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Old 09-24-2004, 04:43 PM   #1  
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Default Help! Eating too much while at home!

Hi, everybody! I could use some ideas for a problem I have. I am a SAHM for now, and I find that I do fine with not overeating when I am out and about...shopping, at friend's homes, at kid's activities, etc. However, when I am at home, I tend to go to the cupboard and snack a lot. I exercise in the mornings and find that helps, but the afternoon is the dangerous time. Anyone else have the same problem? What are your solutions? Thank you!

Jill
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Old 09-24-2004, 07:47 PM   #2  
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I work, but I still used to eat from boredom and habit. Sitting in front of the TV meant munching, for example.

So, really think about any specific triggers you might have like that, and just be aware when that "eat" voice pops up that it's just a reaction to the trigger.

The real key is to keep your hands busy. Whether it's cleaning, or a hobby, or painting your nails, or sorting photos, or whatever, if your hands are doin' sompthin' they can't be putting food in your mouth.

Also, perhaps make rules for yourself about the kitchen being off-limits except at meal time, only eating at the dining room table with plate and flatware, etc. The more you make food all about food and less about other things, the more those non-nourishment associations will fade.
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Old 09-25-2004, 07:46 AM   #3  
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Like you, I often have trouble in the afternoon. Usually it's boredom, that's a slow time for me. Funniegrrl's suggestion to keep your hands busy works on the boredom front, too -- maybe if there's a craft or hobbie you enjoy you could schedule to do that on the days that you're home.

The thing I do is have a planned snack/small meal around 3-4: lowfat yogurt and a piece of fruit, ryvita crackers with a small piece of cheese and some fruit, or a small protein shake. It's a good way to get in some extra dairy, and I find the yogurt really satisfies me and holds me over untill dinner.

I also used to make sure that I exercised in the afternoon, but my schedule has changed and now that happens around lunchtime. How about a quick walk in the afternoon, or some light yoga, just 20 minutes or so?

Hope this helps,
Linda C.
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Old 09-25-2004, 04:38 PM   #4  
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I empathize! I work from home most days of the week, and my desk is in my kitchen, so I spend most of my time about two steps from snacks, and more often than not, I give in to them. A few stragegies I've treid that seem to help:

Floss! I am pretty maniacal about oral hygine, so if I'm terribly tempted to eat, I'll go brush my teeth really thoroughly and floss and then gargle with some Listerine. I'm less likely to eat because I don't want to undo my cleaning, and the after-taste of Listerine makes everyting taste yucky for a while anyway.

I make it okay to snack all I want on certain things, like raw veggies. I cut up a bunch of broccoli and cucumbers and stick them front-and-center in the fridge, and give myself permission to eat all I want of them. It usually satifies the have-to-eat urge, and actually helps me get my veggies in for the day when I other wise might skip them.

Tea! I invested in a huge variety of different Celestial Seasonings teas, and I try to drink them instead of eating when I know I'm not really hungry. I have enough variety of flavors that i really does seem like a snack when I'm drinking, say, the gingerbread cookie flavor. Yum.

Walk away: when I hit that afternoon slump and find I just can't think about anything but food, I grab my laptop and plant myself in a room far from the kitchen, and busy myself with something I can't easily leave. I find that simply not entering the kitchen for a while takes the whole idea of snacking away.

Porno! I know, this sounds weird, but bear with me. I find that the one thing I find absolutely incompatible with eating is sex. So if I want to erase any thoughts of nachos from my mind, I hop onto literotica a read a story of an "adult" nature. For hours afterwards, the very thought of cramming chips in my mouth is just gross. And it also reminds me that our bodies can give us pleasure in many more ways than just the sensation of taste.
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Old 09-25-2004, 05:41 PM   #5  
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Default Lock the fridge!

This is probably the dumbest thing you'll ever hear in your life but it works for me. I'm a bit of an an artsy craftsy person and I find a lot of solutions in the weirdest places. I have a thing about eating in front of people, family, friends, strangers, doesn't matter. Good when there's people around, not great when I'm alone. The food in the fridge calls my name so I "lock" my fridge and freezer. I went to the hardware store and got four metal plates (About 3 x two inches), some light chain, four heavy magnet sheets and two very imposing looking pad locks. I glued the metal plates to the magnets, then the link chains to the ends of the plates. To finsh it off I put the pad locks through the chain. On the fridge one end went on the door and the other on the body. The doors aren't technically locked because all you need to do is pull one end of the magnet free, but it makes me stop and think whether I really want to eat or not (plus it always give our guests a laugh.) Like I said, It's dumb but it works for me. Once the fridge was locked I had to find other things to do. You don't have to waste time making a lock for you fridge if you don't want to, my sister uses what she refers to as the lazy man's lock in her fridge and cabinets. She keeps a roll of blue masking tape in her kithchen and when she feels the munchies coming on she runs around her kithen and puts a piece of tape over all the doors. (to me that takes to much energy and by the time i tape all the cabinets and things closed I usually wind up working up an apetite and end up eating any way, but it works for her.) If nothing else I hope this made you laugh at the stupid things people do to try to lose weight.

Keep busy,
Breaking Out.
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Old 09-26-2004, 06:04 AM   #6  
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Yes, these are all great suggestions and they do work. I also read a great tip here at 3FC about your body sending signals that get misinterpreted. Sometimes you may think you're hungry but you really need water. Every time you are tempted to munch drink a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. If you're still hungry, really hungry, then eat a fruit or veggie, or diet Jello.

When this happens to me, I walk around the block with the dog (only takes a minute and feels great and the dog is happy and gets his exercise too) or jump on this website. It's highly motivational!! I find that warm drinks are satisfying and drink the flavored teas or decaf coffee. Also, an old "Hint from Helouise" is a good rule of thumb to remember - 5 THINGS or 5 MINUTES. Put 5 things in their proper place or spend 5 minutes cleaning a drawer, washing a window, filing important papers, etc.

Lastly, think about what you're about to eat. Ask yourself what nutritional value the item has. (Read the ingredients - that could stop you right there.) Is it good for your body? Will it improve my health?
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Old 09-26-2004, 08:47 AM   #7  
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Thanks for the great ideas! I like the fridge lock thing....it might make me stop and think. I don't like to overeat in front of others, but the "secret" eating is bad. (I mean, how can it be secret when I've gained 60 pounds?) I also like hot teas, so I'll try some new flavors. Do you sweeten with anything? Artificial or otherwise? The jello and veggies is a good idea, also. Again, thanks...it's nice to know I'm not alone in my struggles. OT-what does GRITS stand for ? Jill
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Old 09-26-2004, 02:08 PM   #8  
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HI Jill,

I sweeten my tea with either Splenda or DaVinci syrup (not too much, tho)

Grits, as you probably know since you live in Georga, is a food common in the Southern USA and made famous in the movie "My Cousin Vinny." LOL - But as an acronym it stands for Girl Raised In The South. I'm originally from South Carolina.
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Old 09-26-2004, 09:16 PM   #9  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spores
Porno! I know, this sounds weird, but bear with me. I find that the one thing I find absolutely incompatible with eating is sex. So if I want to erase any thoughts of nachos from my mind, I hop onto literotica a read a story of an "adult" nature. For hours afterwards, the very thought of cramming chips in my mouth is just gross. And it also reminds me that our bodies can give us pleasure in many more ways than just the sensation of taste.

You are 100% correct, my friend. Whether watching it, doing it, reading about it or fantasizing it definately cuts any munchy desires I have.

Another incentive: think of all the new "moves" you can try?
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Old 09-27-2004, 10:47 PM   #10  
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If you need sweetener in your tea, try stevia. It's an herb that is naturally very sweet (they say 100 times more than sugar!) but has no metabolic effect in the body. It tastes to me very much like Splenda. Artificial sweetners don't agree with me, so stevia has been great! It comes in powdered form or liquid. If you can't find it in your grocery store, try a health food store. I put it in everything that I used to sweeten with sugar or honey -- tea, oatmeal, lemonade. My mom uses it for baking and says it turns out wonderfully.

okidoll -- Glad I'm not alone on the porno thing! hee hee
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Old 09-28-2004, 07:41 AM   #11  
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Thanks for the heads up on the stevia sweetner. I will try to find some today! Also, on the porn thing, I always feel much sexier when I have met a weight loss goal! (Even if I don't look any different, it builds my self-confidence when I lose even a small amount of weight!) I should have known the GRITS acronym, but I had a brain lapse. Must be all the bad things I put in my mouth yesterday. But today is going to be an excellent day for starting over! Onward. HO! Jill
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Old 09-28-2004, 12:04 PM   #12  
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I am also a SAHM with nothing to do most of the time but sit and watch tv and eat. I have found that I simply cannot have fatty/sugary snacks in my home or I WILL eat them. I find that cleaning helps take some of the edge off. No house is ever too clean. Even if it looks clean you can still find things to do like clean out a closet, organize your drawers, clean out the pantry, laundry room.. etc. I also keep a 32 ounce water bottle filled and put it in a high traffic area, so that way, whenever I pass by that area I take a huge drink. It's a good way to get in your water and water helps curb cravings. It's wonderful for us SAHM's b/c we have such close access to a restroom! We are so lucky that we are able to spend our time at home with our kids and that should be an incentive. I don't want to be considered the "fat mom" and I want to be an example for my son. I know its hard, but we all have made a conscious decision to lose weight and there is alot of good tips and advice on this website. Hope some of this helps!

Amy
180/174/140
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