10 January 2009

Boredom and hunger

The other day something of earth shattering importance happened and I passed right over it. I actually made the connection between boredom and hunger. I was hungry because I was bored. You may not realized what an achievement that was. This is one of the things I battle with a lot. I will eat when I'm bored because I don't make the connection between the two. It's not that I don't know about it, obviously I do. It's that I usually can't see it in me. It's one of those things that I'm beginning to conquer and when I see what's happening it always amazes me that I can see it.

So I'm sitting here watching the new WW commercials. They have a new program called Momentum that gives you a list of filling foods to eat. I'm sure it's a great program, all of the WW programs usually are. But there was a line in the commercial that just stopped me in my tracks. They said something to the effect of, eat filling foods so you won't eat when you're bored. If I could not eat when I'm bored because I'm not hungry I wouldn't have the problem I do. I've seen their list of filling foods. I eat all those things. Yet, I still eat when I'm bored occasionally. It is just not that easy. If it were we would all be thin. About the only way I've found to not eat when bored is to not let myself get bored.

Okay, that's it. It just bothers me when people say these things as if it's so easy. Just don't eat when you're bored. Most of the time it doesn't even hit me that's what I'm doing. How can I stop something I'm not conscious of?? So the first step is to find out why you're eating. Still not easy but at least a logical first step.

3 comments:

Paul Eilers said...

Knowing what the problem is means you are half way there.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you -- EVERYTHING about changing your eating habits is easier said than done.

My only suggestion is, maybe whenever you get that snacking urge you can consciously reach for some food that's healthy and delicious -- something you can eat a lot of without worrying about its effect on your waistline.

I wrote a blog post just yesterday on this subject. If you're interested, you can check it out here:

http://blobarella.blogspot.com/2009/01/hunger.html

In the meantime, good luck with your continuing efforts to eat well and remain active! It sounds like you've started the new year off right... keep it up!

Sherrie said...

You are so right...finding out "why" you eat is the key to solving the problem. But -- it's still not easy. I think my issue is...I've yet to figure out "why" I eat. It's so sad that I'll eat junk while watching The Biggest Loser...I know...awful.

Hang in there and GL!

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