HOW DO YOU DISTRACT YOURSELF FROM EATING

SheilaTrueLove · October 2017

I'm just curious and wondering if anyone can give me some ideas on how they distract themselves from eating when they know they're not hungry?

Machka9 · October 2017

Work
Attend university and other night classes
Do homework
Exercise
Get involved in a hobby or project
Clean the house

heybales · October 2017

An idle mind is the ..... oh wait, no, idle hands are the .... no, wait - well, idle mind and hands sure don't help - whatever the phrases are.

H_Ock12 · October 2017

Sleep. Workout. Take the dog for a walk.

monae2013 · October 2017

Eat fruit, yogurt, u know something heathy. Or chew gum. You can also excercise or look at some motivational pics!

scarlett_k · October 2017

Cup of tea or some sparkling water, or I have a few sugar free mints.

impyimpyaj · October 2017

Honestly, I brush my teeth. Everything is gross after I’ve brushed my teeth. So I brush and then get a big cup of ice water. Or if it’s late enough to go to bed, even if I don’t think I’m sleepy, I go to bed, because I often want to snack when I’m really in need of sleep.

psychod787 · October 2017

try eating a low energy density diet! lots of food, just not dense calories
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20044318

kommodevaran · October 2017

That approach has never worked for me. Instead, I eat meals, which means that there is a time to eat, and the rest of the time is not for eating. This eliminates the endless row of questions - do I want to eat, should I eat, how long can I wait, am I hungry now, what about now, or just bored, and so on. I also plan meals I look forward to eating, so waiting for a meal becomes meaningful - no more diet foods.

JeromeBarry1 · October 2017

Exercise. I have a couple of cardio machines I can use while watching the TV. It's a 2-step-plus-1. Step 1, recognize the drift toward excessive eating. Step 2, create calorie deficit. Plus 1, eat excessively, which is now redefined as 'eat back calories'.

cejones1980 · October 2017

I found a saying on pinterest(my life)..."There is a difference between being hungry and bored. Drink water and figure out the difference." The other one said, "If you are not hungry enough to eat an apple, your not hungry." I often will look up motivational sayings on pinterest for when I am hungry, or I will go on a walk. I clean when I am hungry or sleep. Remind yourself that some of your "hunger pains" or "wanting to eat for no reason" is mind over matter. Tell yourself you are not hungry. Trust me, I fight ghost hunger as well. I want to eat all the time. That's all I use to do. Bored, I eat. Hungry, I eat more. Tired, I eat. Stressed, I eat. Happy, I reward myself with food even if I'm not hungry!! You got this!!

mmblarg · October 2017

On days I don't work out (or can't) I usually eat a rice cake (chocolate or cinnamon sugar ones are 50 cal each! woo) and then down a bottle of water. This tricks my brain into thinking I had something sweet and terrible and the water makes my tummy feel full.

Fighting cravings though... that's a whole other story...

Chantaljg · October 2017

Hey .. I know this sounds silly but it has worked for me ... Cross stitching or knitting ... You become super focused on what you're doing and it requires both hands!! Hands busy = can't be snacking

Other crafts and hobbies work well also, drawing, painting, scrapbooking etc.

Hope that helps and you find something that works for you

rickiimarieee · October 2017

I clean, play with my little one, don't think about food, watch an interesting show on tv, do laundry, play video games, play on my phone, work out/exercise, or if none of that works I will brush my teeth to deter cravings!

cecil_hall · October 2017

Try to stay busy doing anything.

lili200 · October 2017

Find the reasons you are needing comfort and support from the food and get that by other things.

riffraff2112 · October 2017

read the forums at mfp, go for a walk.
Chew gum so I cant eat anything!

NewTnme · October 2017

It depends on the time of day. In the evening I go to the gym in bed at night I get on forums or if I can't win. I take a super small piece of what I'm craving. Good luck

cricket_hackmann · October 2017

I chew gum, eat a slice of dill pickle, check out the message boards on MFP or remind myself that hunger pangs is the feeling of my body getting slimmer!