EATING WHEN i'M BORED AND/OR ALONE/ LONELY

[kcityroller]

Hey guys,
I have had a real tough time today wanting to eat,eat,eat mostly because I'm just bored and all alone for a few days. My wife is at a National Marrow Donor Program conference in Minneapolis. I'm not LONELY but alone and bored.

[DaveSchwReno]

Boy, can I identify.

I work at home and when I take a break from the computer I just naturally wander out to the kitchen and open the refrigerator. (Note that this is a habit I am commited to overcoming.)

Meantime, I have a strategy.

First, I always keep plenty of nearly-free stuff around that I like. For example, No Pudge Fudge Bars (less than 1 point per bar). (I am probably eating 5-10 of these each week at just such a time as this.)

Another thing I keep on hand is hard-boiled eggs, and usually some pickeled. Three such eggs (whites only) are one point. (My dog gets the yolks as a treat.)

In addition, I always have some small apples and bananas (1 point) around. Strawberries and whipped cream work as well (1.5 cups of strawberries and whipped cream is 2 points.)

There is also some relatively low-point popcorn available if you look for it.

The other thing I do before I choose the fudge bar, eggs, fruit or popcorn is to ask myself, "Will this satisfy me?" If it won't then I must decide what will and then decide if the points are worth it.

Sometimes I get the urge for (say) a couple of hotdogs. Well, Oscar Meyer low-fat franks are only 1-pt each.

Anyway, I think the answer lies in having a strategy in place before you get bored.


Dave

[CW]

GREAT ANSWERS DAVE.

Eating is not the problem. What we choose to eat is.
Portion it
Avoid it
or walk it off.

Find what fullfills you not what just fills you.:bcbsalute
CW

[walkingkritiklink]

This is a hard habit to break. It was one of the first thing i had to deal with when i started WW. My key is like mentioned earlier low calorie foods and water. Man the water helps, i love drinking it untell it comes out the same color it went in as(sorry, my favorite joke.)

[CW]

This is a hard habit to break. It was one of the first thing i had to deal with when i started WW. My key is like mentioned earlier low calorie foods and water. Man the water helps, i love drinking it untell it comes out the same color it went in as(sorry, my favorite joke.)
LOL... I tried that with beer in Chicago on Saint Patrick's Day many yeas ago... The Beer and the Chicago River were both pea Green...coincidence? I don't think so.....
CW

[alrightguy]

LOL... I tried that with beer in Chicago on Saint Patrick's Day many yeas ago... The Beer and the Chicago River were both pea Green...coincidence? I don't think so.....
CW
:lol: TOO FUNNY CW!!!!!! A healthy amount Spinach will turn #2 green in case ya haven't noticed!:D

Back to the subject at hand....I think Dave has some great ideas. I have the same problem - we just need to keep the good food around! Good Luck!

[Hoosier Daddy]

I know exactly how you feel.
Last Saturday my wife was working late and my son was off at a Halloween party. I ate my dinner was feeling full, but I still felt the urge to eat out of boredom. I tried to keep busy, but every time I got up to do something... I found myself standing in front of the fridge with the door open. I would say to myself (out loud) "YOU AREN'T HUNGRY!"

After doing that several times I decided it was better if I just went to bed.
Stay strong Vince and post here if you need support. I think Dave had some really good ideas. I'll be using them the next time I'm home alone.

[Smiling Fred]

I can relate, too. I work from home alot and am an eat-when-bored person. I've been able to combat it with a couple of strategies.

First, I am doing the Core food plan. That way, if I am really needing a snack I can just grab a banana, apple, pear, or bag of Orville's Smartpop and don't worry about counting. To avoid the "being bored" factor I maintain my own honeydo list of all the tasks, large and small, that are needing to be done. I am taking two classes, I work two part-time jobs, I have my own home business, I take care of the house and yard, do all the shopping and cooking and I do volunteer work with two organizations. So there is ALWAYS something to do.

If I find myself bored and looking for food I just think of my list. Much as we can exchange activity for food on WW, I like to think of exchanging food for work. If I can check off something on my list instead of eating then I have a win-win situation.

:) Smiling Fred :)

[stampinmiss]

I am a boredom eater too- big time!

& when you are alone is the worst because if no one sees you eat it... That is dangerous thinking.

One of the things that led to my big wieght gain before joining WW was my DH took a traveling job. He was gone & I had little kids who went to bed early. THen I was alone with the food!!! It was bad & I had to reform my ways.

He still travels but I have learned to get up & do something- like what he posted about exchanging work for food, sometimes I make a deal with myself that if I get this & this done then maybe I will have a snack. Sometimes you wont even want the snack then.
Another thing was I thought about a friend of mine who lost 80 pounds & has maintained this for about 12 years. She's single & lives alone. I thought, when she's alone at night, she doesn't sit & eat. Why should I? I know I am harming myslef, not helping myself. It really helped me to think what I would do if my life circumstances were different & I didn't have family support- wouldn't I still want these changes for myself?