[shrinkingchica]

I am going to start a list of things that I do to avoid a binge or overeating or eating when I really shouldn't. Please add what you do!

In no particular order.........

1. Whiten Teeth: I got these trays from my dentist and I have to wear them for 4-6 hrs (and I sleep for 8 so I can't wear them overnight) and they should be worn for 14days (continuously or not) and then as needed. So, they keep me from eating for 4-6 whole hours for 14 whole days. That keeps me from needless snaking after a meal and if I am feeling bingy then if I do this right away I have sometime to cool down.
Even the crest white strips keep you from eating for at least 1 hr everday for 14days, if you don't get the fancy dancy kind I got.

2. Post on 3FC (obviously) even if all I do is say hello and welcome to every new face I can find on the board.....it usually keeps me occupied for an hour a day I might otherwise spend negatively.......

3. Exercise (while watching tv or movies or listening to music or books on tape). Though, I must admit I don't do as much of this distraction as I should. Added bonus-- you feel healthier and better about yourself and less likely to make or give into the negative feelings that a binge brings on or creates in its aftermath.

4. Watch TV that turns you off food. For me it is a show like Nip/Tuck where I see those hot docs and beautiful bodies and think "hmmm is eating like this going to get me the body I want?" Another good type show is DiscHealth or TLC's I eat 33,000cal a day or another one on super morbidly obese homebound people, because then I do a double think on eating and say to myself "do I want to go back to how I was? do these people look happy? does eating REALLY make me happy?" The answers to all of the above questions: NO.

5. Read or surf the net. I never eat when I am reading or surfing, I get too involved in holding the book and typing occupies my hands.

6. Occupy your hands. Knit, crochet, paint, weave, put shamrock stickers on random things (I actually resorted to that yesterday, so really anything to just do something).

7. Call your Mom, Dad, Sibling, Best Friend, Random Accquaintance and just catch up, even if only for 15min because it might make the immediate urge to binge dissipate.

8. Keep Up to date your your emails. I know that I fall remiss in that sometimes.

9. Write a real live letter to someone, anyone, maybe dear old auntie Prue. She would love to hear from you. This way you can brighten someone's day as well. Giving and receiving random "hello" cards are always lovely.

10. Volunteer. Okay, so this might not avoid an immediate binge, but you can always find one of those sites where everytime you click on a special link button the (whatever the charity is) organization gets 10cents. Or research volunteer activities that you can get involved in.

11. Keep current with your filing system at home for bills and this, that and the other.

12. Do your bills (what fun and excitement! I can't wait!). But it will keep you occupied.

13. Clean. Your house (and mine) could always use a good once over with the duster at least.

14. Shop. Leave the house and shop in real life or window shop. Or, barring that, get online and shop or fantasy shop. I once found a $200,000 chandalier for sale (ok, so now you know I really will do whatever it takes to try and stop a binge).

15. Learn a language. This will occupy your mouth and your mind. There are tons of free learning sites on the web and at your local library.

16. Play a Game. With your kids or with friends or yourself. (Try bored.com or other sites for hours of mindless fun). Or try a good cheap old fashioned board game. My best friend and I recently were hanging out and were bored and so decided to be silly, went to a toy store, fooled around with some of the toys and then decided on what the best board game would be to buy. We settled on Chinese Checkers.

17. Write a novel. Which is basically what I am doing right now. Or, barring that, write a journal entry or a poem.

18. Start a Blog. Come on, just try it, everybody's doing it.

19. Take a Nap. You might or might not need one but if it will stop a binge from occuring then it is definately a preferable alternative.

20. Sort through Photos. Go through all of your old and new photos and get them ALL into photo albums. There, I have just given you unpaid employment for a year. No need to thank me.

[Ardissa]

Thank you for such inspiration. Congratulations on your success, I see you are almost at your goal. I have a one to add.

1. Chew peppermint gum, it takes the thoughts of food away and freshens your breath at the same time. . . Ardissa

[Cats tongue]

Cool. Those are some good ideas.

[shrinkingchica]

Oh Yeah, I forgot to add that with the whitening, if you are AT ALL pre-disposed to sensitivity in your teeth they with hurt like a mother the next day. That is another deterrent to being a bit greedy with food.

Thanks Ardissa and Cats.

[Get n healthy]

Those are wonderful ideas. You are so close to goal, what an inspiration.

The thing that i do during the winter when i feel a binge coming on is make a big mug of hot tea. I dont know why, but the warmth in my belly takes away the hunger.

I used to do the "take a nap" one a lot, but i would just go to bed early, when i would feel a late night snack attack coming...if it was past 9, i would give myself permission to just go on to bed. Works like a charm.

[silly]

Those are really great ideas.

As well, something so simple as drinking a big glass of water followed by a deep breath has really helped me in the past.

I have also discovered a new technique that's stupidly simple, takes about twenty minutes of your time, looks absolutely ******ed when you're doing it, but for me, it has had great results with my negative feelings like anxiety, the urge to eat and whatnot. I'd love to share it, if anyone is interested pm me and I will let you know the link. (I don't know if I'm allowed to post the link to it ) But on the plus side it's completely free so what have you got to lose?

[djs06]

You're a trip!!!! Great ideas here. Wanna teach me to knit?

I love Nip/Tuck too! My vote goes to those real life surgery shows... they're pretty gross!

[Ready2ShedLBS]

i wanna see the 33,000 calorie show.. I just cant imagine eatting that much.

*Random I know, but what can I say.. I'm random *

[Bikini Dreader]

Great ideas:
I am definitely a fan of organizing/cleaning/doing something you've put off for a long time. Also I like to write on here or in a journal. I drink tons of herbal tea and water. Also, I like to do yoga stretches since I rarely have time to stretch properly after my workouts.

Thanks for the tips.

[miss katz]

What I do sometimes is if I want to have pizza or something with a friend I split what I'm eating with her to have less calories. Whether it's a candy bar or even a slice of pizza. If I want a Cheeseburger and a slice of pizza we split both in half. That seems to satisfy me and stop me from overeating sometimes. Right now what is stopping me from bingeing is wanting to reach my goal so bad. I allow myself a certain amount of calories every meal 400ish calories. There are some things I can't have because they are too high in calories, but I remind myself that when I reach goal I can raise my calories and be able to eat those foods. I have been thinking that some of these foods are just not worth the weight gain. There are alot of good foods within my calorie limits. If I reduce my meals to 350 calories each that gives me room for something sweet and sugary if I really want it. In the past I have binged because I felt anxious and my head was all over the place. Now that I have a focus on my goal it's easier to avoid a binge and enjoy my food.

[Diva]

Thanks for that post. I spent the last 2 weeks doing the uncontrolable Binge eating thing. I went from 189 to 203 and felt like poo. Anyway's, I got it under control, for the most part after I saw that on the scale. I started drinking more water and giving the junk to my kid and once it was gone, I REFUSE to buy anymore of it. Dang Girl Scout cookies! grrrrrrrr....

Anywho, for the past 4 day's I have drank a lot of water and taken some naps. If you're sleeping you def aren't eating. The scale is going down. 197 this morning!!!