down to a movie or a marathon netflix with my husband its green tea and air popped pop corn...you can eat a large bowl for little calories and it keeps me full and satisfied. Sometimes it fills me up so much I'm done eating for the evening. My new favorite topping is sprinkle on smoked paprika YUM with a little pam butter spray.

I know this may not sound very helpful, but you are in control, not someone else.

Really it comes down to this. ^

Eating too much or snacking too much has never been my problem (mine was more of an eating high cal unhealthy crap problem) but I was a 3 pack a day smoker way back in my 20's, so I do understand the problem. I did a few things when I quit smoking that I think helped a lot. I quit cold turkey and never went back.

1. I told myself that I wouldn't accept any of my own BS excuses.. no matter what. There's no "just a little" or "just this once" in quitting smoking, so I prepared myself to be strict.

2. I avoided my smoking triggers if I could (like booze and other smokers ...and after dinner TV watching!) for a few months.

3. I replaced the physical habit with something less damaging. I got into sculpting which kept my hands busy. And when I couldn't avoid the triggers or keep my hands busy (like while driving) I would hold a pen like a cigarette. I also chewed a HELLUVALOTTA gum! Smoking, much like snacking, is a large percentage habit, not need for nicotine (or food).

4. I visualized the bad stuff that happened when I took a drag of a cigarette; the smoke filling my lungs, caking up the walls with tar, burning holes straight through. I have a pretty good imagination, so this looked super gory in my head.

I think all of these can translate to snacking.

#1 and #4 were just mind tricks, while #2 and #3 were things I could actively DO to help stay on track. I liked having both bases covered.

In the end though, it's just a choice you're making every day.

I see we are in the same school of thought Gummy. I stopped smoking the same way and have solved a lot of my "unsolvable" problems by no longer accepting any form of rationalizing a momentary weakness. Accept it for what it is, your primitive brain trying to trick the conscious part into doing something for short term pleasure. After a while, that part stops trying to tempt you into "bad" behaviors !

No eating in the living room.
At the table in the kitchen only.
A hangover from bringing up the kids!

Try drinking tea.

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

Would have been my exact reply, if only I got here sooner.

If you're having a hard time breaking the habit, try air-popped popcorn or a low-cal popcorn like Boom Chicka Pop. You could also try pretzels, a handful of roasted almonds, ants-on-alog, or a sliced up apple. Check out the recipe for Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix at cookinglight.com. I frequently eat that while watching TV.

I don't watch much TV because I feel like most of what's on is garbage. My husband watches a lot of TV though, and I find that when the TV is on, I zone out.....I usually spend some time on MFP updating my food/exercise for the day, clean up my emails and then I either read or do needlework or crosswords. If my hands and mind are busy with something, they don't have much time for food.

The other thing that I think helps is not to watch TV while I eat dinner. We sit down at the table, as a family, and talk to each other. I realize that not everyone does this because of schedules but it has helped me a lot.

And once some of this insane snow and ice is gone, I will be outside walking, which I am really starting to miss (I never thought I would hear myself say that!)

Nope! This is why I play on the internet instead of watch tv. Keyboard & mouse keep my fingers busy and my mind is more engaged.
15 minutes in front of the damned box and I am reaching for food!
TV is also one of the reasons most of my training is done after work. Keeps me off the sofa and away from the clicker!