Food Diversions...

Allison posed a great question a few posts down...she mentioned feeling hungry all the time and asked if there was anything she could do to divert her attention away from food. I am really struggling with this as well right now. The other day I was shocked by the end of the day at how much I had "put away" snacking. Yes..they were "healthier choices" (mostly)....but still not necessary. It would be great to see what techniques people are using. My pittfalls: 1. snaking from boredom...especially at my desk at work. 2. having snack on hand...if it is near my desk - when the boredom hits...it's too easy to just grab a handful of whatever...then 20-30 minutes later...bam, I'm grabbing another handful. (it's HORRIBLE) 3. Having allowed small portions of sugar back into my life. (grrrr) 4. Slacking on protein 5. re-developing a taste for coffee = I drink less water.... I could go on...how about everyone else? Any great "do this instead of snacking when you are bored" suggestions? We could all stand to hear them I bet!

Oh boy do I feel your pain...I find myself doing the same things. For my diversion: I visit OH and type, type, type. It keeps both my hands busy so I can be putting things in my mouth.

I know exactly what you are saying!!!! I'm still doing well with the protein and water...its the snacking in-between that really gets to me!!!

Is it your time of the month? Man, I always know when mine is coming. I could eat the buttons off my shirt! Im pretty good otherwise. My doc has us do three meals, and one snack a day if needed. I have always stuck to this. Dont generally do the snack even. I think I am in that habit now, im not constatnty thinking about meals between meals. The week before my period, UGH! I cant stop eating. I dont know why hormones have to have so much control over me. I just try and choose a healthier snack. If its chocolate, I make sure its SF. If its a crunch thing, I do rice cakes. I have learned I can never start on pretzels. I just cant stop, and have paid the price of feeling miserable because of it. So, some things are just off limits totally. I really dread the days at work when we are less busy. I tend to want to graze all day as well. Right now I look at the clock, and tell myself, you can eat in another hour or whatever time. I also find if I try and eat light meals I get hungrier faster. So always at work it is dense proteins at my meals. And really fill up on veggies after my protein. Then if all else fails, I will only do a fruit snack. I really try and go with it on the days I feel hungry. Just wiser choices. I figure my body is telling me I need to eat for a reason. Lauri

I hear ya. My meals are pretty mu*****heck as well...good protein, veggies, etc. My snacks are ok too (usually light cheese, soy crisps, sf pudding etc)...but the grazing. OOOOOOH the grazing. I try to keep it in perspective...before "grazing" meant plowing through an entire family size bag of chips in one weekend. Now my grazing amounts to nibbling on a 100 calorie pack of microwave popcorn in an afternoon and having a few grapes in the evening.

This has not totally happened to me. I mean if the food is "out" yup I will find myself munching on it. But I still have a struggle with getting enough food in. I think its part of the problem I am running into with being so tired and not losing as good anymore. BUT on that note I have started drinking coffee again also and you are SO RIGHT on drinking less water. I have had to say ok 1 cup and I have to be done with it by noon. Other wise I will nurse my coffee all day and drink NO water BAD BAD BAD. *huggles* Felicia =0)

Thanks for picking up on my cry for help!!! I felt like I was the only one going through this. Felicia replied to me on that post and I appreciated that. I feel so out-of-control these days. Almost like I did before surgery (Helpless). Maybe I am going through some type of depression? As for protein, I have never been able to get it all in. I am to the point now that if I even look at a protein bar I get sick. I am burnt out! As far as Protein powders I haven't found one out there that I like. I have wasted so much money trying to find one that I can tolerate. My meals are not a problem. I make healthy choices. Since I am off of work every time I walk through the kitchen I put something in my mouth. This is all done out of boredom. Sometimes it's not a healthy choice. I was addicted to chocolate licorice for the past week now. I tried to jusitfy the fact that there isn't any fat in it. However, the sugar and carbs are enough to do damage to a diet. I snack on popcorn but now I can eat the ENTIRE bag throughout the day! This is NOT GOOD!!!! I was more in control when I worked. I would eat a healthy snack in the morning then lunch then another snack(usually cashews) in the afternoon, then lunch and maybe a small snack at night. That worked for me. I don't know how I got so far off the train but I sure could use a hand getting back on it. Thanks for reaching out to help! Allison

Sounds like we all need to revisit the basics... protein first and sip sip sip