BOREDOM--what (if any) role is it playing in your battle?

NewLIFEstyle4ME
NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
edited December 2024 in Success Stories
Yesterday, the children and I were having one of our usual deep table conversations I brought up....Boredom. I started asking them does boredom mean to them in general and personally. This led into a really deep (children are so DEEP to me...they can be so far more honest and carefree than m any adults I know:noway: ). It was utterly amazing how in the name of "boredom" we all found that we waste a lot of time and energy spent on avoiding boredom--which shocking ly leads to overindulging if not in FOOD/DRINKS in empty entertainment activities (that may not add fat to our bodies...but leanness to our minds (various forms of sedentary mind-numbing entertainments, t.v/dvds., radio/music, video games, the internet and much more)

Anyhoo, I woke up thinking (oh-oh) about this really interesting and I think IMPORTANT subject again this morning, pertaining to boredom and it's evil twins OVERindulgence:drinker: AND wasting time :indifferent: . if you think about it...many (NOT ALL--but many) of us are fat/overweight/obese/morbidly obese or struggle with weight in one form or another because of over-indulgence. That got me to thinking about :tongue: the different styles, trends and our society in general's almost desperate craving to avoid BOREDOM and it's price. How many many many of us spend the majority of our "FREE" time doing and thinking about--persuing...eating, drinking, entertaining/entertainment and generally either being bored or avoiding boredom by eating, drinking, seeking entertainment (or better yet--diversion of boredom) of one sort or another. That got me to thinking what you guys think about boredom and how or even if it's playing a major role in your battle of the bulge. If so...how? If not...why not?

If boredom is playing a serious role in your lifestyle and choices...what have you or are you going to do about it?

Do you or have you ever thought about BOREDOM like this? If so, what's your thoughts and conclusions?

Just wondering....:wink:

Replies

  • finchest
    finchest Posts: 245 Member
    what a fantastic and insightful topic! thanks for posting this! i think boredom is a huge part of the struggle. since logging foods and logging times of meals, i realize sometimes i eat because i'm bored, not because i'm hungry. logging times has helped me realize "there's no way i can actually be hungry right now"-- and i've noticed in social settings that i over-indulge (ie, over eat) because i feel like i should be doing something with my hands or something!!!
    on the other hand, i've always told myself that exercise is boring -- so i've avoided it partially for that reason.
    awareness of the role boredom has played in the past has definitely helped me stay focused!

    my sister and i were talking about how focusing on food and exercise can also become a form of procrastination, so there is the other side of the coin in this battle as well.

    such an interesting topic, i look forward to reading others' responses!
  • losingthehealthyway
    losingthehealthyway Posts: 46
    Interesting topic. I think the issue of boredom-eating doesn't effect me as much as it does others. I tend to do the opposite-- I eat when I am stressed out and procrastinating. When I'm overwhelmed. Generally I try to preempt that by keeping junk food out of my place for the most part. But it's also when I'm stressed that I tend to come across those long-buried jars of nutella, or the old container of ice cream in the back of the freezer. :noway: It's going to be a long time before I overcome it.

    I'd love to hear more from people who do boredom eating and how they combat it.
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    I eat when I'm bored. I even mentioned that to my husband the other day.

    I also eat when I'm sad, frustrated, happy, upset etc lol Hm, I'm super busy, so I even eat on the go lol

    I think part of the battle is to recognize that you do that with food so that maybe you can divert eating and do something more constructive (like exercise).

    Thanks for the topic and interesting read.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Most definitely!! We don't necessarily think of boredom or even procrastination as emotions but they are, at least in the way that they trigger emotional eating. Both at work and at home, if there's something I should be doing but I don't WANT to do it, my first reaction is to think "hm, what can I eat?". And watching all those damn wonderful cooking and restaurant review shows sure doesn't make it any easier! (ooh, that spaghetti and meatballs looks good, I should go make some for myself).

    Once I figured this out, I had to make a plan regarding how to avoid it. First, I try not to watch those shows if I've got something I should be doing because that's a bad combo. Second, I play little games with myself - I can have my snack/lunch if I'm still hungry after I finish this chore (or a few chores if they're small). If there's nothing that needs to be done and I'm just bored, I try to find something to do - go for a walk, go shopping, read a good book, and if I'm feeling like being a total bump on a long, just watch a movie or play games on my phone.

    Lonely is similar because usually if I'm alone I'm also bored - but it's a little worse because I have this weird worrying on top of it like "where is hubby, he should be home by now, I hope he's ok, should I call?". LOL! I know, it's crazy but it's times like that when the type A personality I inherited rears its ugly head. That one's gotten better too but it'll hit me like a brick wall every now and then, especially during TOM.
  • tlp148
    tlp148 Posts: 67 Member
    A favorite high school teacher of mine once said, ' Only a boring person can be bored." It is no one elses job to entertain our mind or body and I know this is what he meant. This is a great topic. It makes you think about what you do with all those minutes of time when you are sitting doing nothing, watching TV, driving, snacking/eating, at sporting events, etc. Is this the best use of your time? In the past 5 months I have learned so much about myself.

    I have found that with MFP and starting to reach my goals, I have become much more focused in many areas of my life, not just food and fitness. Fighting the boredom and the bulge have shifted my focus on my priorities. It makes me very excited to see where the rest of this year leads as well as the future. My kids can certainly attest to the fact that I am not the same person I was in 2011.

    14306103.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    what a fantastic and insightful topic! thanks for posting this! i think boredom is a huge part of the struggle. since logging foods and logging times of meals, i realize sometimes i eat because i'm bored, not because i'm hungry. logging times has helped me realize "there's no way i can actually be hungry right now"-- and i've noticed in social settings that i over-indulge (ie, over eat) because i feel like i should be doing something with my hands or something!!!
    on the other hand, i've always told myself that exercise is boring -- so i've avoided it partially for that reason.
    awareness of the role boredom has played in the past has definitely helped me stay focused!

    ALSO, that's too deep what you said about eating when you're bored and then realizing there is NO WAY you should be or even are hungry again..that's so deep to me and is more helpful than you'll know--because I didn't think of it until you wrote it WOW!

    my sister and i were talking about how focusing on food and exercise can also become a form of procrastination, so there is the other side of the coin in this battle as well.

    such an interesting topic, i look forward to reading others' responses!

    So interesting and same for me...I tell myself how BORING exercising is too--which makes it so HARD for me to get started (to avoid the boredom), but ya know what? Once I get started...it's NOT all that boring at all--it becomes challenging for me. Same with walking outside, I tend to tell myself how droll and boring and a PITA it's going to be...I ALWAYS am glad though when and as I go. I so agree with you and your sister too, as I tend to "focus" on eating and exercising...it IS the other side of the same "boring" coin. Thank you so much for posting--love ya!
  • feltlikesound
    feltlikesound Posts: 326 Member
    Boredom works both ways for me -- I am a boredom eater, like so many of us, but boredom also helps motivate me to go to the gym on days when I don't want to because it is a productive use of that time, and generally motivates me to get out of the bored slump in general.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    Interesting topic. I think the issue of boredom-eating doesn't effect me as much as it does others. I tend to do the opposite-- I eat when I am stressed out and procrastinating. When I'm overwhelmed. Generally I try to preempt that by keeping junk food out of my place for the most part. But it's also when I'm stressed that I tend to come across those long-buried jars of nutella, or the old container of ice cream in the back of the freezer. :noway: It's going to be a long time before I overcome it.

    I'd love to hear more from people who do boredom eating and how they combat it.

    Isn't that something else????? I can do both eat outta boredom and stress. What's deep about what you've said is, now that I think about--when I'm stressed/upset about something...that's when I tend to want something fattening or sweet--didn't really think about it until you wrote it here. I used to drink boatloads of coffee LOADED with flavored creams and now that I think about it, I would drink it all that coffee cause I had a "tude" about something or other (most times anyway) Now what I'm doing when I get stressed is take a nap or something, since I'm not keeping coffee or fattening/sweets and junk foods around anymore. Thanks for posting so much!

    ETA: Hmmmm....I just thought about this--I'm noticing now that I don't "pig out" on food out of boredom anymore...I am starting to shop more instead:love: I've always HATED shopping, but now that i'm slimming down and now that i think about it--when I fee stress coming on, I'm started to shop more. My latest thing is flower and plant shopping--hmmmmmm:ohwell:
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    I eat when I'm bored. I even mentioned that to my husband the other day.

    I also eat when I'm sad, frustrated, happy, upset etc lol Hm, I'm super busy, so I even eat on the go lol

    I think part of the battle is to recognize that you do that with food so that maybe you can divert eating and do something more constructive (like exercise).

    Thanks for the topic and interesting read.


    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :heart: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    I love what you've said about diverting eating to doing something else. My battle (and our children issues too) we discovered is diverting our attention and time to something as you so fabulously suggest...something CONSTRUCTIVE rather than something mind-dulling like video games/movies/the internet, etc. NOT that these diversions are bad in themselves for us, but when we reach for them (like mindless eating) out of habit or whatever..that's just as not cool for us as eating/drinking just outta boredom. I do so look forward to more replies, because these replies are terrific! Thanks for posting.
  • monicamk1975
    monicamk1975 Posts: 298 Member
    I know I eat when I'm bored, and as a stay at home mom, I get super bored late at night. My husband is gone for 28 days stretches at a time and it gets super lonely and boring at times.

    Lately what I have done to combat eating just out of boredom is set a schedule for my meals and stop eating after 9pm no matter what.

    I cant tell you how much it has helped with my late night snacking.

    I eat at noon, 4 and 8pm and that's it. (we are super late risers, hence the noon start time)

    Its really helped me cut out eating all the extra sugary and salty snacks at night.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    Most definitely!! We don't necessarily think of boredom or even procrastination as emotions but they are, at least in the way that they trigger emotional eating. Both at work and at home, if there's something I should be doing but I don't WANT to do it, my first reaction is to think "hm, what can I eat?". And watching all those damn wonderful cooking and restaurant review shows sure doesn't make it any easier! (ooh, that spaghetti and meatballs looks good, I should go make some for myself).

    Once I figured this out, I had to make a plan regarding how to avoid it. First, I try not to watch those shows if I've got something I should be doing because that's a bad combo. Second, I play little games with myself - I can have my snack/lunch if I'm still hungry after I finish this chore (or a few chores if they're small). If there's nothing that needs to be done and I'm just bored, I try to find something to do - go for a walk, go shopping, read a good book, and if I'm feeling like being a total bump on a long, just watch a movie or play games on my phone.

    Lonely is similar because usually if I'm alone I'm also bored - but it's a little worse because I have this weird worrying on top of it like "where is hubby, he should be home by now, I hope he's ok, should I call?". LOL! I know, it's crazy but it's times like that when the type A personality I inherited rears its ugly head. That one's gotten better too but it'll hit me like a brick wall every now and then, especially during TOM.


    Fabulous post! Until you mentioned it...I've never really considered boredom or even procrastination as an...emotion--WOW!
    I appreciate that point A LOT! I also appreciate you mentioning that blasted TOM--hmmmmmm, for me...boredom tends to rear it's nasty ole head more often during his visits--didn't really think of that either until your post. THANKS SO MUCH!!!
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    A favorite high school teacher of mine once said, ' Only a boring person can be bored." It is no one elses job to entertain our mind or body and I know this is what he meant. This is a great topic. It makes you think about what you do with all those minutes of time when you are sitting doing nothing, watching TV, driving, snacking/eating, at sporting events, etc. Is this the best use of your time? In the past 5 months I have learned so much about myself.

    I have found that with MFP and starting to reach my goals, I have become much more focused in many areas of my life, not just food and fitness. Fighting the boredom and the bulge have shifted my focus on my priorities. It makes me very excited to see where the rest of this year leads as well as the future. My kids can certainly attest to the fact that I am not the same person I was in 2011.



    14306103.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools


    Say WHAT???!!!??????

    :love: Only a boring person can be bored." It is no one elses job to entertain our mind or body and I know this is what he meant. :wink:

    WOW...that's too DEEP! This is so true and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you sharing this--WOW:flowerforyou: You rock, period.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    Boredom works both ways for me -- I am a boredom eater, like so many of us, but boredom also helps motivate me to go to the gym on days when I don't want to because it is a productive use of that time, and generally motivates me to get out of the bored slump in general.

    Honey, I LOVE that...boredom motivating you...that's deep. As my children and I were discussing this...they all said the same thing, one of my children (my oldest dd) said that's why she prepares gourmet meals--because many times she's bored and wants to prepare something elaborate (hmmmmph, talking about a little child leading them:embarassed: ) our other chidren said other things that they do CREATIVE instead of being bored--wow. My husband said that's why he loves to work and build things and is always on the go--because he doesn't let "boredom" have him. Hmmmm, I really appreciate you posting this. THANK YOU!:flowerforyou:
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    I know I eat when I'm bored, and as a stay at home mom, I get super bored late at night. My husband is gone for 28 days stretches at a time and it gets super lonely and boring at times.

    Lately what I have done to combat eating just out of boredom is set a schedule for my meals and stop eating after 9pm no matter what.

    I cant tell you how much it has helped with my late night snacking.

    I eat at noon, 4 and 8pm and that's it. (we are super late risers, hence the noon start time)

    Its really helped me cut out eating all the extra sugary and salty snacks at night.

    That's tremendous! Thanks so much for sharing. Eating out of boredom is just one issue--not necessarily a struggle for me as much as wasting time--as well as it's evil twin...procrastinating on stuff. These posts are terrific--thanks again!
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,429 Member
    We finished up the conversation last night, and I THANK GOD for my boyfriend (my hubby)...he added some really most excellent info--wow He said:

    "adding gratitude & kindness into your life will blow the roof off of boredom. Doing what one needs to do, not just for mere (exclusively) selfish reasons, but for the greater good of others is why I personally is NEVER bored". :indifferent: Wow...I honestly can say that for me, this has not been an option nor even consideration when/as I personally struggle with boredom AT ALL. He also said that for him motivation is a KEY to not being bored and he uses the thinking of doing good for others, rather than himself as a key--he said that if all he thought about was himself (instead of us, his family and others), he'd be bored and unmotivitated most of the times too . He says he also looks at solving problems as a key in this as well, rather than complaining or d0ing nothing or wasting time, he just looks for JOY in things and said that people who struggle with boredom also struggle with joy being a major minus in their lives.

    He told us that people who struggle with boredom more often than not allow folks to "steal their joy" and let situations and problems (people, issues) change who they REALLY are and then they go into negativity and start searching for things to "scratch that itch" and wind up wasting time or overindulging and numbing out.

    Uhhhhhhhh, WOW!

    What's incredible about all of this is, as per usual...I start these conversations to (so-called) teach my children some "deep" things in life and wind up getting "taught" a thing or two myself in the process--this NEVER ceases to AMAZE me.

    So, I'm going to apply these lessons I called myself teaching my children and discussing with my family over the dinner table to/for myself (talk about "physician heal thyself--hmmmph):embarassed: Starting today, one of my work-out exercises is going to be eating and drinking more JOY (a.k.a. gratitude, thankfulness, PEACE/contentment) and really really working on NOT letting people, places and things steal my joy, but rolling with the punches more--like my handsome man says and DOES!

    PLEASE ADD SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS. AS I'M GOING TO USE THEM FOR MYSELF AND TO CONTINUE THIS ON-GOING LIFE-LESSONS WITH MY BELOVED CHILDREN TOO. :heart:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!