What tiny things can I do to treat myself instead of snacking?

[DeweyWilkerson]

I'm getting rather desperate. I've put on so much weight and I can't get out of eating constantly. My DS is 8 months old and I've spent my maternity leave visiting various bakeries and snacking at home, because I can, and no other reason.

I'm not comfortable in my clothes and I need to stop with the constant grazing. I'm trying to embrace self care, and seeing if I can reward myself with ways other than food.

Does anyone have any good ideas of what I can do when I want to reach for the chocolate? I was thinking things like buy a nice hand cream and put that on instead, that sort of thing?

Personal care such as nails, hair, skin....get some nice nail polish etc.

Following - I am just as bad and mine are ten years on yours!

Read a book, have a bath, go for a walk, phone a friend, sit in the sun, do some mindful colouring if you can be arsed and most importantly - don't have it in the house!

Thank you, some great suggestions! Anything I can do with a baby right next to me that's into everything would be a bonus also

Drink low cal cordials?? Snack on salad?

Agree don’t have at home, though maybe easier said than done.
Knitting or sewing so hands are busy
Painting your nails
Puzzles - physical book or online
MN!

So I’m trying to improve my disgraceful lock down diet.
I agree with the drinks tip having lots of hot and cold low calorie options of delicious drinks to sip. Still feels like a treat and I don’t think I drink enough so perhaps being more hydrated as a consequence further stems hunger.
Good luck !

Crochet & (hand) knitting are good ideas and also brushing your teeth.

Cut down massively on sugar, then the drive to snack won't be there. When I cut out sugar, I don't really get snacky.

Until then, I always find brushing my teeth works.

Get a nice hairbrush and brush your hair. Do a jigsaw. Have a cup of tea.

Everytime you want to graze have a large glass of water first and then an apple. You might find you dont want a snack then.

Take up knitting..it keeps your hands busy

Chew gum

Just dont start drinking sugar free drinks, they are so sweet they mess with your perception of sugar and make you crave even more sweet stuff

Water water water water water

You'll be so busy peeing you won't have time to snack

Seriously, most of us are dehydrated and confuse hunger signals with thirst signals. Drink more water, it definitely helps.
Low carb also amazing for reducing appetite. Sugar just makes you crave more sugar. Cut it out, you stop wanting it.

A movement snack :) star jumps, hula hoop, 10 mins Pilates, whatever. Love them!

I also find getting into the fresh air, literally removing yourself from the food focussed situation helps. Pop into garden, walk round the block. Doable with a baby especially in this weather.

High quality coffee?

@DeweyWilkerson

I'm getting rather desperate. I've put on so much weight and I can't get out of eating constantly. My DS is 8 months old and I've spent my maternity leave visiting various bakeries and snacking at home, because I can, and no other reason.

I'm not comfortable in my clothes and I need to stop with the constant grazing. I'm trying to embrace self care, and seeing if I can reward myself with ways other than food.

Does anyone have any good ideas of what I can do when I want to reach for the chocolate? I was thinking things like buy a nice hand cream and put that on instead, that sort of thing?

I brush my teeth - I find it is more difficult to snack after doing this (not impossible though!) or chew gum?

I have a Keurig coffee maker, nothing fancy. I also have little pod sized baskets and buy unbleached little filters so I don't throw away used pods. The machine also has a milk foamer that will foam milk either cold or hot.

I just made myself an iced decaf latte with skim milk and some Splenda sweetener.

A nice treat that stopped me snacking.

I just drip the coffee onto a glass full of ice, then add the foamed milk.

Black coffee, decaf is fine, but yes, biggest thing is not to have it in the house :(

Yes, just try not to buy whatever your biggest weakness is (chocolate for me). I go through phases of whether my self control can manage this or not...

I do still have snacks in the house but try and make them things that I enjoy but won't binge on so crisps, my favourite fruits and ice lollies.

Have you got a vibey 😉 ?

Starlightlady

Make a playlist of special tunes
Treat yourself to expensive gel pens

@unlimiteddilutingjuice - My option sounds better to me! 😂

Have a stack of nice cards in the house (pick a bunch next time you go shopping). Pick one, write a quick message to a friend/family member, something like 'surprise hello, love to you' or something funny/loving you know they'll like. Stick a stamp on it and leave it by the door so you post it next time you're going out.
I love this cos it makes me feel good to imagine the pleasure of them getting it. Nice friendly post is a rare treat. The feel good feeling lasts longer than a snack for me.

Tiny bursts of self care. 10 squats, star jumps, leg raises, sit ups. Babies make good hand weights . I learned that congratulating yourself afterwards (even if you just think: Yay! I did 10 squats instead of eating a biscuit!) has a massive impact on sticking with it.

You can also give your face, hands or feet a pamper. If painting nails is too harsh chemically with the baby around, use natural products. My toddlers used to end up rubbing my feet with creams. It was so cute. They just copied what I was doing.

Another great 'snack' is to put one of your favourite songs from when you were younger on You Tube. Or watch a Graham Norton interview with one of your crushes. Or a comedy sketch.

Fresh flowers or fruit.
Make a jar of mixed quotes and treats to pick from. Such as you have been awarded 10 minutes kitchen disco.