bad habbit I need help with

_Jessica_ · January 2011

Hello all my fellow chubby bunnies! ( this is what I call myself.) I have this bad habbit of eating when i am bored. I am not hungry but I still go looking for something to eat. I try to snack healthy but still find myself snacking before and after I work out. I dont' know how to curb this. Can anyone give me some suggestions?

youngmum · January 2011

I do the same thing! I find I am best if the snacks available are healthy ones, like fruit, nuts, veges, rather than being in a house filled with snacks such as chips, chocolate and those kinds of things. If they are there I want to eat them and probably will eat them.

cheshirequeen · January 2011

i get a blow pop. you have the sucker for awhile and then the gum after that.

T0RIEELIZABETH · January 2011

I'm kindof new to this and I have the same problem, but I know after I have a hard workout I LOVE having a smoothie. I use fat free yogurt, fresh fruit, and soy milk.

maybe finding something to keep your hands busy, or sometimes I chew a piece of gum to keep my mouth busy.

TedTorres · January 2011

Yep, I do it too. Try drinking a glass of water. Or even add a tablespoon of maple syrup to a glass of water.

sjd2010 · January 2011

I have serious problems with this issue.:sad: I chew a lot of gum, but even that gets tiring. I don't have any other answers besides drinking a lot of water to make myself so full I don't want anything.:noway: Good luck on your journey.:drinker:

themommie · January 2011

chewing a piece of gum. having a sucker or something that you can munch on for awhile without many calories like popcorn, mini rice cakes, pretzels, carrots or apples helps.

Vicki_78 · January 2011

drink water, try flavored water or chew gum.... if that doesn't work look for health snacks like fruit. or use that time & get busy - work out, clean. good luck!!

FoamyRiver · January 2011

I have this habit as well, although it isn't as extreme as it used to be. Try calling a friend, logging on to MFP and looking around or journaling something, read a couple pages of a book or an article in a magazine, see what all your friends on FB are up to, do some jumping jacks or sit-ups, or drink a glass of water. Basically anything to get your mind off eating something.

Good luck to you!

kbefit · January 2011

I take a long hot bath. Usually I'm so relaxed afterward that I'm not hungry.

mvellis · January 2011

Take a walk instead; you'll burn calories instead of putting on more. Usually 10 minutes of activity (bring water with you) will take away the craving and the water will change your blood sugar. Eat celery sticks or carrot sticks--something low in calories and something to crunch--no processed food to put on empty calories. Appetite is driven by dropped sugar levels, so give your body something good.

Laney25 · January 2011

I have trouble with that, too. I recently started planning my meals and snacks out ahead of time and preparing everything the night before. Its working so far. I also stop eating at around 7 or 8 at night, and chewing gum or taking my dog for a walk also helps.

tassles · January 2011

I have always been the same.... what sometimes helps me is having a glass of diet drink or a skim cappuccino....it tricks my body into feeling full for a while. keeping busy is also useful... it's worse if I'm sitting in front of the TV!!....I also keep some diet yogurt handy for that 3PM sugar drop. .......... some mixed nuts or dried fruit placed into little bags (as a daily allowance) can also be kept for snacking...if they are in portion sizes then I know how much I'm having and wont go back to get some more. Of course all these snacks need to be entered into MFP as part of your daily calorie intake. ....

SJSchwartz · January 2011

Conquer your boredom. Get a hobby or do something that you enjoy. If you like reading, make sure you have plenty of good books or magazines always sitting around. If you like mental puzzles, stock up on puzzle books. If you like writing, get a stationery set and write letters to friends that you haven't seen in a long time. If you like crafts, stock up on craft books. You get the idea I'm sure

Figure out what you LOVE to do, and keep it near you at all times so you can do it at anytime.

nickeymhughes · January 2011

I eat an apple right after working out it is the best thing I ever started doing!! I put it in my gym bag and pull it out on my way out of the gym

As far as before the gym I try to watch what I eat cause so many things will hinder your cardio & lifting. I eat breakfast one hour before I go to the gym usually honey nut cherrios & almond milk.

nickeymhughes · January 2011

almost forgot, when I get home from the gym I have my scoop of protein too. I used to chew gum all the time but I've really gotten away from it, those calories add up fast and I have a problem with chewing the whole pack at one time if I have a pack. =(

taletreader · January 2011

Many good tips & tricks to manage your cravings, but here's something additional: What's your relationship to food like? Is it mostly affective and pleasure-driven, and does weight loss for you mean restricting the amount of pleasure? I ask because my eating was strongly pleasure-driven -- my choices were mostly quite good, lots of vegetables (which I crave), high-quality foods, whole grains, but there were exceptions (like eating an entire bag of gummi bears or bar of chocolate slowly to tide me over boredom). One change to make in this situation is to consider food as fuel. If you feel like eating but aren't really hungry, check if your body is telling you it needs (or just wants) a little bit of fuel, and choose something appropriate -- 5 almonds, for example. If you're truly just bored, then well, maybe find something else to fiddle with. Substituting something low caloric snacks will prevent getting off track weight-wise... now. But won't change your habits for the future.