Eating when bored!!!!! Stop the madness!!

I need help!! I eat when I am bored. To fill the time. I love food I really love eating and enjoy it but I hate it when I eat to eat. I need help in what to do during these times. It is so hard to keep myself from eating and eating.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Stacie

I have a couple of ideas for you... First, try making lunch your biggest meal. I tend to graze throughout the morning, but don't find myself reaching for the snacks during the afternoon if I'm full from a big lunch (consisting of mostly veggies and some protein... then having lots of berries for desert).

The other "trick" i learned to stop yourself from snacking is to give yourself a manicure! You wont want to mess up the polish while it dries by sticking your hand in the chip bag. Just think, you'll be skinny with pretty nails.

I used to be REALLY big on eating when I'm bored and alone. So now in order to avoid those extra munchies, I simply go to the gym where I obviously can't eat and spend time with my new friends I have made there (and it's a great excuse to sneak in a workout, I find myself staying for a few hours because I get so into it!).... Or If I'm at home and really fiending for a snack, I just pick up the phone and call a friend (you can't eat and talk at the same time!).  I find that the days I spend the whole day surrounded by friends and family and outside of the house, are the days I eat the best because I'm too busy enjoying the social interaction to think about eating.  I also used to find that when I'd munch, I wasn't consciously thinking about the extra calories in the food I was eating... infact sometimes I simply forgot I was on a diet or watching my weight.  Now I keep an ongoing tally of calories consumed in my head and I assign each and every item I eat a calorie value based on what I remember from CC rounded UP to the nearest 100.  This way I never over eat.  You gotta take control of the situation.... If you find it's only 3om yet you've already eaten 800-1000 calories, make sure you make plans so you dont end up bored and alone and clearing out your pantry.

I am a stay-at-home mom,and am too the same way.I get bored and watch tv with the kids,and not to mention I eat their stuff too sometimes.I also like to be on the computer,and when I'm at my sister's I also get into the eating mode...maybe coz of boredom there or just being in a comfortable place. What I usually do is ,I would think about why I want to eat,is it because of sheer boredom,or am I really hungry and tired? Also, when you're tired you wanna just eat carbs. People say to drink water or to get up and do something,which helps sometimes. I do eat ,but I would just eat half or just a bite to satisfy the craving. It helps when you think about the reason for snacking,and what you're putting in your mouth.I usually ask myself if I really need it?

Good luck to you.

I don't feel like reading all of the replies, so I'm sorry if somebody already suggested this, but how about walking when you're bored? Or even running. On a treadmill if you don't want to leave the house, or you could go to the gym to get yourself away from the food. And if that's not enough to entertain you, you could do something WHILE on the treadmill. I often read on the treadmill (while walking, the words move too much when I'm running xD) and sometimes watch TV. I know I'm pretty weird, but cleaning my room has always been a good distraction, and cleaning my closet and/or the bathroom after that, and so on. And if you can afford it, video games can be really addictive too. And if you try hard enough, you could probably manage to play video games from the treadmill. I mean, I'm 16, so those are the kinds of things that get my attention, but you're never too old for video games, and if you take the time you can always find books to interest you. And if you like upbeat-ish music, dancing might be a good idea. Plus you get exercise, so it's pretty much win-win. And your body needs a few carbs after exercise to build itself up, so then you can eat a little and have a valid excuse for it!

So basically, my suggestion is doing anything that gets you moving, or many things at once. I can never seem to focus on only one thing at a time when I'm bored.

I find myself eating a lot at home when I'm home with nothing to do. When that happens, I go out. I go to the park, to the library, even to a little cafe and read. I try be as active as possible to distract me from fake hunger.

Going to a cafe helps also because you get to have the best of both worlds: get to have food and you get to avoid food (because food at cafes are expensive).

Did that help?

how about having a diet buddy is gets support. I am the exact way and need someone like that, want to be each other support. I don't have any one in my life that is much support, it is the other way around food food and more food from people that surround me.

I can say one thing that always helps me out:

Go out!  Party time! People go to partys and clubs to meet possible partners for tonight or for a long term relationship so the fact of being in that enviroment will remind you why your trying to lose weigth.

If you cant, try to fill up your time so thers no way you get bored. Ther is so much stuff to do. For example, sports, going to the gym helps alot and drains a couple of hours from your day. Read something, go to the movies... Stay busy!

But after all, the most important thing is to keep in mind why you started the diet! People seem to forget this after a month or so and then they start making huge mistakes.

GOSH! i know. i have the most boring life ever, which is why i am so madly in love with food.

I used to have the same problem...and I would just eat the closest thing by (which at my job tends to be cookies, cakes and junk food). 

I have started bringing celery sticks, carrots & other crunchy veggies that I can snack on all day and never go over my calorie intake.  It helps me a lot!!  I don't feel hungry in between meals and the calorie intake from these foods aren't anything close to the junk food around the office. 

Hope this helps!~!

When is it that you find yourself so bored? I find that if I am at work I have made an inspirational book for myself to look at, and have purchased a book to read regarding health and weight loss to help remind me why this is so important. It may sound a little crazy but it helps. When your body is in better shape you tend to mentally feel better too and that is what it is all about.

Hey thers one more thing that can help you! Well it helps me  >:3

a nice cup of TEA! YES a freaken cup of freaking tea!  Drink it slowly and you may not want to eat anymore... it works that way to meee ;)

I am SOOOOO with you there Stacie!  I need help too! I eat when I'm happy... when I'm sad....  when I'm frustrated... bored!!!!  I LOVE FOOD!!!!  need something to take the place of eating for these reasons!

I am stuck at home all day with 3 babies under 2 years old so I can't leave the house to take my mind off of eating! Anyone got any ideas??

I did the same thing and before I knew it I was 450 lbs. Well, I finally took hold and have managed and took hold of myself and lost 235 lbs so far and have another 80 to go so I can have my surgery to remove the excess skin removed. I stopped eating anything that triggered the constant eating. Example chocolate, cookies, cake. Then I stopped eating carbs altogether and fast foods and food after 6:30. If I was really hungry, I would eat dry cereal like cocoa krispies (I am a chocolate addict) but I did get used to not eat anything and began exercising instead and exercising instead. I started writing [poetry about my feelings about the dieting and it worked. There was no expensive diets and no surgeries. I lost 100 lbs in 5 mths.....and was so happy. After about 2 years I have to start again so I can lose the rest and have the surgery but I am here for you if you need support cause I know how it is. Just know you can do it and keep the faith you will not be sorry. Good luck

I used to eat alot whenever I was bored at home.  So to avoid eating absent mindedly, I usually drink water or some green tea and wait 30 minutes.  If I'm still hungry, I'll eat a snack, but if not then I know my hunger crave is over. 

Usually I go workaholic status and do homework to avoid thinking about food.  Sometimes I go to the gym just so I can focus on something other than food.  By keeping busy, I've been able to decrease eating when I'm bored. 

... but I have to admit sometimes, I have eaten my favorite TOSTITOS + SPINACH DIP when watching my nightshows. =)

I do the same thing! Especially when I have had a bad day. Hubby is so tired he wants to sit and watch TV and always wants a snack so......... of course I do too! HELP!!!

I also eat when i am bored. most of the time i eat when i am watching tv. This is not good because i am just sitting there eating. I think if i go outside more i will be less tempted to eat and snack as much. Water also can fill you up if you feel the urge to munch.

I've always found that list-keeping helps when I have nothing better to do and want to raid the kitchen.

Make lists of things like what healthy food to buy at the grocery store, and a good idea is list what to do instead of eating, so you can put it to use and see more clearly what other options are available.

Good luck!

I drink around 1 1/2 Galons of water a day to help curve craving. Plus Water Is really-really good for you.

Eat 5 small meals instead of 3 big ones. your stomach is the size of your fist you don't need so much food at each time, like this you wont get hungry & your metabolism will spead up.