If I am just bored, I get on the computer, watch a saved tv show, listen to my book on tape - stuff like that. If I am really hungry, I eat something. I have had a problem with getting too hungry between my afternoon snack and dinner. When that happens, I tend to want to stuff myself with whatever is easiest. So, in the long run, it saves me calories to eat something good for me when I get hungry.

PS I forgot to mention that I think we should all buy stock in the baby carrot industry.

Diet Dr Pepper Berries n Cream is EVIL!!!

Sodas just aren't very good for you, health-wise. There is a lot of artificial sweetener, and those can cause problems. Also, there's caffeine. And, some people think the acid in them throws your system off and hurts your teeth. It's better to drink water than sodas anytime.

That said, I do like some diet soda from time to time, but what I've learned to do is dilute it. I began by diluting it half with sparkling water. At first it tasted weak, but as I got used to it, I found that I liked it just fine. Now I dilute it 1 part to 2 parts sparkling water, and I put some lime or lemon in.

An undiluted soda now just tastes pretty bad to me--too strong!

Jay

This is SO true for me. I absolutely can't trick my body by eating something else. I have to eat some of what I am craving. I try to keep it a small amount.

I totally understand what people think about sweetners, but I also know it would take drinking like 80 glasses a DAY of pop with sweetner in it to actually hurt you. Sweetners are harmless in a controlled amount...even if you drink a LOT of it, it's not bad. As far as caffine...I drink mostly decaffinated...but I do like Coke Zero and Diet Mountain Dew...and I will continue drinking them because I drink a lot of water as well.

I've been drinking Diet soda my whole life and my dentist says my teeth look awesome except from some wear from my TMJ.

I haven't tried the Berries n' Cream yet....I'll have to try that. I also know that different sodas have different acidity..

Most of the time when I want something sweet or a "treat" I just drink Diet Soda as opposed to something sugary...

My best strategy is to find something to do. I log on here and start reading posts or pick something off my to-do list. It's usually boredom that causes this problem for me and if I can just keep myself occupied until the next scheduled meal or snack, I'm fine.

Sometimes if I am really hungry, I'll have a piece of fruit--my favorite choice is fresh apricots because they are so small that a whole apricot has only around 20 calories. A few cherries is another good choice (about 5 calories per cherry).

Sometimes I'll chew gum. I also sometimes have a Laughing Cow Cheese Bite (the cubes). I'll have just one cube, which is only about 7 calories.

Lately I've also been trying to force myself to drink a glass of water. I've read that sometimes when you think you're hungry, it's really because you are thirsty. I don't drink enough water and I've found that this can sometimes stave off the munchies for a little while.

OT> On the soda front has anyone tried the diet pepsi jazz? Im loving them at the moment.

Leave the room. That usually works for me. I get the munchies when I'm bored and I often get bored when I'm at home in the kitchen just before I need to start fixing dinner. So I leave the room and go to a room that has no food. Usually that is the room with the computer so I'll play a game of Spider Solitaire (medium difficulty--that kills 5 or 10 minutes!)

At work, I take a bathroom break rather than a food break. I always have a bottle of water with me at work, and if my tummy has a rumble, I'll drink a little extra water (unless it is my designated snack time!)

I either try to get busy with something, chew gum, sip on a hot green or black tea, or eat an apple. Or...I find cutting up pineapple takes a bit of time, and its so low in cals that when you DO finally get it cut, you can munch on that guilt free.

Lately, I've been having 1/2 cup of raspberries or blueberries. It feels really healthy, is around 45 cals and takes the hunger away. I also drink some water, which I know doesn't really replace a craving for food, but it does take the hunger pangs away sometimes.