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Original poster

Anyone successfully stopped boredom/comfort/emotionl eating?

130 replies

Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 19:06

I cannot stop. I enjoy eating, I love food and I'm always really quite bored. Food makes me happy. I also have terrible hayfever at the moment which is making me feel dreadful but the eating was still an issue before that.
Everyday I say to myself I will sort my eating but I don't then I so cross with myself.
There must be a way to overcome this without only relying on willpower?
If I have something nice to eat I tell myself I deserve a treat but I'm going to end up with diabetes so it's an absolutely ridiculous and wrong mindset.

OP posts:
Beetr00t · 28/05/2022 21:25

I could have written that, I'm 21 stone and have no willpower, I feel absolutely horrific just watching myself get bigger and bigger

littlese · 28/05/2022 21:27

I brush my teeth after dinner and because I can't be bothered to brush my teeth again, I tend not to snack after dinner. Was a really small change but has really helped!

Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 21:39

Teeth cleaning is a good idea, I've done that before.

OP posts:

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Weight management
Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 21:40

Beetr00t · 28/05/2022 21:25

I could have written that, I'm 21 stone and have no willpower, I feel absolutely horrific just watching myself get bigger and bigger

Sending you so much love, its so easily done. Xxxx

OP posts:
Plinkyplankyplonk · 28/05/2022 21:50

The only thing that has ever helped me was medication. It's practically cured my binge eating disorder

Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 21:53

Plinkyplankyplonk · 28/05/2022 21:50

The only thing that has ever helped me was medication. It's practically cured my binge eating disorder

I didn't even know you could get medication? How can I get this?

OP posts:
SugarIsMyCrackCocaine · 28/05/2022 21:56

Ohh I'm absolutely dreadful for stuffing my face with chocolate and sugary snacks all day long. My husband and I have shared chocolate in the cupboard... and then I have my own secret supply tucked away in my backpack.

I wasn't like this before pregnancy and breastfeeding, but god I'm sleep deprived. Sleep deprived and often slightly bored (not really complaining, I adore my little boy).

I worry about diabetes too and know I have to change this habit. I'm trying no-spend June, started from my payday this week. I can't keep frittering away my wages on little supermarket shops that involve treats, usually sweet ones.

Really understand how difficult it can be to stop, I've managed not to buy any sugary treats the last few days. The ban on spending at all seems to be working. But I've really missed those big sugary mouthfuls today.

LostInTheColonies · 28/05/2022 22:02

Really boring but this is what worked for me. I was a shocking snacker & secret eater :
Reality wake-up on just how much I weighed (just tipped from overweight to obese)
Desire to set better example for DC
Record EVERYTHING eaten (added all to FitBit) - note cals, and balance against exercise
Meticulous meal plan & shopping list with nothing extra going in the trolley
And nothing in the house that might incite picking!

I've cut carbs right down & that stops me being hungry, and if bored, there's nothing that I want to pick at! We have no bread, no biscuits, no crisps, no sweets, no fruity yoghurt, no fancy cheese (yum!).

nutbutter1 · 28/05/2022 22:02

A spend ban is a good idea . I also have decided to not eat in the car .

SugarIsMyCrackCocaine · 28/05/2022 22:11

@nutbutter1 I guess the spending ban sets up another goal to focus on that's not all about what I'm eating, it'll be nice transferring money to my savings account. But I'm finding not spending anything at all is way easier than strolling round Sainsbury's and trying to resist the temptation to put that bag of chocolate buttons in my basket.

Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 22:14

LostInTheColonies · 28/05/2022 22:02

Really boring but this is what worked for me. I was a shocking snacker & secret eater :
Reality wake-up on just how much I weighed (just tipped from overweight to obese)
Desire to set better example for DC
Record EVERYTHING eaten (added all to FitBit) - note cals, and balance against exercise
Meticulous meal plan & shopping list with nothing extra going in the trolley
And nothing in the house that might incite picking!

I've cut carbs right down & that stops me being hungry, and if bored, there's nothing that I want to pick at! We have no bread, no biscuits, no crisps, no sweets, no fruity yoghurt, no fancy cheese (yum!).

Yup that's the way to do it isn't it and I've done it before.
I love my tea with half a sweetener and that sets me up craving sweet stuff all day! So I need to cut it out.
In terms of cutting down on spending I need to stop constantly going out for coffee, it's almost daily!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 22:17

How do I get over the mindset of "I deserve a treat?"

OP posts:
MushyPeasPrincess · 28/05/2022 22:27

Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 22:17

How do I get over the mindset of "I deserve a treat?"

Stop thinking of crap food as a "treat" as it's destroying your body, limiting your ability to enjoy life and shortening your time on this planet.

A treat is giving your body the nutrition and water it needs to live a long, healthy life seeing your kids grow up without such a high risk of terrible illness, or years of having someone else wipe your arse because you can't move.

Does that help? Grin

Chickmad · 28/05/2022 22:27

Can you stop treating yourself with food and maybe put what you would spend on your food treat into an account for something non food related? Whatever YOU want regardless of how frivolous or otherwise but not food...so eventually a new top, concert ticket, spa day etc etc.

Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 22:28

Helps massively yes!!! 😆

OP posts:
WankBadger5000 · 28/05/2022 22:29

Oh ladies can I join you?? Currently sitting here working my way through a huge bag of crisps. I've had Nandos, ice cream and sweets too. No reason, just tired and bored. As soon as DS is in bed at 7 I start, every night, and every morning I wake up feeling utterly rank and I promise myself I'll stop but I can't!

The weight is piling on, pre marriage and DS I used to go to the gym every night and do group classes and spin, I adored it. I'd not feel like undoing all my efforts with shit food at all.

After a nasty, controlling marriage that I left at the end 2020 I'm now alone with my lovely boy. The alone bit is blissful but have no time to exercise. I know technically I could do stuff at home in the evenings but I'm knackered and I don't think my downstairs neighbours would appreciate it. I just can't motivate myself. I've tried arty hobbies which were also my thing previously but I'm short on space currently so it's just more stuff to get out and pack up when I'm already shattered by 7pm. I've promised myself a spin bike when we move to a house but that's taking forever too 🙄

I started treating myself to food as once I had access to money and my own free will again, it was cheap(ish), easy to grab something nice and felt indulgent. When you are responsible for a small person all the time and on limited funds there's not much else to do! It was a bit of an internal two fingers up to my knob head ex too I guess......

......but how do you stop?????

Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 22:35

We need to support each other.

OP posts:
Beancounter1 · 28/05/2022 22:56

Find other small treats that you can give yourself because you deserve it.
How about:
A new hand cream, a bubble bath, a magazine, some music, new socks, a fancy new mug or teacup, a tray of bedding plants for the window / garden, a new pen in a frivolous colour.

gingaling · 28/05/2022 23:01

I can't cure it, I just try to have less calorific snacks. So so far I've found breadsticks to be my go to. So it's pure processed beige, but low fat and low sugar. I've also had a few rice & corn cakes, but the sugar coated caramel ones which are quite tasty are also quite high in calories, so if you eat the whole pack 😖 So you have to access if it is better than what you usually eat.

I did stop myself the other day. I was given a pack of biscuits and there are still there. Chocolate malted milks. I calculated a whole pack was 1250 kcals and I would of course eat them all if I opened them. So I didn't have them. I had an options hot chocolate ( which is 40 kcals, but still some sugar in there) and a banana.

Original poster
Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 23:04

Options hot chocolates are a good shout but I find them a bit watery? Can you have with milk?
I've been buying those 99cal bars but end up having at least two.

OP posts:
gingaling · 28/05/2022 23:04

Oh I do like those posh little mini carrots with some pizza express light dressing to dip in too. But it's not a cuppa tea companion. It's really tough especially at the weekend.

newbiename · 28/05/2022 23:08

Nowillpoweratall · 28/05/2022 22:17

How do I get over the mindset of "I deserve a treat?"

Someone said to me 'you're not a dog , you don't need treats '
Very tempted by OA - but also don't want any God stuff.

gingaling · 28/05/2022 23:11

@Nowillpoweratall I used to add a splash of milk, the same amount as I'd have with tea, but I've cut that out now. However it makes it much nicer. To make it with a whole cup of milk would increase the calories by 120 / 130. So for me then I'd rather have a tea and a low cal bar for that. But I struggle with stopping at one bar 😬

DoNutSweatTheSmallStuff · 28/05/2022 23:22

Toothbrushes
Chewing gum
Have a drink
Find something to do with your hands (knitting, reading etc)
Don't buy the junk food / treats in the first place - if you've not got it, you can't eat it!

Highlyquestionablehoumous · 28/05/2022 23:28

I have found 16:8 really useful for this. Because the only rule is you only eat within the window, I don't really think about eating outside of the window, because I know there won't be any restrictions and I can enjoy everything when I do eat if that makes sense?