I eat when I'm bored, how can I control this?

Question

I live in a small town where there is literally nothing to do. I work out five times a week for 50 minutes and eat sensibly... When I get bored though, I find myself wandering into the kitchen and eating, and I don't know how to control it. I know that I am the one doing it, but sometimes I can't help it, and don't realize it until I'm done eating. What are some ideas for "snacks" I could buy or make to eat instead of the junk I eat now.

Insightful answers only please. No "dont eat when you're bored" - I KNOW THAT.

Uhm, Otmen or whatever your name is, I don't have stubby fingers and I already play guitar.

Answer 1

It sounds like you're running low on pleasurable activities. You need to develop some new hobbies so you don't rely so much on food. But more importantly, you need to understand why you are bored. Boredom can be confused with depression or a lack of fulfillment in your life. It's important to be clear about what you're feeling so that boredom doesn't mask a more important emotional issue that is holding you back from losing weight.

But dealing with boredom is not always so simple. It is, after all, an emotion. And just like the way we handle other difficult emotions, the remedy many of us turn to is food.

“When you’re bored, you set out to do something more productive, like eating,” explains George Rapitis, a high-school nutritionist in Michigan. “You’re trying to heal that emotion. But it’s only a temporary fix and it becomes a habit. You start reaching for food every time you’re bored.”

Of course, that action can lead to weight gain and other health problems. So here we offer some suggestions and alternatives to try next time you encounter the doldrums.

1. Stop making excuses. Once you know you engage in unhealthy eating habits to combat boredom, it’s time to look for other types of contentment.

2. Walk the dog. Don’t have a dog? See point 1. Anything physical (preferably in the fresh outdoors) works.

3. Listen to music. “Something like Beethoven,” encourages Rapitis. “It’s satisfying music with lots of notes and it’s very relaxing.”

4. Be creative. Paint, draw, shape clay, sew some beautiful beads…Art and crafts are very enjoyable, and unbeatable emotional outlets, too.

5. Take a bubble bath. “When people are bored they stagnate, there’s really not a lot of joy in what they do,” says Julia Trick, N.D., nutrition director at The Green House spa in Texas. OK, it’s the second part of her comment that explains why you might take a bath! A bubble bath is fun, not to mention restorative and indulgent. Men, this one’s for you, too!

6. Practice deep breathing. You may need expert guidance on how to perfect the technique, but focused breathing could help dissipate your sense of boredom. Best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil is a big proponent of the power of breath work.

7. Meditate. The transformative effects of meditation are well documented. Again, you may need to research whether Vipassana, T.M., or another form of meditation is the right one for you.

8. Read. Biographies of inspirational people may help best, advises Trick.

9. Drink herbal tea. People often crave stimulants when they’re bored. Sure, caffeine and sugar give you a little lift, but there are better choices, according to Trick. “Cinnamon tea, particularly, has a very good effect on blood sugar,” she says. “You can make a big thermos of it and drink it all day.” She also suggests licorice tea for adrenal support – but not the candy!

10. Balance your body. Speaking of blood sugar, keeping it steady throughout the day by eating smaller, more frequent meals may prevent the onset of boredom before it begins.

11. Repeat an affirmation. Or an inspiring quote. “Write it out and stick it right there on the fridge,” says Trick.

12. Call a friend. Pick up the phone instead of a bag of nasty chips to encourage you out of your funk.

13. Prepare healthy food. For that matter, get excited about food again, Trick says, because maybe it’s food that’s the root of your boredom. “About 75 percent of our calories come from the same old 10 foods. Challenge yourself when you shop for groceries to pick six foods you haven’t tried before, or that you have to learn how to cook,” she suggests.

14. Do housework. OK, it’s near the bottom of the list because really, not many of us enjoy it. Still, there is the satisfaction of having a clean home, and alternative fulfillments are what you’re seeking.

15. Develop a list. In preparation for the next time boredom strikes, write a list of these and/or your own ideas of things to do. “Print it twice and put one list on your cupboard and one on the refrigerator,” recommends registered dietician Rick Hall. “If you don’t have the list, you probably won’t think of something later when you’re bored!

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I eat when I'm bored, how can I control this?
I live in a small town where there is literally nothing to do. I work out five times a week for 50 minutes and eat sensibly... When I get bored though, I find myself wandering into the kitchen and eating, and I don't know how to control it. I know that I am the one doing it, but sometimes I...

Answer 3

There is only one thing that has helped decrease my snacking: keeping my hands busy. Both hands. I have taken up knitting. It keeps my hands busy, I'm doing something productive while watching tv or talking to friends or whatever, and it calms me down. It's kind of like a meditation for me. The only down side is I don't have enough money for all the cool yarns out there!
Other things I do are beading and sewing. Whatever you try, it needs to be something that keeps both hands busy; reading just isn't enough!
In case you're curious about learning how to knit, here's a website with video clips: http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Answer 4

I would suggest challenging yourself. If you have a lot of time on your hands, use it productively! What excites you? What have you always wanted to do but never had the time to? A scrapbook? Sew something? Write a penpal?

Time is valuable, live each day like it's your last.

Answer 5

I experience the same problem. A simple answer is not to buy snack foods. You will soon learn to ween off the snacks. But if it's neccesary, buy healthy foods such as celery, cucumbers, carrot sticks, those 100 calorie snacks, fruits, etc. That way, you can snack a little, and not feel guilty in the end.

Answer 6

Drrink water, that will make you feel full. Sometimes when I want to eat more and I know that I shouldn't I have one of those big blow pops, they last a while and it gives you something to do.

Answer 7

First, try gardening. It keeps you busy for a while. Also, you have to control yourself at the grocery store- buy 100 calorie packs (i recommend the oreo and chips ahoy) and lots of fruit. Keep salad in the fridge most of the time and you can snack on that. Also, lots of magazines and websites have other very helpful info. and you could search them on Google. Also, scrap-booking is a good past time as well as reading. You could also take long walks or talk to friends.

Answer 8

Vegetables and fruits are the best things to snack on and they have a high water content as well so are easily digested and of course are low calorie. Rice cakes are good too, they have yummy flavors and are low calorie. Its a shame there is nothing to do, try reading books or find a project to engage in rather than finding comfort in the food.

Answer 9

Walk to a co-worker's desk to chat as an alternative to instant messaging.

Answer 10

Enroll in an active art class, such as sculpture as well as ceramics.