Bored Snacking/Eating

heidilane28
heidilane28 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 30 in Motivation and Support
As the title suggests, that's what I do. Not all the time but it's at least 1-2/ week. I feel terrible afterward, and try to not let it bother me. Anyone else with this constant struggle??

Replies

  • tybrummilehigh2016
    tybrummilehigh2016 Posts: 65 Member
    Yeah every other day I want to order late night pizza or wings it's tough!
  • tybrummilehigh2016
    tybrummilehigh2016 Posts: 65 Member
    Just need to try and focus and think to yourself if it really worth it.
  • heidilane28
    heidilane28 Posts: 8 Member
    Easier said than done. I just have no idea how to stop grabbing whatever and not stopping before hand to remember my goals..
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    Find something to do? If you're bored and aware of that, find something to do that will take your boredom away or take your mind off of snacking.
  • bbilliethecat
    bbilliethecat Posts: 62 Member
    i keep tubs of yoghurt in the fridge . when i open the fridge to find a munchie, the tubs of yoghurt are right there on the top in front of me . at 70 calories each, they're great . almost guilt-free, sweet, and can take me ages to eat if i use a small spoon hehe . plus i get me my shot of dairy :) fruit can go shoot itself .

    or sleep . sleep is great :)
  • safeelone
    safeelone Posts: 56 Member
    I used to a lot as well.
    I switched to low cal stuff and salads. Since then I haven't had too many cravings.
    Also having a cheat day is not a bad idea.
  • tybrummilehigh2016
    tybrummilehigh2016 Posts: 65 Member
    Snack healthy and be reasonable
  • scottwheeler75
    scottwheeler75 Posts: 31 Member
    I like all the suggestions already given. It seems to me that you almost need to do all of the above plus I would add one more thing. Burn more calories. I have a really hard time with snacking, especially in the evening (or anytime there are doughnuts around). I try not to beat myself up about it and I try even harder to be consistent with my workout routine. Thinking about the nutrition aspect of snacking, I would be much better off snacking on healthier foods, I am still working on that one!

    Hope this helps!
    -Scott
  • elaineously
    elaineously Posts: 40 Member
    edited February 2016
    I also really struggle with over snacking all the time. I know I'm gonna do it so I budget calories for it earlier in the day. It doesn't always work but it definitely helps. Also, like other people mentioned swap out for lower calorie options. Good luck with the snack battle. You can friend me if you need someone to be snack warriors with!
  • giantwisdom
    giantwisdom Posts: 22 Member
    Is it really bored snacking? Are you truly not hungry at all when you snack? Or is it just snacking because you're hungry or craving something?

    There is a big difference, and what you should do for each is different, so I wanted to ask for clarity before replying.
  • heidilane28
    heidilane28 Posts: 8 Member
    I am pretty sure it is bored snacking/eating.
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,267 Member
    You need to remember what is important to you on this journey. pre-log everything for the day. that way you know what you can eat and what you can't.
    It is all inside you and you are the only one who can make the change... good luck!
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    I try to keep carrot and celery sticks in the front of the fridge and the more caloric stuff in the back and put away out of sight. Then when I get a snack attack I grab those. I also like to crochet which keeps my hands busy and out of the snacks. Find a hobby to occupy you and keep your mind and hands busy. Good luck
  • kissedbythesunshine
    kissedbythesunshine Posts: 416 Member
    Watch an episode of my 600lb life. That usually does it for me.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    One tip that works for me: Make the food harder to get. Put it away higher, wrap it up, throw it in the basement pantry. There have been studies i]citation needed[/i that show that mindless eating is reduced when barriers like this are introduced.
  • kristinacrooks415
    kristinacrooks415 Posts: 2 Member
    If it truly is a bored habit, I would challenge you to this: every time you feel like a snack go do a short burst of physical exercise. For example, 10 kettle bell swings, 10 squats, 10 push-ups or what ever your body can handle physically (it doesn't have to be any of the options listed). Then drink a glass of water. To me it sounds like you have to up the mental game of weight loss. After doing this a few weeks, you might be able to change your body/mind into wanting physical activity when bored instead of a snack.
  • aftnrid88
    aftnrid88 Posts: 21 Member
    edited February 2016
    The only times I've had problems with snacking are when I don't measure/portion before I start eating. When I'm measuring it, I'm more intentional about the snack. For example, lately I've been eating spoonfuls of peanut butter occasionally. It was worrying me because it seemed like bored snacking. I wasn't being careful with my measurements and since PB isn't low calorie, it's not really a sensible snack to overdo. I started using a measuring spoon for 1 tbsp, eating the PB, and then putting the dirty spoon in the dishwasher. At that point, I'm done with that snack.

    Everything that everyone else said is good too. I don't keep any processed snack packs or sweets except fruit in my house, so that really helps too. I usually keep a ton of fruits around and snack on those. If you want to eating to kill your boredom, be intentional about your snacking. Whatever you eat, choose it on purpose, think about it, prepare it, enjoy it.
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    heidilane28 wrote: »
    As the title suggests, that's what I do. Not all the time but it's at least 1-2/ week. I feel terrible afterward, and try to not let it bother me. Anyone else with this constant struggle??
    I don't have snack food in the house. If my husband buys some I ask him to hide it. I can usually stick to my goals, but 1-2 nights a week I go grazing in the kitchen. It's s major thing I'm working on, one day at a time.
  • Valpinglow
    Valpinglow Posts: 31 Member
    I have the same problem and have been trying to "fix" it for a long time now. Habits such as these are hard wired and very difficult to break. Sometimes I will have success for a couple of months and then fall back into bad habits. I have had the best success with changing the stimulus i.e. eliminating the situations in which you boredom eat.

    A good book to read is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. It explains how to change and develop habits.
  • rvaug214
    rvaug214 Posts: 3 Member
    I have the same issue. I have tried to remove all of the snacks out of my home. It has been difficult since I have small children. Portion control helps because we all deserve a snack. Good luck on your journey
  • UnicornAmanda1
    UnicornAmanda1 Posts: 56 Member
    PaytraB wrote: »
    Find something to do? If you're bored and aware of that, find something to do that will take your boredom away or take your mind off of snacking.


    Exactly this... I was struggling with night time snacking too. So now at night i loom instead. I am working on a blanket for my son... Its very relaxing and takes my mind off snacking! Plus they say knitting&sewing&looming and all that stuff is great for your mental health.

    Other times i try to take my focus on something else.. Cleaning, doing my nails, etc... Good luck!!!
  • vannyn42
    vannyn42 Posts: 59 Member
    Lol I'm reading the forums right now because I feel like snacking!!

    Just need to drink lots of water and get my mind off of snacking by doing something else.
  • phoenixx866
    phoenixx866 Posts: 173 Member
    I'm a huge fan of fruit, so I keep plums, nectarines, apples, or peaches in the fridge. Or, if I think that won't be enough, I grab a Quest bar. Strawberry Cheesecake is my flavor of the month!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Yes. And the hard part for me is I'm in a surplus/gaining weight. So when I eat over my goal, I'm eating like...way over my maintenance already. So I'm gaining at a faster rate than I want :(

    I even pre-log my snacks and desserts. I just...keep picking at stuff. My logging has been so sloppy lately.
  • heidilane28
    heidilane28 Posts: 8 Member
    This is great guys! Everything seems pretty helpful. The biggest one is probably using my mental attitude about weight loss. I just get sloppy....
  • Fit4LifeAR
    Fit4LifeAR Posts: 233 Member
    kissedbythesunshine wrote: »
    Watch an episode of my 600lb life. That usually does it for me.

    This really does wonders

  • kwohl
    kwohl Posts: 58 Member
    I seem to always need something when I'm watching TV at night...what do you eat?
  • DatGuy_Bry
    DatGuy_Bry Posts: 9 Member
    edited February 2016
    I used to do that a lot while watching tv. I mean, TV we just more enjoyable when you're chewing on something lol

    Anyways here's a few things that I do to combat that bad habit.

    1. Throw all junk food out and replace with healthy alternatives like clementines. After 1 or two, I'm no longer hungry.
    2. Drink water until your full
    3. Give yourself a time frame. I try to eat 4-7 small meals a day, every three hours, rich with protein. If it's not my time to eat, I can't eat.
    4. Stay busy. Engross yourself in something that interests you. Read a book, play a game, Stalk an ex on Facebook...you know the usual lol
    5. Google or look at pictures of your ideal body to help you resist the urges.


    Hope it helps!
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