stress and boredom eating

Keep it out of sight. Don't bring it in the house in the first place. Try to eat meals with longer staying power.

I say all that knowing, as a fellow mom, how hard it is to do those things, especially with kids in the house. Prepping a separate meal for yourself from the kids is a hassle, and kids generally end up with you having more snack-y foods in the house, and sometimes it's easier to eat the mac and cheese with the kids than it is to cook once, feed them, then turn around and spend time in the kitchen again making a quinoa quiche or whatever. But we try our best, we forgive ourselves the failures, and we try again tomorrow.

ceoverturf wrote: »

Keep yourself busy. With two young kids, that shouldn't be a problem, and you said yourself you have no 'free' time.

If you're busy & occupied with other things, you won't have time to wander into the kitchen and mindlessly eat.

If her experience is anything like mine, the real trouble time is after the kids go to bed. Almost certainly tired, probably underfed, but still with laundry to fold and dishes to do before you can lay down, and there *just happens* to be a bag of Milanos in the cupboard ...

ariamythe wrote: »

ceoverturf wrote: »

Keep yourself busy. With two young kids, that shouldn't be a problem, and you said yourself you have no 'free' time.

If you're busy & occupied with other things, you won't have time to wander into the kitchen and mindlessly eat.

If her experience is anything like mine, the real trouble time is after the kids go to bed. Almost certainly tired, probably underfed, but still with laundry to fold and dishes to do before you can lay down, and there *just happens* to be a bag of Milanos in the cupboard ...

I understand...so take the laundry to your bedroom and fold it. Do the dishes. Then if you're tired go to bed.

None of the above requires you to open a bag of Milanos. Or open it...and just have one or two and put the rest back for tomorrow.

I understand it's sometimes easier said than done, but willpower is something we all have to exercise every day.

Not a SAHM anymore, but i get it. It's very possible to be bored, yet have no time. Looking after kids can be a bit mind numbing lol! For me it helped to identify my triggers- mindlessly eating in front of the tv or computer? I tried to spend more time reading. With my mind and hands engaged, I don't feel the need to snack. I also just started with an 'adult coloring book' to destress and keep me occupied.
Exercising your willpower can be hard, so try to take away the temptations. For example, I stock snacks for the kids that I just don't really like. Don't buy the stuff you know you'll munch away at. If you know you're tempted to snack in the evening- go for a walk instead. Try and replace your bad habits with good habits. Focus on what you can do, rather than what you shouldn't do.

newfutures wrote: »

catinamess wrote: »

What do you do to prevent stress and boredom eating? I find myself eating everything in sight, especially when I'm tired, stress and bored (yep, I'm all three at the moment!)
I'm a sahm with 2 kids under 4, so free time is pretty much non existent.

I recognize it for what it is and try to stop myself. I find myself opening the fridge EVERY time I go in to the kitchen. even if I originally just went in for a paper towel. I did not realize this until I tied a couple small jingle bells to the fridge door handle. I hear the bells and it makes me stop and think. I then use my self control to shut the door and go back to doing what I was doing before I came in to the kitchen. The bells are going to stay on the fridge even after I get to goal weight. not only will it be a great reminder but my daughters will be up and moving soon and the bells will let me know if one or both of them snuck into the kitchen trying to get into the fridge.

Self-awareness, accountability, AND self-control - this is a fantastic suggestion. And good for you!

It's a great suggestion to buy snack foods that you don't like. (I'm looking at you, Pecan Sandies & Fig Newtons ) Otherwise you just have to not snack mindlessly. Just. Don't. Do. It.

Save your calories for something you're going to enjoy - not something you grab on the fly and hardly taste.