5 Ways to Beat The Mindless Munchies
I have find that the kitchen has become my best friend lately. I guess it might be due to the fact that I am not in school, waiting to hear back from a possible job, and my husband is at work. Boredom… it gets me every time.
Between days of boredom, feeling like a bottomless pit other days, or being full and just desiring every cracker box in the cabinet, I have found the kitchen never lets me down to meet my needs. Can anyone relate?
Here are a few ways to prevent those binge eating kitchen dates:
Water
Sometimes we confuse hunger with thirst. Before you reach for that box of crackers, drink a bottle of ice-cold water and wait a few minutes. Then ask yourself if you are still hungry. If you truly are hungry you will feel it in your stomach, where as if you are thirst you will feel it more in your throat.
Gum
Pop a piece of gum into your mouth busy to prevent mindless munching or right after a meal to prevent further eating. Mint gum has also been known to suppress the your appetite and keep your mouth busy during those slow boring days.
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Blog / Read Blogs
I have found inspiration from other bloggers by simply reading about their dedication and motivation to lose weight. Blogging is also an outlet to hold you accountable, knowing that people will be reading your post and giving your encouragement to say no.
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Get Away
Is the kitchen calling your name? Get away from the kitchen. Either go into another room where the kitchen is not visible or if that isn’t even enough, go window-shopping with a friend.
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Exercise
Did you know that exercise affects two hormones, ghrelin and peptide YY, which suppresses your appetite? Not only are your beating boredom but you are suppressing your appetite and getting in a good workout.
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Hope these 5 tips help during those binge eating times! It’s not easy to say no during those moments… it’s a battle and you just got to push through and not give in!
What do you do to prevent the mindless munchies?
Tags: binging, blogging, Diet, Exercise, Food, gum, hungry, mindless munchies, prevent snacking, snacking, Sparkpeople, Water, Weight loss, Weight Watchers
July 31st, 2009 at 8:50 am
i keep my scale on the kitchen floor in front of the refrigerator and my food cupboard. it doesn’t necessarily STOP me from eating, but it does keep me mindful of my goal. i also took up crocheting last winter. my fingers were busy making dishcloths for christmas gifts instead of reaching for some chips.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:10 am
There are several good tips here. I don’t find the water does anything for me; however, I still drink a lot of it. All the other tips are things I use. Good post!
July 31st, 2009 at 10:25 am
Those are great tips! I know brushing your teeth can help but I hate brushing my teeth so I rarely use that tool.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hey! I love your blog. I just started a diet blog about four weeks ago and it really is helping me even more I think than when I do it normally. A couple things keep me from eating…reading a book, being on the computer, because my mind is occupied with something else. Also determination. I probably need to pick up some gum, though.
July 31st, 2009 at 11:59 am
Just like with getting out of my $60k of debt, I just don’t stock temptations
I didn’t visit stores to get tempted when I was clearing my debt, and I don’t buy chocolate or candy, chips or cookies to tempt me in the home because if I want chips, I have to drive out and buy them. It’s a hassle.
Plus, BF makes amazing homemade food.. so I don’t ever feel hungry or munchie (??) after eating a meal. Just not a habit I have.
If I do feel munchie, I eat a piece of fruit.
July 31st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Besides all of the above, I sometimes will take a quick nap. Fighting fatigue or sleep debt is one of my worst times for nibblenibblenibble. Excellent tips!
July 31st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Both when I was losing me weight, and now this is something I have to watch. Now, when I find myself wandering into the pantry, I consciously tell myself, “Stop – you are not hungry!”
Back when I was losing weight, I would not only tell myself to stop, but I would make myself wait 15 minutes until I ate something. During that time I could usually evaluate what it was I was really hungry for! Most of the time it wasn’t food!
July 31st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Great tips! I like having a cup of herbal tea to take the focus off eating. I usually have a cup of tea after dinner to not be tempted to snack. But I’ll also have a cup of tea in the afternoon if I find myself going back into the kitchen too much.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Those are really good tips! I definitely chew a piece of gum when I feel my sweet tooth coming on. It definitely helps me to stay away from that dang vending machine candy
July 31st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I brush my teeth or chew some gum. Sometimes I even just walk into the kitchen, stare at the fridge, then walk back to my seat (haha, it’s like I’m teasing myself or something). Sometimes I go for a walk or get out the mini weights too
July 31st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I have tried all of those tips. I will also make myself go take a shower and get ready for bed. When I do that I am telling my body it is time for bed… NO MORE FOOD! Reading blogs and writing my blog is definitely another good distraction.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for your kind words on Pitter Patter of Losing Pounds. I did answer you in the comments, but, I posted about my cravings here: http://tc-twistedfairytale.blogspot.com/2009/07/sick-but-here.html
July 31st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
hey thanks for the comment. These are great tips. I’ve actually found the water one to be the most effective. I’m eating way less now that I’ve upped my water intake!
July 31st, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Water is my favorite tool! I try to keep a bit bottle full at all times.
July 31st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Those are all great tips, but I have to disagree with your abt the blog-reading…I get SO hungry looking at the gorgeous food pics! lol! In fact, I’m off to get some munchies right now after some blog-reading. eek!
July 31st, 2009 at 6:04 pm
GREAT post! Those are all definitely great ideas to keep your paws out of the kitchen haha. I also try the SLAP method which simply requires slapping your hand and/or mouth when you go to put something you’re not hungry for in there.
give it a whirl or just add it as your 6th.. haha
July 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Great tips! The water trick is best for me. I agree with Sophia; blog reading gives me the munchies. Haha. Sometimes, walking is the best escape.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Great tips! The gum trick and finding something better to do always works for me- hence my frequent shopping trips
July 31st, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Oh and I had no idea you were a nursing student! That’s awesome! Are you going for your RN?
July 31st, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I’m a writer, so I will sit down and dig out outlines that I’ve put up, saving for a rainy day. I almost always go for a big glass of water. That helps everytime. Distraction is definitely the key. Great blog.
July 31st, 2009 at 9:27 pm
great tips!! love the blog
thank you so much for your comment xoxooxx
July 31st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I find that procrastination, something that usually annoys me about myself, is actually a good thing when it comes to tempting food around the house. “No, don’t have it now… you can have it tomorrow”.
August 1st, 2009 at 6:10 am
Great tips! I use the water trick a lot – if I chug a big glass and wait 15 or 20 minutes that’s usually enough time to realize that my stomach is full and I’m just bored.
August 1st, 2009 at 6:50 am
Chewing gum never fails to work!
August 1st, 2009 at 8:00 am
Congrats on starting your own website. Love the design.
I love your “get away” tip. I think being busy keeps me from mindless snacking…if I’m not around the snacks, I can’t snack!
August 1st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I definitely chew gum! I have to keep my mouth busy! When I mindlessly munch is more so at work than anywhere else! Water doesn’t do it for me!
August 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 am
nice article very informative
August 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 am
nice site visiting you back
August 2nd, 2009 at 3:39 am
A timely post for me, since I just arrived in another country and am hanging out looking for work! There’s only five steps between my computer and the kitchen…
I tend to stick with the water rule, and if not that I’ll have a fruit smoothie. It reminds me how great real food tastes and that I don’t need other foods. Another thing I do is to just re-read some Natalia Rose or flip through a cookbook with awesome photos of fresh food.
Cheers!
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am
At times, I think it is okay to munch on food. Just make sure you take a small handful and then seal the bag. Also, drinking water with the small snack would be good, too.
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Great list!
August 4th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Those are some great tips!