Eating when bored

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madisonelenaa
madisonelenaa Posts: 8 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Suggestions to get out of the mind pattern of eating when I’m really just bored. It all seems mental but I don’t know how to break the mental patterns
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Replies

  • XxQueenMxX
    XxQueenMxX Posts: 683 Member
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    I chew gum lol.
  • SteamPug
    SteamPug Posts: 262 Member
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    Personally I just refused to give in to the eating when bored habit for long enough that it went away.
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 1,992 Member
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    Keep a bottle of water or fizzy water in front of me at all times. I did gum for awhile too, that helped.

    Still a struggle sometimes, but I don't keep too many "snacky" foods around the house just for that reason other than baby carrots LOL
  • teeenabeana
    teeenabeana Posts: 92 Member
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    Drinking tea has helped me!
  • RunStart34
    RunStart34 Posts: 164 Member
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    I would drink hot teas. For some reason it helped when I was sipping it bit by bit. I usually want to eat (not because i was hungry) when i was watching TV or lazying around so a nice hot tea helped. But a tea that you really like. My favorites were limon & orange tea or just green tea.
  • MichelleWithMoxie
    MichelleWithMoxie Posts: 1,817 Member
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    gum, tea, coffee, water, paint your nails lol. I struggle with it too.
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 1,992 Member
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    Oh, I have found air popped pop corn (or a "light" kettle corn) as another alternative. Easy munchie with pretty low calories!
  • BexB42
    BexB42 Posts: 32 Member
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    Have the conversation with yourself: is this necessary? will I have earned this? I used to find myself finishing bags of chips at my computer, not even TASTING them. Water definitely helps me, and I have my phone to distract me when I am bored now. Angry Birds is terribly addicting.
  • MichelleWithMoxie
    MichelleWithMoxie Posts: 1,817 Member
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    HoneyBadger155 wrote: »
    Oh, I have found air popped pop corn (or a "light" kettle corn) as another alternative. Easy munchie with pretty low calories!

    The brand jolly time makes pretty yummy snack sized kettle corn. I snack on that a lot.
  • Frankie_Fan
    Frankie_Fan Posts: 562 Member
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    Try chewing gum. I think it helps when I just want to eat but not hungry.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,754 Member
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    Find something to do!
  • olyamhc
    olyamhc Posts: 60 Member
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    I have the same problem. Mindfulness has helped a great deal! Notice your craving, ask yourself if you're really hungry (...what are the real hunger cues that you have? Stomach grumbling? Feeling weak? etc) or just bored or upset, think if you'll truly feel better if you eat now, weigh in pros and cons. Substituting mindless eating with other mindless calorie-free things you can do can help as well, just like people here already suggested. Every time you get a boredom eating urge, play a favorite game on the phone, read an article, get up for a short walk around the house, do 10 jumping jacks, etc.
  • jo_nz
    jo_nz Posts: 548 Member
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    While at work, I go for gum or maybe some popcorn.

    In the evenings while watching TV, I go for a cup of tea or keep my hands busy with crafts. Or at other times go for a walk or do some other task.
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
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    Walking is always a great option. If for some reason that’s not an option for me (like on a long, boring conference call) I also rely on hot tea and gum.
  • Jenniferakajacel311
    Jenniferakajacel311 Posts: 160 Member
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    Distraction is my key, and changing up the nigh-time routine where I would mindlessly eat in front of the TV. That was my "bored" time. Now I do a lot on MFP, sip my herbal teas, and honestly go to bed earlier.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,754 Member
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    Rocksoul28 wrote: »
    Keep some fruits and vegetables around. Try not to have junk food available in the home. It’s ok to snack if they’re healthy snacks. I read people say chew gum, but gum allow air into your stomach and cause bloating plus most gums are filled with sugar. I know there’s sugar free gum but that just makes the hunger worse. Stay hydrated with water and grab the fruits and veggies. But not too many fruits they have natural sugars. For as been bored, we have to train our minds not to always associate fun and food together. But train our mind that we can have fun without the junk food. So when you’re bored our mind tells us the we’re bored because we’re not eating because food makes us happy and less bored. Just my opinion

    Food makes me happy. I just don’t eat more than I need.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
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    Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »
    Find something to do!

    This! Learn to crochet, or find a good book or comic, or go clean something.

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