How to Stop Eating Out of Boredom?
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nicolee4848
Posts: 1
I always eat when I'm not hungry, due to it being a habit, or I eat when I'm bored. I looked up many ways to stop it and control it but it doesn't seem to go away no matter what I do. They especially turn into binges at night.
I wouldn't call it emotional eating, but just eating whenever I'm bored and eating for joy instead of hunger, which is not a good thing for weight loss. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that worked for you when it comes to emotional eating? Thanks.
I wouldn't call it emotional eating, but just eating whenever I'm bored and eating for joy instead of hunger, which is not a good thing for weight loss. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that worked for you when it comes to emotional eating? Thanks.
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Replies
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Actively seek out some hobbies / activities to keep from being bored too often? Not an emotional eater myself, but I still find when kept busy (especially with something that is enjoyable or at least entertaining if not engrossing) other bad habits tend to recede.0
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This is hard for me too. I've been trying to portion things out to prevent a binge. And not resisting a sweet tooth but instead having a small option like dove chocolate (or 3 lol). It is a struggle everyday for me. Some days I lose the battle but try to not beat myself up over it and start fresh tomorrow. Portion control has been a huge help, and log it before I eat it. It's an eye opener to see how many calories some things are. If I see that my willpower has some backup. :-)0
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I have been reading a lot and staying out of the kitchen.0
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Water. Not constant, just enough to sip on throughout the day. Sugar-free gum. And things that you can do with your hands. I'm hugely fixated on doing things with my hands, and usually that would lead to me consuming something. However, I've gotten more into crafting lately, and have been doing things like pixel art, painting, candlemaking, soap making, etc, to distract myself. So... I don't eat out of boredom, AND I get pretty things out of it! Win/win.0
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I chew fruit flavored gum, I drink water or tea, or I do something else for ten minutes to dissipate my hunger.0
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For me, don't let yourself snack at times you are prone to eat for boredom or other non-hunger reasons. Don't have the kinds of foods you snack on easily available at the place where you can do it, if you can avoid it. When you feel like it either snack on something low cal (carrots or something like that) or actively do something else. I used to journal, but really anything that will either distract you or force you to be analytical about it.
It's a habit, so you just have to break it.0 -
Obsessively check myfitnesspal.com forums. Also waste a lot of time counting every single calorie and check the nutrition information that other people have put, because if you steal several Gerber Graduate puffs from your baby and you find out that the nutrition information is exactly the same as what other people have put EXCEPT the servings, you NEED to figure out how they went from 86 pieces per serving to 60 pieces per serving while keep the nutrition information the same even though the packaging looks the same (suggesting that the size of the puffs have not changed). It does not matter that there is only a difference of half of a calorie because you only ate 4 puffs! You must spend at least 2 hours looking into it.
Logging your food before you eat it might help. Or get a job. Can't find a job? Get paid 20 cents an hour on Amazon Mechanical Turk. Don't qualify? Volunteer.0 -
My husband called me an old lady but I recently decided to try to learn to crochet partly because of my night time cravings. Like be here now said, I like I can actually get something out of it. So far I have a scarf for my daughter and starting one for my son.0
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LessthanKris wrote: »My husband called me an old lady but I recently decided to try to learn to crochet partly because of my night time cravings. Like be here now said, I like I can actually get something out of it. So far I have a scarf for my daughter and starting one for my son.
In winter I knit on the couch. The only thing allowed near me during this time is a cup of tea or a water bottle. The fear of greasy fingers from food ruining your project is a great way to not want food near you to be even able to eat it!0 -
suck on lollipops
drink diet soda or black coffee
take up smoking (don't do this)
eat popcorn or vegetables0 -
I struggle with this too. My tough times are when my girls get home from school and start eating, that triggers me to want to eat too. I try to go outside and walk around my yard, or like others said, find something to do to keep my mind off of food. It's hard, but with practice, we can do it.0
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I am a bored eater and my big problem is I work third shift. When I get home I go on a food rampage. Also, whem I feed my boys dinner. And they waste it, I have a tendency to finish off their meals for them.0
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Boredom = time for me to hit the gym or take the dog for a long walk.0
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I have cup of tea as it usually fills me up and prevents me binge eating0
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brush your teeth often0
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mangrothian wrote: »LessthanKris wrote: »My husband called me an old lady but I recently decided to try to learn to crochet partly because of my night time cravings. Like be here now said, I like I can actually get something out of it. So far I have a scarf for my daughter and starting one for my son.
In winter I knit on the couch. The only thing allowed near me during this time is a cup of tea or a water bottle. The fear of greasy fingers from food ruining your project is a great way to not want food near you to be even able to eat it!
I've taken up both of these! It is satisfying when you finish a project as well! I have definitely got more craftier. I make my own Christmas/Birthday cards, I did stray into jewelry but it got expensive...0 -
nicolee4848 wrote: »I always eat when I'm not hungry, due to it being a habit, or I eat when I'm bored. I looked up many ways to stop it and control it but it doesn't seem to go away no matter what I do. They especially turn into binges at night.
I wouldn't call it emotional eating, but just eating whenever I'm bored and eating for joy instead of hunger, which is not a good thing for weight loss. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that worked for you when it comes to emotional eating? Thanks.
Stop getting bored, find something to do. Something that involves going outdoors might be best, away from the kitchen. Eating for joy is definitely emotional eating by the way, joy is an emotion.
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Eat only at the kitchen / dining room table. That way, you learn that food is food for the body and brain's nourishment,0
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Me too, I eat when I'm bored. I always make sure I have enough calories for a small snack after tea. I have a cup of tea as well, I have been know to sit there and say 'your not hungry your bored' lol. I also do cross stitch to help keep my hands busy, this takes my mind off of food0
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