Mindless eating..how to stop it?

A good place to start is replacing the foods you mentioned with better alternatives. Snack mindlessly on those instead. The issue is not necessarily solved but at least you are now moving in the right direction.

On the weekends cook up a storm and have the food ready to just be heated up as soon as you get in. You can store excess in the freezer for the future. Cook lots of yummy vegetables dishes, beans and lentil dishes. Cook enough rice to last a couple of days. Keeping your fridge well stocked with healthy foods and nothing in the house that you usually binge on.

Beyond that, to stop the binging behaviours, it takes a concerted effort with focus and determination. I've written a long post about how i've learnt to minimise my binging behaviours in the food and nutrition forum. Look for the word sweet tooth in the title.

The main advantage i've had over you is that i don't have to go off to work every day. But i certainly have worked full time and know the drill and when i did it i used to find that having food cooked was the best way to deal with the end of day fatigue that prevents you from cooking. Also go to bed early. You may not be getting enough sleep. Its better to go to bed early and get up earlier so that when you are fresh in the mornings, you have more time to and energy to prepare healthy foods.

Adequate sleep is essential to staying healthy and slim if you are a binger type.

These days even though i always have plenty of time to cook, i know i don't always want to do it, so i stay prepared. I always have lots of vegetables in the fridge and a variety of other foods that make it easy to cook a healthy recipe on a whim. If you get stuck for ideas, get hold of some vegetable recipe books from your library or buy one to get started.

I also find lentil and chick pea soups very sustaining.

You said you have no control over what others bring in the house. First, try talking to everyone and explain what this journey means to you. They may not realize what is happening. If not, you can set aside a space for only you and stock it with better choices. For myself, I prepare servings size things like carrot sticks and other vegetables and fruits , put these in veggies ready to eat. This works well for just about any snack. Leave off the dressings and dips and really taste the food you eat. Plan, prepare, and think

Try having some healthy snacks ready for you when you get home - cut up some fruit, veggies in the fridge. Have some fruits handy such as apple, bananas, etc. on the kitchen counter in plain site. Hide or dispose of all sugary snacks. And if you still feel like having some sugar snack or chips, drink a glass of water first.

Like others have said, coffee helps suppress my appetite. Another suggestion is to change your routine around. Maybe start working out after work. At the gym, or jogging/running outside. Or try a cool new fitness class that you can go to after work, bring your gym bag with you. That way, you limit the amount of time you're actually at home with food available.

Another option is to find a hobby/routine that you can't eat during (like doing your nails, giving yourself a facial, etc). Not only will you take up more time you're not able to eat during, but you will feel pretty and not want to ruin your investment by going over your calories!!! It's win win!

Being mindful in all things, including your consumption is a skill. Skills must be practiced in order to be improved upon. Practice being mindful in all things.

There's probably multiple things you need to address but for starters I'd try to identify what factors are involved in the choices you make about food.

For example hunger can be one reason that we eat. We can also eat for taste related reasons that are separate from actual hunger.

We can also crave foods simply because we see or smell the food and that forces us to decide whether or not to eat the food when we may not have thought about it to begin with were we to not have seen it.

Take for example, if you were to go home and see a tray of donuts on the kitchen counter. You will be forced to choose to either eat, or not eat one or more donuts. If your willpower is already depleted from all of the choices you've already made at work, you might then choose to eat a donut.

Had you not seen the donuts to begin with you most likely wouldn't have gone home and thought "damn I want to eat a donut right now".

So one thing you can do would be to restructure your living space so that your food environment is more diet-friendly. Move the energy dense, nutrient sparse foods to less prevalent locations so that you're not encountering them as frequently.

You may also benefit from food prep in bulk since this would make eating relatively healthier options more convenient.

There's several other things but this would be one starting point/idea to implement.

Preparation.

You are more than likely a lot like myself.. In the morning my will power and good intentions are clear and intact. I grab good choices for breakfast and lunch and I'm out the door for the day. Evening hits and I tend to slack. Don't want to cook after a long day and all the rest of the excuses that follow that

My suggestion is to make your evening meal when you make the others instead of having to prepare it when you get home. Make something you can just reheat and serve. Or, if you fancy a hot meal to come home to, there are tons of crock pot ideas all over this website and many more!

My will power normally fails me in the evening, so to curb that I just make sure I plan my whole day instead of reacting on a whim.

Best of luck! xx

I love to snack... I keep the special k cereal bar red berries in my car and in my purse. they're only 90 calories, I LOVE those bars! They are amazing! Try low calorie snacks, keep them everywhere, and really think about it before you eat it. I use mine as a daily treat, and I think to myself.. If I eat this scrumptious thing now.... what happens when i want one later??! Then I end up waiting. I know you live with other people, but you have to think of you!! You are the only one who runs your body, you have to think of your goals! good luck!!

ok fixxxxxx...

You dont think about food when you dont eat .....Stupido

You dont think about food when your keeping busy


DUHHHH