Sit at a desk all day, eat when I'm bored!

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Replies

  • lawkat
    lawkat Posts: 538 Member
    I don't think the solution is in trying to find something to eat or drink. The solution is finding something to occupy your mind instead of turning to food to fill the void. It is called emotional eating. You eat because you are bored or stressed or happy or whatever, not because you are actually hungry. Find something to distract yourself. Over time, you won't think that food needs to fill the void but whatever hobby or other activity you are using to fill the emotional void.
  • kristalael
    kristalael Posts: 69 Member
    Thank you everyone!

    I only pack enough food to eat for the day but I have a tendency to eat it all in 6 hours. I drink 8 glasses of water at work, have breakfast around 8:30, a snack around 10:30, I walk on my lunch for 40 minutes, then eat lunch around 1. My problem is between meals where I know the food is in my lunch bag and I just want to eat it!

    I will have to try chewing gum more and getting up and moving around more. I work for a life insurance company so I'm always doing something but if I'm not at my desk I'll get in trouble so I'm limited to how often I can get up and walk around.

    I pack mostly fruit, veggies and soyjoy bars or rice cakes for snacks but the calories add up fast and then I don't have many left for dinner.

    I will have to try packing less and chewing gum or searching on here to keep my mind off of eating. Thanks again for all of your responses! :)
  • patty9013
    patty9013 Posts: 230 Member
    I'm bored out of my skull at a desk all day...that's why I keep 24oz of water with a scootch of lemon juice and 16oz of green tea with a scootch of honey at my desk at all times...I eat breakfast at my desk at 8:30am, snack is at 10:00 (usually a granola bar) and lunch at 11:30...then I walk at noon. Water or non-caloric beverages are the key! And baby carrots lol

    I thought this said Scotch and I thought that was an interesting strategy to get through the work day!
    Lol I thought the same thing!
  • no_kidding
    no_kidding Posts: 18 Member
    DRINK WATER AND CHEW GUM ... IT WORKS!
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    I did the same thing! And then thought, 'brilliant!' (to the scotch thing)
  • rmsrws
    rmsrws Posts: 639 Member
    You need to break the habit. Chew gum, drink water. I have a desk job, when I have the opportunity I get up and move. I walk, stretch anything to take my mind off from food. I try to eat a healthy snack if I feel I really am hungry v.s. just being bored. Best Wishes!
  • dothompson
    dothompson Posts: 1,184 Member
    I'm bored out of my skull at a desk all day...that's why I keep 24oz of water with a scootch of lemon juice

    At first I read this to read "scotch", and thought, now there's an idea to fight the bordom.
  • rachrach66
    rachrach66 Posts: 271 Member
    I work all day at a boring desk where the phone barely rings and I spend a lot of time on MFP. It helps a lot. What I do is have a nice breakfast and around 10am and snack on almonds or 90 Cal Fiber one. When you snack chose one loaded with as much fiber as possible it helps a lot. I walk for half of my lunch hour 30-35mins and then after lunch around 3pm have a light snack like string cheese or fruit. That way I still have calories left at the end of the day for dinner. Good Luck! :flowerforyou:
  • missangel81
    missangel81 Posts: 4 Member
    Hiya

    I have the same problem, I use to snack all day...doesn't help when we have mints sitting at my desk for customers to eat. I have found that eating breakfast once I get to work helps me get through to morning tea at 10. I then have a protein at 11.30 before my walk at lunch, once i get back from my walk i eat my lunch, which keeps me going to about 2.30/3.00 where i have afternoon snack.

    Try a cup of herbal tea, if water isn't working, it doesnt work for me either.

    Good luck with it, and let us know how you get on.
  • Ladeejulz
    Ladeejulz Posts: 56
    I feel your pain!! I was out of work for almost a year and lost 36lbs. Last September I started working again and working hard and long hours. I have gained back 22lbs in the last 10 months. Why?? Because all I did was sit at my desk in front of the computer. Because I was working such long hours, I thought I "deserved" all the treats I was giving my self. Well it came back to bite me in the proverbial "*kitten*" (stomach). So now, I have decided to keep water and only healthy snacks at my desk. I don't eat much at my desk but when I do, I choose bad stuff. Not anymore. From now on it will be water, carrot sticks with Hummus, Fibre One bars, almonds and yogurt and last but not least, fresh fruits. Hummus has lots of protein so it will help you stay full as well as the Fibre One bars. Hope this helps!! Good luck on your journey!!
  • Ladeejulz
    Ladeejulz Posts: 56
    Oh! I forgot one thing.....I will be setting the alarm on my cell phone to ring when it's time for my snacks because I get so busy, I can never remember to eat when I'm supposed to. My goal is to eat 6 small meals per day.
    Good Luck!!
  • 2gabbee
    2gabbee Posts: 374 Member
    Like you I tend to eat when I'm bored.When the phones are slow I pay my own bills,read my mail I didn't get to the day before,I have exercise cords I use, I stand up & march in place burning calories, clean out files,clean my desk, water plants in office, I keep a picture of my skinny days at my desk & pull it out as a reminder of my goal, drink a lot of water, if I eat a snack its healthy one. If you don't have a skinny picture of yourself create one. Find the body you want to have add your head. Its helps keep me strong & be bored fades for my goal is in sight. Good luck!
  • 2gabbee
    2gabbee Posts: 374 Member
    Can you do needlepoint, crochet a scarf or blanket for the homeless, besides previous response of mine I cut store coupons. I love taking home free to next to free grocerys. Extra money you save for your new clothes, a reward trip perhaps. Pass the time keeps mind off of eating for my goal is saving at the store. Helping with my budget. Free found money, However because your looking at food coupons could make you hungry. Look up recipes to try.Just keep your focus on your goal.
  • kaminator
    kaminator Posts: 1
    I have this problem too, no desk job for me however, worse, i pretty much get paid to sit around and watch tv all nite, so i have a huge problem with wanting to eat when i get bored. Ive started bringing either less food or healthier snacks, chewing gum and drinking lemon water, all of which seems to help, but it still doesnt stop me completely from wanting to eat, my job is probably the biggest thing in the way of my diet,i dont think i need to think of better foods, i just need to think of better ways to occupy my time and keep my mind off it
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