[j0lamo01]

I am trying to find other things to do in place of eating bad food. I am trying to come up with a list Please help me! Add on to the list what you like to do in place of eating unhealthy food.
Listening to music
Watching a favorite T.V. show
Playing with my cat

[Linsy]

Drink water. It's been said over and over and over again but it's a huge help. Instead of eating while watching TV, get a big cup and drink from it constantly. I was actually drinking from my giant Double Gulp cup as I read your post. I needed to do something to stop myself from picking at bites of the spanish rice that I made for my family lol.

[birdtostone]

I second the water advice. It really does help.
You could also go for a walk and take your dog along if you have one.

[DisgruntledOne]

jigsaw puzzles. Cross stiching

[AnnieDrews]

Clean the kitchen!

Eat "good" foods.

Crossword puzzles help me go to sleep.

Read a good magazine.

[30 Fat Still Awesome]

I like raw stuff like carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers and fruits.

Those fill me up.

Then there's coffee, almost 0 calorie.

[TooManyDimples]

How do you feel about tea? I drink Green tea between meals to help with cravings and it really helps in the evening. Plus it's supposed to be good for your metabolism and have lots of health benefits.

[mkendrick]

When I start to get it in my head that I deserve <insert bad food I'm wanting>, I try to make a conscious effort to tell myself "sure, I absolutely deserve a treat. Why wouldn't I, I'm the amazing incredible me!" But a treat doesn't have to be food. In fact, unhealthy food that doesn't nourish my body and just makes me fat isn't really a treat at all, is it? I can treat myself with a hot bath with the expensive bubble bath soap. Then watching a guilty pleasure chick flick while painting my toes. Preparing a healthy on plan snack that won't generate those awful guilty feelings.

I do lots of things to "treat" myself when I want a "treat." I pamper myself.

[j0lamo01]

Thanks everyone so far!@kim I have been doing the green tea lately and it's awesome. I never even have to sweeten it! I have even brought my own coffee mug and tea bags to school with me!
I am compiling a list for everyone and I will post it after this thread has been up a while!

[Emme]

Chew gum! It helps me every time...I always seem to be craving something sweet and fruity gum takes the craving away.

[mandiana]

Painting

[krampus]

Herbal tea and gum are great and all but in order to truly stop fixating on cravings, I need to do something unrelated to food. Taking a hot bath, calling someone on the phone to talk, sometimes when it gets really bad I go take a walk.

[JohnP]

After a while of not eating "bad" foods you'll develop a taste for "good" foods that you previously lacked.

Unfortunately the cravings for "bad" foods will probably never go away. I have mastered the ability to just have a little when I've got a major craving. 50-100 calories means nothing in the big picture.

[Nola Celeste]

I try really, really hard not to think of any food as "bad," just "not for me." That little mental trick helps me not crave stuff as much. Saying "ooh, that food's bad for me!" just makes it appeal to me more. I've always liked "bad boys" and I always root for the predators on wildlife shows, so I know that calling chocolate "bad" will make me crave it.

As for what I do when I crave stuff that isn't right for my plan, my favorite is giving myself a mani/pedi. Can't shove any food in my face when my fingernails are wet and smudge-prone, now can I? Taking a bath and/or brushing my teeth are two other good crave-killers because both of those things are associated with non-eating time.

If all of that fails and I still want some of that whatever-it-is, I have a little of it and then I throw the rest out, destroy it, feed it to my husband, or otherwise make it unavailable. It's rare that it gets to the point of having to destroy food, though.

[MissSMcC]

i crave apples now. never thought i'd say that! i also like sugar free jelly/jello, that has about 9 calories, also rice cakes that are about 30 calories.