Snacking all the time

I have a problem.

I mean I always stay within my calorie range but I can't just sit there without eating something.

Soon as Im done eating one thing, I think about grabbing another thing.

It's not about how much calories it is since everything I eat is low calories, but its more about how to just sit there without something in my mouth.

I keep on chewing gum too which I would like to stop because my jaw hurts afterawhile and I heard it might turn your jaw more square (or defined due to the muscles) either way it can't be good for me so I want to stop!

I sometimes do ok without eating for a bit but I always think about what I can snack on next. I have alot of healthy snacking options which actually might be making the situation worse.

It's not about what else can I eat besides (bad choice here), it's about how to stop it altogether. I just want to not eat anything for awhile! ahhh.

Even liquid... I drink alot of water so I'm always really bloated from water/soda/tea/coffee whatever else I might've drank. eck.

You should find other things to do.   What you're describing sounds more like a response to boredom or idleness than anything else.  If you time was more productively occupied you'd have less time to think about food....

Second step.... I don't know what it is you tend to snack on but remove it from your house/office/desk/car.  If it's not there, you can't eat it no matter how bored you are.  Chewing gum is a terrible habit... don't buy the evil stuff...

Finally.... make your main meals a lot more filling and nourishing.   If you're snacking all day and still coming in to a low-ish calorie target that suggests your main meals are quite insubstantial.   Hot, tasty, filling food with a good nutritional punch is your ideal choice.

I try to eat around 300-400 calories per meal if not more... my snacks are all mostly 100 calorie stuff so that's why it takes me awhile to fill up!

If i don't have snacks in my apartment, I buy snacks from outside in vending machines which is even worse... grrr.

I'm really full right now but i have to chew gum or something because i can't just sit! weird huh? I"m busy all the time but I have to eat something while I'm doing that activity. It's odd...

ahhhhh i know exactly what you mean.

i just LOVE the act of eating (chewing or drinking) ...and its usually in response to boredom, mostly when im on the computer.

I used to just eat and eat and eat (thats how i gained weight)... and now i just chew gum ALL the time. I can go through like 2 packs per day (HORRIBLE) ..but on the bright side, its MUCH better than going through two bags of chips right?

this used to be a big problem for me. i found what helps is to eat bigger, more "normal" meals, and making sure i get some fat at every meal.

i find i stay fuller longer if i add just a slice of cheese or some hummus to my turkey sandwich, for example.

Dont worry - been there done that - except difference was I could eat us outta house n home very quickly. What do you eat ?? Another trick is 1. be always doing something so you dont have time to eat snacks or 2. look for more low GI foods - they fill you up for longer...

My favourites are porridge & bananas.. Since my son was born almost 8 years ago I couldnt stomach being near 1. The smell would literly make me heave no messing. Now im having 2 a day as I have found they are perfect for filling me up.

Now something I dont do but in between her 3 meals my mum eats 2 - 3 brazil nuts as a snack......

Or weigh out your favourite foods & see how much of it you can have in less than 100 kcals. That way you can have a taste which may cure your cravings.... ( mine would be 2 squares of Cadburys rather than a family bar - 2 is enough to satisfy)

Best of luck with it anyway..

Original Post by naruelle:

If i don't have snacks in my apartment, I buy snacks from outside in vending machines which is even worse... grrr.

 Leave your money at home.... Go out with notes and credit cards but leave your loose change at home.   If you really wanted to stop doing this you could.

Original Post by gi-jane:

Original Post by naruelle:

If i don't have snacks in my apartment, I buy snacks from outside in vending machines which is even worse... grrr.

 Leave your money at home.... Go out with notes and credit cards but leave your loose change at home.   If you really wanted to stop doing this you could.

 I totally agree GI - you have to want to do it .

What you are doing is not all that different from what a diabetic does for blood sugar control, and I don't see a big problem.  3 small meals, 2 between-meal snacks, and an evening snack.  I did this for several months losing weight, and still do it to some extent in maintenance.

I keep a drawerful of snacks at work to avoid going to the vending machine.  But I know what they're there for, and I count what I eat, usually limited to 140 calories per snack.  I like the variety of snacking on a can of tuna, or a piece of toast with jam, or a dried fruit bar.  I save a lot of money buying ahead when these items are on sale.

Rather than gum have you tried other substitutes? Hard candy lasts awhile... I like to put mint lip gloss on, it keeps me from snacking to a degree. Or keeping your snacky hand busy, a bracelet to turn, squeezy ball etc. all help.

It sounds like the snacks you have are not bad, and if they are not a problem I can't see trying to fix it. In fact extra veggies are great for you!

I have not discovered the key to not snacking when I am completely bored, BUT mornings/afternoons at work I hardly snack because I am mildly entertained by work and I always have a very filling breakfast that leaves me feeling full for a long time. Maybe as others have suggested, if your meals are more filling you'd feel less prone to snacking.

My school's vending machines take credit cards... and student card. ARHHHH!! And now I'm trying to save money by only taking around 20 dollars for the entire week. I don't buy high calorie snacks ever (I buy like a bag of pretzels every now and then) but I don't like wasting my money on them so I rather have a giant bag of pretzels at home.

See like I don't eat it if I tell myself I won't eat it. I just chew gum or drink too much water and then bloat like a balloon so it's not really even about having snacks in the house anymore at this point (I didn't eat more than half a kiwi over my calorie allowance yesterday although I was up til 4 AM).... it's just like can I sit still, please?

I'm not hungry by the way, I snack when I'm full. I'm never really hungry unless I haven't eaten lunch or something... It's not that this activity is wrong, I just don't like constantly eating all the time, and feel like I'm out of control even if it's not over my calorie allowance. I also eat right after my dinner for my sweet tooth rather than snacking over time (like 1-2 after dinner). My stomach just sticks out ALOT after all these ordeals so I'm sick of it. It's not quite same as binging (where I used to eat like 1000 calories in one sitting) but I just want to sitttttt.

I also do eat suckers, like 1-2 a day. I love them because it's pretty low calorie for lasting that long (40-50 for like 10-20 minutes). Rather than finding alternative things to eat, I hope to not eat anything for a bit, you know?

I don't eat in class though so hopefully I can sit at home still. I'm ok during the day, it's just the late nights that kills me.

It sounds like your problem might lay outside of physiological and be more psychological. If you are unable to control the urges by keeping busy either mentally (class, etc) or physically (keeping your hands occupied) you might do well to seek your schools counsellor and see if your problems lie elsewhere. Maybe it is some underlying form of OCD? Just a guess, but they would be able to help much more.

I know how you feel... since I was laid off from work I find myself sitting around the house wondering what I can eat next. At least I've been switching to healthy snacks so it hasn't been too damaging.

My suggestion would be to start a schedule and stick with it. Dont start too drastic. Maybe instead of 3 meals with snacks you should switch to the 6 mini meals thing. But mostly I would plan your meal times well. Know exactly when you will next allow yourself to eat, whether it's every 4, 2, or 1 hours. Start with small goals like only once an hour, then work up to only once every 2 hours, etc. When you just absolutely have to snack, make sure it's a freebe snack like celery or sugar free jello

This is from awhile back but just to update -

I know this is a bad habit but gum really works the best. I tend to eat something once I start to eat, so I just get eating out of the way around lunch and dinner time. I chew gum throughout the night, or more like suck on it.... and eat occasional hummus dipped celery, carrots and drink water. I think it's working. Thanks guys.

And to help my night time snacking, I set another eating schedule aronud at 10 instead of getting rid of it all together.