What Do You Do INSTEAD Of Eating?

MakinMoves
MakinMoves Posts: 364
edited September 29 in Motivation and Support
Sooo..as we get going in our weight loss journey...Some of us realize that EVERYTHING we do revolves around food.

"Oh, you're bored...just eat! Oh, you've had a stressful day...just eat! But even socially, sometimes thats all you did with friends...going out to eat/drink...dinner and a movie...drinks and appetizers to unwind...dessert at the outdoor cafe...etc..etc..."So I'd love to see some posts with the answer to this question:

* * *Whether home alone, out on date night, or having a girls nite out....What Do You Do INSTEAD Of Eating?* * *

Hopefully we'll all get some new ideas!
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Replies

  • bjenny12345
    bjenny12345 Posts: 118 Member
    Paint my nails!
  • soifua
    soifua Posts: 82
    chew gum :)
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,183 Member
    :flowerforyou: I meet with my friends to go for a walk and talk or to do errands or go shopping.

    :flowerforyou: If I am mad, sad, glad, frustrated, bored, etc, i go for a walk ,do yoga, put on music and dance, call a friend on the phone and walk while we talk.
  • Mills187
    Mills187 Posts: 171
    chew gum seriously it helps with cravings

    lol didnt see ya there soifua
  • brityn
    brityn Posts: 443 Member
    clean, do laundry, pay bills, water/tend to my garden, jog, walk the dog, fetch with the dog...
  • 3ur3ka
    3ur3ka Posts: 230 Member
    I paint my nails or crochet. Doing things with my hands not one keeps me from getting my nomnom on with the nearest bag of chips or piece of chocolate, but keeps me away from the smokes too.
  • d_llopez
    d_llopez Posts: 167 Member
    Watch a movie, shows, or get on my elliptical.
  • sandyfeet10
    sandyfeet10 Posts: 280 Member
    I mess around on MFP!!! I window shop at various stores!
  • meryllb
    meryllb Posts: 28
    i still eat! you can actually eat A LOT! i keep my calories around 1200 - 1500 and i still eat 3 meals a day, 3 snacks a day, dessert AND starbucks! you just got to find the right healthy foods you like and know how to order when you go out.

    whenever work is stressful, i always go to starbucks, only i get a iced coffee with sugar free syrup and non fat milk. ends up only being 30 or so cals per grande (depending on how much milk you use)
  • zyle
    zyle Posts: 34
    Gum, and chew on a straw/dental pik, whatever I find that's hygienic to keep in my mouth for a bit. Walk, bike, pushups situps and dumbbell curls
  • sandyfeet10
    sandyfeet10 Posts: 280 Member
    Paint my nails!

    That's a great idea!! It keeps your hands busy and occupied!!!!!! I love it!!
  • anharrison
    anharrison Posts: 74 Member
    I CLEAN...very often! Also, I go shopping-my other guilty pleasure.
  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    Walk , exercise, read a book, play on MFP or other websites, sew, scrapbook, make jewelery, etc.
  • slainger
    slainger Posts: 150 Member
    I know what you mean...every social gathering revolves around food. We seem to have food related activities at work and with family all the time. I don't know what the answer is, especially at work. I stopped eating all the "goodies" at work last November 1st, and its amazing to me to realize how many calories I've saved by not having the cake at the birthday, the pastries at the meeting, etc.

    If anyone has the answer for what to do instead of eating at social gatherings, I'd love to hear it!
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    BATH!!
    workout!
    walk
    talk on the phone to relatives
    have a diet pop or drink water -- also zero arnold palmer is amazing
    download music
    chew gum
    do my hair
    do my make up
    take forever to get ready just because there is nothing else to do
    try on old clothes in closet to see which ones don't fit
    CLEAN!!
    clean out the fridge
    do the dishes
    play with a pet
    go run errands
    go to a tanning salon
    go to walmart or the mall just to look around
    drive somewhere
    give someone a massage
    browse through the magaize section of a store
    do the laundry
    make a to do list
    shave!
  • Campanella
    Campanella Posts: 7 Member
    You are so right when you say everything revolves around food. When old friends want to meet you and talk about old times, they say "lets go out and eat" not lets go for a walk and talk. If you say no to eating they think your cheap or strange.
  • misscfe
    misscfe Posts: 295 Member
    Drink water!
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    When I go to the movies, or bowling, I don't eat. I don't want to spend the extra money on sub-par food. At home, I clean, read a book, paint my nails, watch TV, or exercise.

    When going to a social function with food - I just make healthy choices/watch my portions.

    It's a way of life!
  • laurie_powers
    laurie_powers Posts: 103 Member
    walk with a friend
    read a book
    weed the garden
    leave the house
    talk on the phone


    painting nails is a GOOD ONE! You can't mess them up!!!
  • carolinedb
    carolinedb Posts: 236 Member
    I read blogs (MFP and otherwise). I also walk, do yoga, yack on the phone...anything to keep my mind off snacking!
  • StormChaser217
    StormChaser217 Posts: 70 Member
    I chew gum , try to find something to do ( and sometimes that does not work ) . I buy fudgecicles that are only 40 calories each .
  • lsd007
    lsd007 Posts: 435
    pay bills

    I think I would rather eat.
  • biopsychgeek
    biopsychgeek Posts: 1 Member
    This is an excellent question because I often find myself trying to find anything to do that'll prevent me from snacking. When you're with friends it's tough to avoid excessive food but try to incorporate these options: Spa dates, movie marathons (without the added dinner and popcorn), take classes together (pottery, painting, knitting... probably want to stay away from cooking and baking classes), community service projects (book clubs, Bible studies, church activities, helping the homeless, working in an orphange, building houses whatever you're moved to do), of course all forms of physical activity if your friends are into working out (bicycling, running) go to the pool and swim! Find the things that you like to do outside of eating and you'll begin to see that the possibilities are endless =) Good luck!
  • cassiejoyy
    cassiejoyy Posts: 82
    bubble gum!
  • jemclean
    jemclean Posts: 10 Member
    I totally understand!

    When I'm out with friends, I try to find something to do besides eat, like hang out and talk (at a non-mealtime or after I've already eaten), get coffee instead of dinner (less expensive, too!), or find friends who like working out and go to the gym together or go walk around the lake.

    At home, I read, clean, do work, or leave home (too much food here!) and go to the library or something where there isn't food immediately available.

    I also chew gum, or drink something, because often times you think you're hungry when you're actually just dehydrated.
  • myiceisonfire
    myiceisonfire Posts: 782 Member
    I play video games online with the ps3 like Call of Duty... keeps both hands busy.
  • dipsl19
    dipsl19 Posts: 317 Member
    oh painting your nails is a GOOD one! especially since you cant use your hands until a while after.
    chew gum. gum gum gum.
  • bomomar
    bomomar Posts: 94 Member
    I get the snack thing. Not the tastiest but i have have celery and cucumbers cut up and ready to go. You can eat a lot for very little calories.
  • j_courter
    j_courter Posts: 999 Member
    I usually reach for a nice tall glass of water first. I am a big time Yerba Mate' drinker, so if water doesn't help, I drink tea! Mate' is a loose-leaf tea that has to be filtered, so I have a filter straw (bombilla) that keeps my mouth occupied. When I'm drinking tea through a straw, that feeling of wanting to eat usually goes away.

    For those times when I just need to crunch into something, I go for snow pea pods or a dill pickle... the dill pickle is a great weapon against chocolate cravings! Who wants to eat chocolate after they've eaten a pickle? BLAH!

    I don't go out with gf's very often, but drinking coffee might be a good compromise? Or maybe go get a pedi together?
  • DesireeLovesOrganic
    DesireeLovesOrganic Posts: 456 Member
    pedicure girls day out?
    Comedy Club (usually they have a 2 drink minimum but a shot of vodka is 68 cal....the pinnacle whipped cream vodka even and I mix it with club soda (zero calories.)
    Dancing with friends....again usually that goes with drinks but at least you dance it off?
    Zumba class (fun!)
    Yoga class
    Paddle boats @ a beach or lake day?
    At home at night I like to watch Netflix movies with my bag of 94% fat free popcorn. LOL
    Boinking is always fun....HAHAHA

    I totally get what you mean though, I love my social life but it usually revolves around drinking/food....
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