We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
OOOH SHINY! - How to distract from eating?
miliskinny
Posts: 11 Member
Hi Ladies, am I the only one who eats without being hungry, once started cannot stop and consequently has issues with weight? 
Guess not!
So, for all of you like me to whom it does not come naturally to stay within caloric deficit, does not feel full quickly and can binge - I thought we should have a thread with tips and tricks on how to distract ourselves from eating.
I'll start and please do jump in:
- lurk around this forum and reddit
- go out and walk around the block
- step away from the kitchen, imagine there is a fire in there
- boil huge pot of tea and add cinnamon in it
- snoop around ebay
How do you distract yourselves? How do you know when is enough?
Guess not!
So, for all of you like me to whom it does not come naturally to stay within caloric deficit, does not feel full quickly and can binge - I thought we should have a thread with tips and tricks on how to distract ourselves from eating.
I'll start and please do jump in:
- lurk around this forum and reddit
- go out and walk around the block
- step away from the kitchen, imagine there is a fire in there
- boil huge pot of tea and add cinnamon in it
- snoop around ebay
How do you distract yourselves? How do you know when is enough?
8
Replies
-
My husband thinks I am crazy, but I watch the food channel. Watching other people eat and describe food like on Chopped or Drive ins, Diners and Dives is weirdly satisfying.4
-
I take long bath, go for walk, and chew alot of gum😊😊3
-
I've got a list - Actually, I should put this up in the snack cupboard:
1 - Do some sewing/ crochet etc ( keeps my hands busy)
2. Tidy the house for 15 mins
3. Weed the garden
4. Do a drawing
5. Work on the online class I'm taking
6. Bath......
7. Have a sleep - I eat when I'm tired.
8. Have a cup of hot water
9. Do some yoga stretches, breath
10. And if all else fails- surf the net, message my friends, read facebook But do it in a room other than the kitchen!
11 -
I chew gum, drink a huge glass of water, and take naps. But sometimes I combat the munchies by preparing for them. I’ll have a low cal/high protein meal, and have raw veggies like carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas on hand to munch if I feel the urge. I try not to have anything like cookies or chips hanging around so that I don’t have to use up energy on willpower. I don’t deny myself those foods, I just don’t keep them on hand.5
-
I’m not very good at it. But sometimes I watch shows on obesity on YouTube or My 600 Pound Life.8
-
Have different flavours of tea. In a day I normally get through a variety of rooibos flavours, green tea, the odd black tea, etc. For me it's a great way of tricking my brain in to thinking it's full.
And food prep, including snack prep.
@Nightcometh My 600lb Life is just mind-boggling to me. Which I'm glad about, because I can't imagine ever letting myself go to that extent.4 -
This is a great idea, I normally just eat haha but just a bit. I probably should think of some distractions. When I was big and losing weight I would focus on the hunger in a positive way like imagine it was the feeling of the fat melting.8
-
I tend to eat when I'm bored as well. I chew lots of gum. And make sure to stay hydrated. Other things I like to do is drink tea sometimes. Just the activity and the flavor is enough usually. Also, getting up and doing something is helpful too. It could a walking, or just getting up to do the dishes or tidy up something. But an acticity gets my mind off of the craving.
To note though: I make sure to fit in my cravings into my budget. If I don't, and I finally cave into it after holding off a while, I end up eating way more then if I had just eaten a smaller amount earlier. Also, if it's hunger that's getting me and not boredom I make sure I'm getting in enough protien. Seems if I'm having a hungry day, I can usually trace it back to not starting my day off with enough protien.3 -
I use fruits for this. It helps get my blood sugar back up and fills my stomach so that I'm not feeling entirely hungry.1
-
decaf coffee with two cream packets and splenda; sugar free jello, diet vernors, vitamin water zero0
-
I've made "friendly" snacks (sugar-free gummies, fresh fruit, nuts, etc...) whenever I get cravings. If I'm out and about or don't have access to anything else, I chew gum. I also try to supplement water with a calorie-free sweetener if I'm really desperate for something sweet.0
-
Tjpressler wrote: »I've made "friendly" snacks (sugar-free gummies, fresh fruit, nuts, etc...) whenever I get cravings. If I'm out and about or don't have access to anything else, I chew gum. I also try to supplement water with a calorie-free sweetener if I'm really desperate for something sweet.
As long as they are not the Haribo sugar free gummy bears... the old reviews on this product are hilarious
https://www.amazon.com/Haribo-SUGAR-Classic-Gummi-Bears/product-reviews/B006J1FBLM
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2JGNJ5ZPJT4YC
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3FTHSH0UNRHOH1 -
This content has been removed.
-
I've always had a problem with binging and snacking when bored/emotional/really want to have something sweet,salty or crunchy.
Distraction wise,
I watch things like, 1000 cal challenge or burn 1000 cal challenge. Either seeing the sheer amount they shove in their faces, or all the work it takes them to try and burn that much off, can give me some willpower.
Planning meals. Looking up recipes for things I'd like to make. Sure it can get my mouth watering, but I can spend hours browsing.
Playing video games. The time just flies by in those and in the past, before trying to lose weight, I'd actually forget to eat and end up just having a bowl of cereal before bed. It tends to be the relaxing ones that do that, like open world, adventure, puzzle or farming.
Frustrating ones can make me want to comfort eat, like FPS or playing on the hardest mode.
Going for a walk is also nice. Having the blood pumping stops any hunger and I'm more interested in the surroundings than food.
Paining, arts and crafts. Making something has me focus on that rather than food. Having snacks would just dirty my hands which would interfere.5 -
Eat bags of sugar snap peas. Kills an appetite for anything good
5 -
I read somewhere that you should do a task that gets your hands dirty. Can't eat with dirty hands!1
-
I try to plan my errands for mid-afternoon, when I'm most likely to want to snack. Being out of the house helps a ton.2
-
I make a cup of broth - 1/4 tsp of Better than Bullion and my biggest coffee cup - it keeps me a little busy with a task, and the smell and taste make me feel like I'm eating a meal for some reason. I wish there wasn't as much sodium involved, but what can you do?
I also get out of my house and take a quick walk, but that doesn't always work for me. I'm also pretty shameless about texting my friends and asking them to keep me company til my useless eating craving passes
3 -
I love Better than Bullion too! Tastes like real soup and it's perfect when I'm Intermittently Fasting and the sodium is essential for anyone eating low carb.2
-
I get myself out of the kitchen and take a shower, chew gum, drink herbal tea or if I'm desperate I drink a Bubly. I try to stay away from carbonated drinks, but every now and then I'll drink one and it'll fill me up!0
-
I do bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, etc.... It's a good distraction, and if I do end up snacking, I've burned off a few calories. lol2
-
This is my problem too. The best thing is to not have any food around me, but my husband constantly buys snack food. I drink a ton of tea (I like Celestial Seasons herbal blends) or broth if I need something salty. I've learned that I can't just have a "small" snack. Once I start eating I won't stop until I'm full/800 calories later.2
-
I drink decaf coffee at night, tell myself to not eat so I wont feel guilty and disappointed in the morning when I weigh.2
-
Lately I have been making hot tea, or just preparing for the fact that I prefer to have my calories at night. So I track everything and leave a deficit for an ideal midnight snack.3
-
I do bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, etc.... It's a good distraction, and if I do end up snacking, I've burned off a few calories. lol
Definitely. I started doing FITT classes recently, by the time they are over, I have no interest in whatever temptation that might be lurking in my kitchen. So far 4 lbs gone in four weeks plus an inch off my waistline. I consider that a good start
3 -
I crave sweet things so I will have a low cal (9 calories) hard boiled sweet (not sure what you'd call them in the US). My favourite are sugar free Werther's originals.
In the evening I will go and brush my teeth!3 -
I usually find that I crave things when I’m bored or procrastinating. Exercise kills the bordom cravings and actually cracking down to a task (even if it’s not the one I’m putting off) helps to take my mind off procrastination cravings.1
-
I'm having trouble tonight. I am absolutely not hungry -- and that is when I am the most tempted. Why is that? I just had a part of an apple and another cup of tea. Let's see how good I am at distracting myself...0
-
Update: shopping on my favorite online consignment site was a great distraction! I have purchased nothing, just added to my favorites, and imagined how much nicer the clothes would look after a few more pounds lost.1
This discussion has been closed.