Binge Eating at the Office
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm just starting to diet this week. Somehow being aware of the diet makes me want to snack more.

My problem is this:

I work at an office 5 days a week for 9 hours a day. There is essentially no opportunity to move around at work. when working behind a desk at a computer all day long, I feel the need to snack. I can't seem to tell the difference between being hungry or just wanting to snack. Any tips for me on how I should be able to tell the difference? There must be something I can do to control binge-ing, even If I just can't think of it.

All in all any advice to help cope at the office with lack of exercise and binge eating at an office all day. :)

LG

Try chewing some gum or drinking water/tea. I find when I am working and want to snack it is just because I am bored. Chewing gum keeps my mouth busy for only a few calories.

I also work in an office. I eat 3 meals, 3 snacks a day, and my work day is 1 meal, two snacks. I have to schedule them with actual times. It keeps me from mindlessly eating. Of course there is some leeway with the times, but I find that I'm hungry exactly at the right times now.

Ex: 11am - snack (fruit)
1:30pm - lunch (usually one cup of soup)
4pm - snack (veggies w/hummus)

I was going to say, I've been in situations like this and have kept a big jug of water by me at all times. I know everyone says that, but it really does make me feel full and not want to snack on junk.

I've been there! I agree that having a schedule to eat is a great idea. That way you know you can rely on it so you may not think about it as much. Also, your stomach will probably get used to the schedule and may settle down the rest of the time.

Or, as others have said, if you want a snack, drink a big glass of water and wait 5 minutes. If you're still interested in snacking, then have something small so it doesn't become an obsessive thought. If not, it was probably just thirst, stress or boredom.

FYI: I find that gum stimulates my stomach acids and makes it growl more. Just a thought, but everyone is different so it may work for you.

Take care and good luck!

Thank you all for the suggestions, I will try it out.

This may sound piggish, but I don't make time in the mornings to eat a proper breakfast. I take a slim fast shake to work with me, and then instead of drinking it, I crave the sandwich in my lunch and eat that, then drink the slimfast for lunch... Sometimes I eat the sandwich and drink the slimfast without waiting for the sandwich to make me full so then by the time lunch rolls around I'm still sick to my stomache, too stuffed to touch any food until the afternoon or dinner. I'm all turned around. I know its temporary though. I was on track once before, I can make it work again. I will try all your suggestions. I'll always have water by me, and I'll keep gum in my purse at all times. Eat at my designated breaks. No mindless or bored snacking in between. Thanks guys :)

LG

L.G., most of the regular members may find my own solution unacceptable for several reasons but just about the only thing that helps me is the daily allotment of 10 hard sugar free candies (10 cals each). I never chew them and at my age and unfortunate long term experience with ED, it is the only thing that seems to help ME. I literally need to have something in my mouth that will be incompatible with eating something that I really shouldn't (and start a binge).
Of course, if eating anything that tastes sweet will trigger YOUR cravings for things that you should not be eating, than this is not a good solution. For me it does not do that, so I make use of this "intervention" to save myself from ...worse.
I also understand the "don't eat breakfast and then eat all my meals at the same time" syndrome. I actually seem to have a need for either an empty stomach for certain activities (i.e. exercising) or a completely full one (sleeping). For this reason, since I don't seem to benefit from the fullness of fruits and vegetables, which make me ravenous, I will tend to fill my stomach with a big bowl of soup, usually lentils or beans (for the protein and fiber), with some olive oil (for the healthy fats to keep me satiated). The reason I say this is that since you seem to eat your breakfast and lunch at the same time, you may also have a need to feel a bit more full than empty stomached, perhaps as I do, regardless of the somewhat uncomfortable sensation that follows. Perhaps, if you eat both your meals in one shot but you are not happy with the feeling of fullness, adding some healthy fat to whatever you are eating will help to feel full longer and not to be bloated. The feeling of fullness from the healthy fat may keep you from thinking of snacking.
I wish you success with your experimenting and I'd love to hear if you find something that works well for you.