What do you do instead of eat?

buffettgirl

buffettgirl

Cathlete
So I'd love to clean up my eating. It's has been terrible lately. I know I'm an emotional eater. I eat when I'm happy, I eat when I'm sad. Add to that angry, anxious, excited, tired. Get the picture? So what do you do if you've had a terrible day at work, you are tired, you have to stop at the grocery store for milk and the chocolate iced, angel filled donuts are calling your name? I usually rationalize that I work hard, I deserve a treat, I'll work it off with Cathe, in the long run, one donut won't hurt. Yeah, I know all the excuses. The trouble is I do this day after day. Any tricks that have worked especially well for other emotional, over-rationalizing crappy eaters?
 
It is easy to go for the food fix in times of stress, isn't it? I think it's some link to our animal instincts gone wrong (maybe an instinct to store calories in times of stress, which the body and mind relate to the stress of impending famine?) I think that's one reason why it's hard to change.

I thik you need something that keeps your hands busy and works off tension.

How about punching a heavy bag (or exercising in general?: Going for a walk?)

Doing crossword puzzles, or writing in a journal?

Make yourself a tasty cup of herbal tea (sweetened with stevia if you like) that can give you some taste sensation, and sip it while doing your writing.

Also, if you get into your mind that chocolate-iced, angel-filled donuts are not really a treat, but an abuse to your body (a 'treat' would be some nice fresh fruit, for example), you may be less apt to go for them.
 
Hey, Robin -
Basically, I just don't buy it. I go shopping after work, I buy what's on the list and get out as fast as I can. And then, since I live so far from a grocery store, if it's not in the house, I don't eat it! Of course, I don't really like shopping, so my main goal is always to get in and out as fast as I can. The list helps to speed things up. But it also helps that I'm a skinflint, so buying premade, packaged goodies has always been a no-no because of course they're some of the more expensive items in the store.

Other than that, if I find myself munching too much, I get up and do something - get outside and take a walk, clean the baseboards - whatever. Anything that keeps my mind busy and off the food concept, and my hands busy enough that they can't hold onto food.
 
I say Kathryn is on the right track. I have gotten to where I tell my self (over and over) that a treat isn't something that is bad for my body. I want to do good things for it, and I find a treat that is at least somewhat nourishing. You can really talk yourself into eating to live instead of living to eat. It just takes some time and determination to reprogram yourself.

Good luck.
PS
 
The donuts don't call my name anymore. I don't even want them because I have gone so long without eating certain things my body has adjusted. When I do crave chocolate I just try to eat something else like any kind of protein or just have a protein shake when I am due to eat something. Once I am full with something good in my tummy, the bad craving will go away. JMHO. If I don't need to eat, but still want to then I will go outside and do something or call someone that loves to chat forever! lol.

Charlotte~~
 
Thanks ladies. I know it's just a case of mind over matter. I've managed to clean up my eating before, and know if I stay away from the junk for a while, it gets easier. Lindzebird, I printed that list up. I plan on posting it in a few prominant places. I wonder how my co workers would feel seeing it on the frig in the breakroom?
 
Harkening back to another thread, maybe you could just cry. I don't usually eat while I'm crying. I may eat AFTER I cry, but not while I'm actually crying.
 
I took up knitting when I starting my weight loss journey. It's pretty hard to eat when you have your hands tied up in yarn!!!
 
YES! Knitting, crocheting, reading a book. Those things will help! I also just avoid the doughnut section, heck, the entire bakery section of my grocery store. If I don't have it in the house I don't eat it. I've also stopped buying chips, and candy. I might buy candy about once a month, or less. But chips I buy maybe once every other month. If I do buy doughnuts, I make sure that I just get enough for my son and dh.
This really helps with the emotional eating.

Kathy
 
I really like your post and the tips that others have given to you (I think I will try some of the ideas). I also struggle with eating clean, and for me it sometimes doesn't matter what the food is, but it's just an impulse that is really, REALLY hard to fight. I have tried rationalizing or playing time games where I occupy my time with something and sometimes it works sometimes not. For me the strangest thing is when I stop, take a couple of deep breaths and think about why I need to eat at that moment? It does not make it any easier, but I think it raises my awareness that it is just an urge. Makes me feel like a food junky, because it almost feels like a force drawing me to eat and it's stronger than my will power! Ahhhhh! Okay, so some days you win the battle, some days not.
 
I tend to drink coffee, but I switch to decaf after my morning round. Sometimes I'll chew gum or even have a low cal pospicle. Mmmmm. pospicles. tasty tasty pospicles.


Age only matters if you're cheese.
 
keli, I know exactly what you mean by feeling it's like a force. My brain actually seems to shut off while I'm shoving food into my mouth. Keeping junk food out of the house is a good suggestion, but I'll eat something else if junk isn't available. Cinnamon sugar toast, cereal, peanut butter...stuff that is ok in small amounts.
 
Hey Robin,
I drink tea. Sometimes it helps. My mom always tells me to brush my teeth- but that seems weird. She says it works:)
Deanie:)
 
This is along the lines of Amy's knitting suggestion. I find that when I start a scrapbooking project, I can totally forget about eating for hours on end. True story. :)

Pinky
 
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