I need to quit smoking....I need some better distractions from pigging out!

I am a full time student and a full time mom, I'm always busy. It seems like whenever theres downtime I'm eating (or smoking-also to help me cope with stress) since i tend to eat when I'm bored. I would love some advice on what everyone does to distract themselves from "boredom eating". Also when i boredom eat i tend to binge on very unhealthy food.

I know smoking is a terrible thing to be doing, and i don't do it in the house or around my daughter, but i need to quit, I'm just worried when i quit that I'm going to gain weight and replace that time smoking with eating.

Some ideas on healthy productive distractions would be wonderful. Thanks

I'm not a smoker but chewing gum might help. I chew gum to avoid unnecessary snacking. You could also go for a walk, read a book, catch up on some house work, head to a gym, call a friend, run some errands, etc. Hope that helps a little!

You can lose the weight you gain.  You can't grow back fresh, healthy lungs. 

My hobby to keep munchies at bay is sewing.  Or at least today it is.  By the time my afternoon snack rolls around I'll have a pretty new dress to wear tomorrow.

I also crochet and am working on a new hat and scarf for the winter.  However, I've mastered the art of eating while crocheting and that doesn't always keep me from picking at the popcorn.

I think one of my favourite hobbies is baking.  It takes so long to prepare some things, and if you can resist the temptation of picking at the pie filling or whatever you're making, then by the time you're done cooking it, it's cooled off, and you've served it, it'll be time for your next meal.  Make it a challenge and find a way of keeping it low calorie.

Thats really good advice thank you, i too also love to cook, bake and sew....its really tough for me not to binge on the food that i cook or bake though...but I'm working on it!

I try to distract myself.  If you bake something, once it's done, say to yourself "Oh, I'll have that cookie just after I throw in the load of laundry/clean the toilet/play game with kids/whatever".  Many times, after I do the chore, I find another chore and another and then I forget to have the cookie until I'm actually hungry.

 Just stay away from the tv unless it is a video game or something that distracts you from eating.

learn how to knit!!! it helps with both!!!!! and also gum chewing helps me with both!

When I quit smoking I munched on pumpkin seeds - I did gain weight but pupmkin seeds are a healthy snack-- can also do sunflower seeds they are good things to keep the hands to mouth habit but not smoking.  celery sticks, carrot sticks and other crunchy veggies are good too. 

I quit cold turkey and found gum to be my lifesaver.  I still have to have a piece whenever I am in a car -- its been 28 months today that I quit smoking after 33 yrs and a packa day if not more habit.

Try www.quitnet.com  for a great support website.  They also have a great forum for weight consciousness persons.  I quit smoking after I lost 55 lbs.  I did gain some of those lbs back - but I didn't eat right after I quit smoking so if you can be sure to watch what you eat and remember the weight gain is temporary - its usually from the slower metabolism so exercise more.  After eating instead of grabbing a smoke go brush your teeth.  Go for a walk -- drink ice water and do deep breathing - taking up a hobby that involves your hands is also great.  I crocheted and latch hook - easy and pretty cheap kits in craft stores or walmart.

Good luck to you.