Eating while watching TV

nrsdiane
nrsdiane Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Wondered if anyone has ideas for breaking the habit of eating while watching TV in the evening. My weight loss journey and maintenance once I get there would be so much easier if I could break this habit. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Knitting! Keep those hands busy. It's hard to put work down or eat something messy when touching yarn.
  • Bxqtie116
    Bxqtie116 Posts: 552 Member
    Move often. During commercials, get up and walk in place, do some jumping jacks or some other light cardio. Sip tea or water while watching your shows. Anything to keep you a little distracted helps.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    That was my nemesis. Even during early months of my journey it remained a binge trigger for me. There's danger ahead if the Cowboys win a couple of football games.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    Change your evening habits. Instead of watching tv go for a walk or do something else that you don't associate with food.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Eat only in a designated place -- like the kitchen table.
    If you cannot do that, then stop watching tv for a few days.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,615 Member
    Get up and walk around the house at each and every commercial break.
    Do your nails while watching TV ... makes eating more difficult.
    Do something else while watching TV like designing a web page, or painting, or working out, or cleaning the house, or doing homework.
    Take a night class or volunteer one or two evenings a week to get you out of the house and away from the TV.
  • aliblain
    aliblain Posts: 175 Member
    Carriehelene wrote: »
    Stop watching TV >:)

    Actually probably the best suggestion! While the nights are lighter I'm ditching the tv in favour of a walk. If it's on, the 30 day shred is playing ;). I do however have a very short term goal in mind that I'm going all out for.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I quit watching tv.

    But I still do sit around in the evening a bit. Mindless eating is just a habit. You have to figure out how to stop it. Drink a glass of water, have some tea, or save some calories to have some carrot sticks or popcorn.
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    Just make a rule for yourself. No food in front of the tv. Period.

    I have lots of rules. No work food. No snacking on the couch unless I've portioned and weighed it.

    I know most people will tell you do something, get up, move around. But you really just need to get out of the habit of eating in front of the TV period.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I personally save calories for late night snacking while watching tv. Once I've used up the calories I've allotted for that evening, I'm done eating.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I just don't snack, so that covers mindless eating when watching TV.

    I often plan a dessert (could be ice cream, could be fruit and nuts, could be cheese) and may eat that while watching something, although I find it's better to pay attention to it -- I'm more likely to appreciate it and find the calories worth it.

    If you really need to munch on something, go with raw vegetables. Or try doing something else with your hands, or focusing on a no cal beverage instead -- I used to make teas and drink them to have something to consume.

    If you just break the habit it will be easier, though -- just make up your mind it's not an eating time. Or if you can't currently, change up your activities, as others have said.
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    If I work out in the evening, I find that I don't have time to watch much TV - and if I do watch for a bit, the exercise curbs my munchies.
  • oolou
    oolou Posts: 765 Member
    I'm trying to quit the evening snacking in front of the TV too. As a result my nails are currently beautifully manicured ... :p
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    I paint my nails. Kinda hard to snack with wet polish on.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    We eat dinner late and unless we have guests over we always eat in front of the TV. No snacking because we're too busy eating dinner.
  • leejoyce31
    leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
    edited August 2016
    emdeesea wrote: »
    I quit watching tv.

    But I still do sit around in the evening a bit. Mindless eating is just a habit. You have to figure out how to stop it. Drink a glass of water, have some tea, or save some calories to have some carrot sticks or popcorn.

    I agree that it is a habit. Habits can be very difficult to break because it requires some discomfort in the beginning, but it can be done. I'm not one who says, just stop doing it. I believe we overcome habits and other obstacles little by little. Maybe start off one day a week eating only at the table and not focusing on the TV. Then, you can gradually increase those days. I've never had that issue because I only eat the table. I don't want crumbs in my living room. :) But I used to eat and watch TV from my dining room. I didn't see it as an issue, but all of a sudden I stopped doing it. Now, I mute the TV and I sit in the chair the faces a window. I do this now because I really want to enjoy and focus on my food and not get distracted from the enjoyment of eating by watching TV. I didn't even do it on purpose. Just happened naturally.
  • Ricksh1000
    Ricksh1000 Posts: 88 Member
    Carriehelene wrote: »
    Stop watching TV >:)

    +1 !

    Gave up watching TV about 5 years ago, best thing I ever did!
    Prob is with TV food combination - TV takes your focus, the food is just a side.
    Focus on your food every time, you'll enjoy it and appreciate it more ;)
  • tlflag1620
    tlflag1620 Posts: 1,358 Member
    I eat while watching tv at night. Hasn't been a problem for me, but that's probably because I don't bring the whole bag/box/package into the living room. Get a snack that fits your calorie limit (if you like to have a big evening snack, just eat lighter the rest of the day to make room), portion it out, put the packages away, go watch tv and enjoy your snack. When it's gone, I generally pause my show and go brush my teeth and then go back to the tv. You may need to do what others have suggested as far as keeping your hands busy, but I find brushing my teeth "signals" that the kitchen is closed for the night.
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    Watch the Olympics and do squats and dips and assorted things with dumbbells.
  • 227853
    227853 Posts: 1 Member
    You could try logging your TV snack calories before dinner. If you over eat at dinner, limit snacks to a few celery sticks and water or tea.
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,512 Member
    JenHuedy wrote: »
    That's why I only watch TV on my treadmill. Now I can binge Netflix guilt free!

    I thought I was the only one. I find a good historical drama can burn upwards of 300 calories per hour. :grin:
  • Mentali
    Mentali Posts: 352 Member
    RAinWA wrote: »
    Put a great big cat in your lap - can't eat while petting a cat.

    And plus the cat will willingly intercept any potential food items for poison testing!
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    JenHuedy wrote: »
    That's why I only watch TV on my treadmill. Now I can binge Netflix guilt free!

    Yep! I DVR my favorite shows and can only watch them if I'm on my elliptical.

    My evenings are filled with son's sports and gym time, so I don't watch much TV anyway.
  • srecupid
    srecupid Posts: 660 Member
    nrsdiane wrote: »
    Wondered if anyone has ideas for breaking the habit of eating while watching TV in the evening. My weight loss journey and maintenance once I get there would be so much easier if I could break this habit. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    I have my food and tv on opposite ends of the house. You could try switching to tea instead of food
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    i eat with the tv on, but i have designated amounts to eat. i also plan on snacking so i have calories saved

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