Substituting Comfort Eating with...?

[ColwynsMommy]

I'm very overweight. I could lose at least 100 lbs and still not be at an 'ideal' weight. I've had success in the past doing WW, and would like to do it again, but I'm having a real hard time.

I can eat very healthy meals, but it's the snacks that get me. I have three very little children and am dealing with a lot of emotional issues due difficulties breastfeeding. Almost every day includes some sort of meltdown on my part that leads to me almost binging on snacks to make myself feel better.

I would love to learn to switch food for something else. The problem is, I don't have any real free time during the day, so I can't go read by myself for 15 minutes or anything like that. By the time my husband comes home, snacking isn't really an issue. It's all during the day.

So, what might be a good thing to substitute for unhealthy snacks as a way to cheer myself up?

Thanks!

[CathToria]

scrapbooking
sewing
house work (like say to yourslef, let me go wipe down teh bathroom countertop, adn then if I still want this oreo, eat it then)
maybe a special beverage, like coffee w/ skim milk
water with orange, lemon or lime slices
read a fitness magazine

or sub with some healthier snack.... get the higher cal stuff out of te house, but maybe have a bowl of chocolate cereal with milk, air popped popcorn with EVOO, salt and nutritional yeast, expensive but yummy grape tomatoes, V8 juice, bananas. Those are the things that "help" me. HTH

[NiteNicole]

Do you actually sit down and eat, or do you sort of eat on the go? It's hard to think of something you could do if you don't really have time (and oh how I understand that one!) to do anything. Have you ever tried something like simple embroidery? Because the pattern is printed on the fabric, you can easily pull it out and do five minutes at a time. It helped me quit smoking.
www.sublimestitching.com has cute, inexpensive, and funky patterns. You can also buy the basic supplies.

[stlmomof2]

Right now I want to be snacking but instead I'm drinking a cup of water with Emergen-C powder. It's not very many calories and tastes like a fruity soda. I also drink diluted unsweetened cranberry juice but that's an acquired taste.

[ColwynsMommy]

Originally Posted by NiteNicole

Do you actually sit down and eat, or do you sort of eat on the go? It's hard to think of something you could do if you don't really have time (and oh how I understand that one!) to do anything. Have you ever tried something like simple embroidery? Because the pattern is printed on the fabric, you can easily pull it out and do five minutes at a time. It helped me quit smoking.
www.sublimestitching.com has cute, inexpensive, and funky patterns. You can also buy the basic supplies.

I'm usually sitting down. It's while I'm feeding the baby, or trying to entertain her on my lap, that sort of thing. Sometimes while I'm making the kids lunch, I'll grab a cookie or something.

I'll check out that website. I'm not really one for that sort of thing, but maybe it'll strike my fancy. I've always wanted to learn to knit, actually, but that'll take way more time than I actually have.

[ShareBear]

I drink coffee and tea. I have to let it cool down a bit for safety reasons, because I often have little ones climbing on/around me, but the ritual of preparing the drink and then sitting down to drink it (and the kids know I'm "on break" while I'm drinking it, which means they're marginally less likely to interrupt me) is sooo soothing when I'm stressed out. I use a measuring spoon to measure out exactly 1/2 tsp of sugar for my coffee/tea--that way I'm less likely to overdo the sweetener.

When I get the munchies (usually late at night for me), I like to pop popcorn in EVOO as someone else suggested. Once again, I find that the ritual of preparing it is very soothing.

I used to live with a family who always had veggies (broccoli florets, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips) and ranch dip to munch on. They made the ranch dip by blending fat-free sour cream with a packet of ranch spices. It was really good--why have I not done this lately? Hmmm...

If you want to knit but don't have the time, perhaps you could try crocheting instead. I think crocheting is much easier to do a little bit at a time, especially if you're doing something simple like an afghan or baby blanket where you aren't having to count stitches--once you have the pattern down, you can crochet on auto-pilot, almost. I personally like to quilt, too, but I find that a little harder to do with little ones around.

[hedgehogs4]

i hear ya - it is not always easy being alone w/ little ones. I find i need to limit availability of snacks and have alternatives - apple slices, carrots, freeze dried fruit. i crochet but CANNOT do it w/ a 23 month old in the room. maybe make a contract w/ dh or a friend for accountability and call when you are feeling weak? or maybe meal planning including snacks for yourself the night before? Come join us in the WW thread when you are ready and in the meanwhile be kind to yourself - remember you are doing very important work.

[loveandkindness]

I found a tea I absolutely love -- tastes like a very sweet drink but is sugar-free. Since my daughter was very tiny I always told her that when I have a "hot drink" she can't come close to me because it is dangerous. Even now if I tell her I have a hot drink she leaves me alone! It may take some time, but it could be that your children learn to give you a few minutes of peace when they see you with a teacup in your hand.

The tea I love is by Harney and Sons and is called Hot Cinnamon Spice.

Drinking tea also takes a while, so by the time I'm halfway through the cup my cravings have passed.

[texmati]

i have this issue at work... I'm trying to replace eating with either taking a walk in the parking lot or drinking water and tea.

I also have this issue when I'm totally freaking out sometimes at night. My rule there is that I have to try at least 2 -3 things first to calm down before eating. (Normally reading harry potter, sucking my thumb : or waking and talking to my husband). In the end, if food is the only thing that works, I'll do that.

[William's Mom]

If I have the time/ability to do so, I love to read a book or take a walk.

I also find ice water with fresh lime slices to be VERY helpful!

And chewing xylitol-based gum. I chew so much of it.... It helps me in 2 ways. (The mint helps my ever present nausea from a chronic illness, and the chewing sort of takes my mind off eating.)

It's a daily struggle...

[wendyland]

w e e d! Just kidding. I think the first several months are hard with a new babe. Give yourself a break. I didn't worry about weightloss until my youngest was about 6 - 9 months. Ok, I still haven't lost any weight, but I feel better about myself and better about the current weight I'm at. Work on loving yourself and getting through the stressfull times. There's a podcast that totally turned my thinking around. It's called insideoutweightloss by renee stephens. You can find it on itunes or do a search for her name. I think it's on the personal life media website, too. If you don't have an ipod, you can listen through your computer.

Try to get some exercise during the day. It'll really help with the stress. We've been walking for 30-40 minutes everyday this week. I feel so much better.

Also, keep healthier options on hand. semi sweet chocolate chips - mix with high fiber cereal, skinny cow, lots of fruit.... I have a hard time getting through the day without a little sugar now and then. I'm working on changing that, but for now I'm working on adding things to my lifestyle instead of taking away.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by CathToria

or sub with some healthier snack.... get the higher cal stuff out of te house, but maybe have a bowl of chocolate cereal with milk, air popped popcorn with EVOO, salt and nutritional yeast, expensive but yummy grape tomatoes, V8 juice, bananas. Those are the things that "help" me. HTH

All of those "healthy snack suggestions" are very high in carbs (except for the veggie juice) and would lead to "diet downfall" for me. I was never able to lose weight until I cut back on carbs. A lowfat, high carb snack would lead to blood sugar rise and falls that actually make me hungrier, even if I wasn't particularly hungry to begin with.

I'm better off snacking on almonds or cheese, which actually fill me up and provide energy and keep my blood sugar level stable, which makes it easier for me to avoid snacking later. Of course, almonds and cheese are very concentrated in calories and could easily lead to overeating if you're not careful.

The main point is to figure out what foods work best *for you* and avoid your own personal triggers. It could be that you're eating for emotional reasons when you're truly not hungry, or it could be that you're actually lacking in some vital nutrients (and this might even be a contributing factor with your mental health issues and BFing difficulties) and eating "right for you" will lead to feeling satisfied and being able to consume less total food.

If you're truly not hungry but "craving something" then I'd try having some sort of yummy beverage that's low in calories and sugars. Hot cocoa made with cocoa powder, hot water, and stevia, or seltzer with a tablespoon of fruit juice added per cup, herbal tea that's naturally sweet and needs nothing added, etc.

If you're mostly doing this snacking with a baby on your lap I'd suggest sticking with cold beverages- maybe the chocolate is out but herb teas are just as delicious cold as hot. I've also enjoyed hot tea while standing at the counter and the baby played at my feet- not as good as sitting down with the cup, but better than not having a hot drink at all when that's what my body is craving.