How to stop eating out of boredom?
Zeii
Posts: 89 Member
How do you train yourself to stop eating out of boredom?
I just had dinner, I'm not hungry, but I'm bored with nothing to do tonight so of course all I can think about is food! What I could eat, where I could take a drive to get a treat, etc. Just thinking about food is making me salivate.
I need a hobby.
I just had dinner, I'm not hungry, but I'm bored with nothing to do tonight so of course all I can think about is food! What I could eat, where I could take a drive to get a treat, etc. Just thinking about food is making me salivate.
I need a hobby.
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Replies
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I need a hobby.
You pretty much answered your own question Colouring is a favourite of mine (I have soooo many of those adult colouring books and sheets around my house), so are various crafts. Sometimes depending on how late it is I'll just haul myself to bed and sleep through it. Water can sometimes help also, I've found that urge to completely disappear when I've got a tummy full of water.
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Yep. A hobby that involves use of your hands.. Bonus points if it is something you don't want to get dirty with food or makes your hands dirty so you can't snack while doing it.2
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Ya find something to do. Read a book, go for a walk, learn a new skill. All fun things2
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Walking helps me.
Something to keep the mouth busy? Diet soda, black coffee, water, hard candies (if you can spare the calories. I personally do not reccommend sugar free hard candies.), gum...0 -
I agree to getting a hobby. But I want to propose another approach as well. When I joined MFP, I decided to eat, move and think like a normal weight person. Normal weight people think about food too, to varying degrees, some do it a lot and often, and that is okay. You can have food as a hobby - lots of people have food as their job! The difference between thoughts about food in a person who struggles with weight and self esteem, and a person who doesn't, is the quality of those thoughts.
Healthy thoughts about food and healthy eating patterns tend to be looking forward to a good meal, thinking back to good meals and treats, planning and discussing food with others, enjoying food in company, not worrying about details, but taking some effort to get foods that nourish you and give you pleasure. Unhealthy thoughts about food and unhealthy eating patterns are often about easing emotions, avoiding boredom, eating in secret, trying to eat too little, demonizing certain foods or food groups, felling guilty for eating, not allowing oneself to feel pleasure while eating, and then lose control and not being able to stop eating.
Depending on where your issues come from and how deeply they are rooted, and how much they affect your quality of life, you can work on this alone, using just self-help books and MFP, or with a professional. The goal is to get a good meal structure, build self trust and confidence, regulate emotions more efficiently, and letting food have its proper place. It's going to be a lot of work, but it's so worth it. I can give you a list of books if you want.6 -
MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »I need a hobby.
You pretty much answered your own question Colouring is a favourite of mine (I have soooo many of those adult colouring books and sheets around my house), so are various crafts. Sometimes depending on how late it is I'll just haul myself to bed and sleep through it. Water can sometimes help also, I've found that urge to completely disappear when I've got a tummy full of water.
I was going to suggest finding a hobby too.... I'm perfectly fine as long as I'm busy!
You've just reminded me that I have a pile of gorgeous colouring books I haven't touched in months due to studying. I'm getting them out this afternoon!1 -
I started knitting to keep busy before bed so I wouldn't want all the foods.
That was usually when I'd binge.
Also I cook, weigh, and measure everything I'll eat for the day and log it soon as I wake up or before I go to bed the night before.
That way I know only to eat the food I have put in place for myself and not extras.
Helps me to stay in the routine.2 -
How do you train yourself to stop eating out of boredom?
I just had dinner, I'm not hungry, but I'm bored with nothing to do tonight so of course all I can think about is food! What I could eat, where I could take a drive to get a treat, etc. Just thinking about food is making me salivate.
I need a hobby.
So get a hobby.
Life is too short to sit there bored....0 -
Seems like you answered your own question.0
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Definitely find something to do! I find that taking walks and doing activities that I really enjoy helps me keep my mind off food. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water.0
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I crochet. Sometimes its a mindless and easy project while i watch netflix. If im really having a hard time forgetting about the snack i want i get on youtube and find a difficult crochet pattern and learn it. Requires more concentration and gets my mind thinking of something else. Plus i learn a new skill.0
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Crochet, needlework, colouring, puzzle books, jigsaws, all things that can be done inside with minimum effort, most can also be done while working through a to do list of movies and tv. I could spend days on on PS4, can't lie. If I retired tomorrow I'd have no trouble filling my hours0
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Take a walk
Paint your nails
Knit or sew something
Write or draw something
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I knit or quilt or sew garments, all after I've washed my hands. Since I don't want to get the projects dirty, I don't snack while I'm doing them. I also call a friend to take an evening walk with me, as a visit engages my mind and gets me out of thinking about food. I recently got into baking (which sounds dangerous!) and give away those things, or have a small piece of the pie I just made (again, with friends or family). I log the dessert before I make the pie so I have the calories left that day to eat one piece. It takes a good long while for me to make a crust, put it in the pie plate, prepare the fruit, put it over the crust, and bake it. That's 2 hours or so of non-boredom. And my friends and family love getting cakes and pies.0
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MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »I need a hobby.
You pretty much answered your own question Colouring is a favourite of mine (I have soooo many of those adult colouring books and sheets around my house), so are various crafts. Sometimes depending on how late it is I'll just haul myself to bed and sleep through it. Water can sometimes help also, I've found that urge to completely disappear when I've got a tummy full of water.
I bought a coloring book too. It's relaxing and a good way to keep your mind and hands occupied. Find something you like to do. I've done crochet. I read. Go for a walk.
What I will say however is...I've always been a nighttime snacker. Even now of any time of day is going to do me in it's going to be the after dinner hours. Now I plan my calories around it so I can have dinner and then do my grazing until bedtime. If all else fails you may want to do this.
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I used to have this problem when I watched television; I would eat just to be doing something with my hands. I decided to curb it by buying a box of legos and building things while I watched. Now I also play games on my phone or tablet while I watch TV, and I also don't really watch much TV anymore so that helps too.
My recommendation would be to simply find something that takes mental focus and that uses your hands and do that instead of being bored. It's good to have a lot of hobbies to choose from, so when you're bored with one or not in the mood for it, you can choose something else.0 -
Go for a walk. Doesn't have to be fast or hard, just walk. 30 minutes. It'll give you something to do, prevent you from snacking, and help you on your body transformation journey in the long run.1
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brush your teeth, extra well. Do the flossing thing really well, do your electric toothbrush twice (4 minutes). Your dental hygienist will love you. This takes 5 to 10 minutes. You will have distracted yourself from snacking and really after you have brushed your teeth you may not want to get them "dirty" again for the rest of the evening.3
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How do you train yourself to stop eating out of boredom?
I just had dinner, I'm not hungry, but I'm bored with nothing to do tonight so of course all I can think about is food! What I could eat, where I could take a drive to get a treat, etc. Just thinking about food is making me salivate.
I need a hobby.
Move away from the food and go do something else.0 -
Yeeeessss to crafting! Hi other knitters!!0
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I love what @kommodevaran has to say about thinking like a normal weight person. But I think it may take a while to get there, especially after a lifetime of disordered food habits!
If you are currently trying to lose weight, the perfect hobby is working out. Find a YouTube video of something that looks fun - personally I like Bollywood dance workouts - and go for it. Fifteen minutes will snap you out of your boredom, that's about three songs. Then have a small piece of fruit or glass of milk or another healthy snack to replenish the carbs you used up, with the calories you just earned through exercise. Presently your brain will learn that "I'm bored" means "Well I guess you get to work out then," instead of "I should eat something!" And your brain will be like a kid whose mom says "If you're bored, go clean your room..." suddenly "Who said I was bored? I'm not bored at all!"
If that doesn't sound appealing there are a million possible hobbies. I like quilting and making dollhouse miniatures, learning languages online (badly!), researching genealogy, and making friends on MFP. Read a book. Write a book.1 -
Oh - one more thought - wanting to drive somewhere to get a treat suggests that there are not enough diet-friendly treats in your house. Having something nearly zero calorie to snack on is a good plan. I like sliced salted radishes or roasted seaweed for when I'm craving salt and decaf lattes with almond milk and cinnamon, dark chocolate, or herbal teas, for when I'm craving sweet. For under 30 calories you can eat something which makes you happy and less crazy feeling.0
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I drink a cup of water and find people's progress pics online. Or stories of people that failed and ending up putting on 100+ lbs. Usually, it starts on a spiral down the internet rabbit hole and I end up looking into things that interest me. I've picked up a couple hobbies that way. Right now I am taking a class that keeps me occupied for most of my time outside of work. That helps too.0
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DebLaBounty wrote: »I knit or quilt or sew garments, all after I've washed my hands. Since I don't want to get the projects dirty, I don't snack while I'm doing them. ...
I'll jump in on sewing project. Find something in your closet that you never wear because it just doesn't look great on you... wrong hem length, ragged edges, needs taking in or letting out somewhere... and rehabilitate it. A complicated fix will keep your mind occupied, and even a simple fix will keep your hands busy. You'll feel awesome about wearing it when you finish it AND about sticking to your plan. Double bonus!0 -
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