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Ugh controlling eating out of boredom...

Posts: 393 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Why do I want to eat when I'm bored, or have nothing to do? I have 5 kids I should always have something to do..... they snack I want to snack. I just always want to be eating

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Replies

  • Posts: 8,753 Member
    Pick up a hobby like crochet or learn to play the ukulele.
  • Posts: 10 Member
    Just wanted to say you are not alone. I also tend to find myself eating when I am bored also when watching TV. I find myself thinking I am hungry when I really probably am not. I just try to get up drink a glass of water and make myself find something else to do. Usually easier said than done. I too should not be bored lol I have 4 kiddos.
  • Posts: 4,925 Member
    I find that riding a bicycle helps. It is far from boring and I have to eat more than I would out of boredom to keep from losing weight.
  • Posts: 178 Member
    I'm also a boredom eater. Chewing gum helps - a little. :-/
  • Posts: 5,283 Member
    I budget for snacks that fit my calories. Right now, my 'go-to' salty treat is Skinny Pop popcorn (depending on flavor, 80-86 calories for 2 cups) and for sweet, Quaker Corn Squares (110 calories for 30 grams). Otherwise, fruit, string cheese, veggie dogs.
  • Posts: 239 Member
    I second the crocheting! When my cravings were worst I would crochet. Just giving your hands something to do helps. After a few min your brain will forget.
  • Posts: 17,890 Member
    You have to want to not eat all the time, and then stop eating all the time. You have to define yourself as someone who doesn't eat all the time, who doesn't eat to pass time or ease emotions or just because there is food around. Emotions and boredom and food are around us and in us all the time. Eating has its place and its time. Maybe it's time to reintroduce meals for the whole family and stop "snacking" altogether?
  • Posts: 321 Member
    I was really, really bad at sneaking food when I worked around it. I would snack, all of the time...

    It got to a point where I would take a sip of water every time I found myself wandering closer to food, which filled me up and also made me more aware of my awful snacking.
  • Posts: 10,179 Member
    Maybe this can help: I have a category of meal I call "Snacks". I don't start my day planning to have snacks, but rather I start my day planning to log enough exercise to earn or pay for any food that I put in "Snacks". This makes your decision a bit more complex in that you have to decide how much you will work for that treat.
  • Posts: 16 Member
    I agree with crochet or whatever hobby you like that keeps your hands busy (knitting, woodworking, etc). I snack way less when I pick up my embroidery projects.
  • Posts: 99 Member
    Replace the unhealthy foods around you with filling healthy options, if you don't feel hungry you won't have as much carvings and eat our of boredom.
  • Posts: 9 Member
    Don't be bored. If that doesn't work drink a lot of zero calorie drinks. They fill me up.
  • Posts: 742 Member
    Maybe this will work for you, it works for me: macro goals. I weigh and track my intake, making it my goal to eat 120g protein or more, keep my carb and sugar intake low (fat intake is high), 35g or more fiber daily.

    It surprises me how effective this is, it's like playing a game. For example, if I don't want more carbs/sugar that day, I'll eat some veggies and meat. Or if I want a treat, I'll make my own homemade "cookie dough protein bars" using nut butter, whey protein, chia seeds and other ingredients (high protein, low carb, high fiber).

    This keeps me calculating what I will eat (what will satisfy me and the macro goals), instead of impulsive or thoughtless eating.
  • Posts: 35,432 Member
    +1 to new hobby (especially one requiring clean hands, like sketching, knit/crochet, musical instrument - easy to pick up & put down would be a plus in your situation).

    Also, I'm suspecting you're finding yourself in spots where snacking was a habit, so the habit part may be part of it. Think about possible new habits that will distract you, and they will substitute in your mind for the old ones once you practice them intentionally for a while.

    A few possibilities: Cup of tea (regular or herb) or glass of water, stretches (toe-touch, side bend, calf raise - something quick & easy), quick chore (wipe the kitchen counters, dust a shelf), look out the window and find some bit of nature to appreciate, take a few slow/deep breaths and consciously relax your body, apply some hand lotion, mini-calisthenics (few jumping jacks, body weight squats, etc.), . . . .
  • Posts: 350 Member
    edited May 2017
    Boredom eating is my #1 problem. I have conquered it in 3 ways:
    1) I simply recognize that I'm only "hungry" because I'm bored and refuse to give in (maybe get up and go grab a bottle of water instead)
    2) If I can't successfully refuse to give in, I've made sure to have something low in calories but satisfying to munch on available, such as a 100-calorie "snack pack" of microwaveable kettle corn. There's a large volume of kettle corn to 100 calories, so it feels very satisfying and is easy to work into my daily goal.
    3) plan on rewarding yourself with a treat at the end of the day for being good. In my case, I make an effort to save up enough calories that I can have a beer (and not that Michelob Ultra crap... a GOOD beer). If I boredom snack, that usually takes away my end of day treat, so... incentive to not give in!
  • Posts: 319 Member
    I am a boredom eater, as well. I mostly manage it by not having snack foods in the house. When I do buy snacks for the kid or my husband, I make sure it is something I don't like or won't be tempted by. I also drink a ton of tea. I make it hot and sweet, so it takes me longer to drink than water and it tastes like a treat.
  • Posts: 1,120 Member
    I found that increasing my protein intake helps with the snacking. I feel so full I don't even want to think about snacking.
  • Posts: 178 Member
    I do fine all day, then feel the need to snack at night. I've recently started eating fruit flavored tic tacs instead and found them to help the snacking urge and they're low in calories.
  • Posts: 1,429 Member
    Famof72015 wrote: »
    Why do I want to eat when I'm bored, or have nothing to do? I have 5 kids I should always have something to do..... they snack I want to snack. I just always want to be eating

    I'm going to say the obvious: Don't get bored.

    If I am bored it means I am procrastinating house chores, otherwise I can't think of a time where there's nothing to be actively doing (whether for recreation or not).
  • Posts: 34 Member
    I struggle with this as well. I try and drink some water, or do something I enjoy; like guitar or video games. Try and find different mediums to stimulate yourself!

    Cheers :smile:
  • Posts: 14 Member
    I was having similar issues until I started eating 6 times a day. Now I find almost annoying to have to eat so often. Plan healthy snacks into you day
This discussion has been closed.