When I am bored I eat

[naynay]

Does anyone else have this problem? It drives me crazy! Just today I ate a good breakfast went for a run, did some stuff around the house then had a salad for lunch. After lunch I was bored. So I started eating and after I started it took me long time to stop. But it happens almost everyday I get bored and eat. I don't know what to do I don't have anything to occupy my time for a couple hours in the afternoon.

 

[martijean1]

Did you have some substance to your salad? Or was it just a bunch of vegies? A big salad isn't going to keep you satisfied for more that about 3 hours....I would say add beans and a big chunk of whole grain bread or a serving turkey/chicken to it and see if that changes your afternoon noshing...

And remember, snacks are a GOOD thing when they're in moderation...There are plenty of good for you (but feel bad for you) options out there...

MJ

 

[naynay]

Ok thanks for the input

 

[ellesan]

This is a very common problem, you're not alone! You've conditioned yourself to not question your thoughts when you are bored. You need to mentally "press pause" when you reach for food and aren't hungry and ask yourself some questions.
Examples:

1. Am I really hungry?
2. How will this food feel as I eat it?
3. How will I feel right after I've finished eating it?
4. How will I feel 1 hour after I eat it?
5. Will this food still be with me 3 hours after eating? How will that make me feel?
6. How will I feel tomorrow morning if I eat this?

Simply getting some perspective and knowing that YOU have control over the food and your thoughts is very powerful.

You also need to find other things to do during those hours so that your mind is occupied, preferably something outside the house so you are not thinking about food.

I highly recommend the book, The Beck Diet Solution, by Judith Beck. This book is not a diet, it is about the mental/emotional challenges of eating, dieting and self-sabotage. There are lots of useful tips in this book.

You can do it!

 

[Tamrahan]

I have the same problem only in the evenings. I do well all day then after dinner and after DH goes to work I'm bored. I want to eat in front of the TV.
All can say is when I have something to do I don't think about food. Keep your hands busy-needle point, work on a jigsaw puzzle, figure out a project like gardening or refininshing furniture or a musical instrument-anything that keeps your hands busy.
I got my accordion out and started playing again and that has helped. That can take up a couple of hours for me in the evening.

 

[kEwL]

This is a very common problem, you're not alone! You've conditioned yourself to not question your thoughts when you are bored. You need to mentally "press pause" when you reach for food and aren't hungry and ask yourself some questions.
Examples:

1. Am I really hungry?
2. How will this food feel as I eat it?
3. How will I feel right after I've finished eating it?
4. How will I feel 1 hour after I eat it?
5. Will this food still be with me 3 hours after eating? How will that make me feel?
6. How will I feel tomorrow morning if I eat this?

Simply getting some perspective and knowing that YOU have control over the food and your thoughts is very powerful.

You also need to find other things to do during those hours so that your mind is occupied, preferably something outside the house so you are not thinking about food.


You can do it!

This is good advice. I chew gum to help. Also make sure you get enough protien so you don't feel hungry as quickly.

 

[lcobb2]

These are awesome questions. I, too, eat when I'm bored and it's an ongoing problem, but these questions are the exact ones that I ask myself as well.

This is a very common problem, you're not alone! You've conditioned yourself to not question your thoughts when you are bored. You need to mentally "press pause" when you reach for food and aren't hungry and ask yourself some questions.
Examples:

1. Am I really hungry?
2. How will this food feel as I eat it?
3. How will I feel right after I've finished eating it?
4. How will I feel 1 hour after I eat it?
5. Will this food still be with me 3 hours after eating? How will that make me feel?
6. How will I feel tomorrow morning if I eat this?

Simply getting some perspective and knowing that YOU have control over the food and your thoughts is very powerful.

You also need to find other things to do during those hours so that your mind is occupied, preferably something outside the house so you are not thinking about food.

I highly recommend the book, The Beck Diet Solution, by Judith Beck. This book is not a diet, it is about the mental/emotional challenges of eating, dieting and self-sabotage. There are lots of useful tips in this book.

You can do it!

 

[naynay]

Thanks everybody

 

[nicolegadino]

I eat when I am bored, when I am mad, when I am happy. I'll eat just about anything anytime, so I have to try and be really strict and keep healthy foods around.

 

[LauraMax]

Goodness yes--not boredom per say, but when I'm not running around I tend to run to & from the fridge. My problem is the weekends. If I'm home most of the day I eat much more than I do on weekdays.

There doesn't seem to be a solution for me. I think the older I get the less discipline I have. Or maybe it's that I'm getting sick of depriving myself!

 

[MelanieC]

Goodness yes--not boredom per say, but when I'm not running around I tend to run to & from the fridge. My problem is the weekends. If I'm home most of the day I eat much more than I do on weekdays.

There doesn't seem to be a solution for me. I think the older I get the less discipline I have. Or maybe it's that I'm getting sick of depriving myself!

I feel the same way about always depriving myself. I didn't want to admit feeling that way on these forums, but its a relief to know that others feel the same way. Its a constant struggle, but whenever I want to eat too much, I think about the hard work I put into working out, and I don't want to sabotage those efforts. I get so tired of disappointing myself, so I feel proud of myself when I can talk myself out of eating too much.

 

[Beavs]

Feed your mind and read a good book. There is even a book discussion group here so you have no excuses

 

[naynay]

it is so hard my mom always has ice cream in the house and I see it in the freezer and just wanta eat the whole thing. I keep telling my self self control self control. and after I finished stuffing my self I feel so bad.

 

[nicolegadino]

lmao! I read a book a day, and still find time to snack while reading.