If you find yourself consuming too much of snack that’s outside your mealtimes, then it may be due to the fact that you’re hungry. It might also be because you’re stressed or bored. If you find yourself eating because you’re bored, there’s no need to feel bad.
You’re not alone! Nevertheless, eating too much is as a result of stress or boredom and may lead to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other serious medical conditions. This also doesn’t help to solve the main problem, which is figuring out what’s causing you to snack. As luck would have it, you can learn how to start healthier ways and fight back when boredom attacks.
1. Keep a food diary
Having a food diary in check can help a long way in letting you learn what you eat daily. It’s also capable of controlling your eating habits because you pay more attention to them as you note them in your diary.
2. Review your food diary weekly
As soon as you have a week’s worth of diary entries, go over them. Look for any patterns. For example, did you feel stressed or sad sometimes when you ate? What were the things you were doing or not doing, while you ate?
3. Think about your snack habits
What are the things you eat when you are bored? Many people go for greasy, sweet or carbohydrate-laden foods when they feel troubled, stressed or bored.
4. Learn your triggers
There are different triggers that make people feel like they need to eat, despite the fact that they don’t feel really hungry. Some of these are emotional and mental, such as anxiety or boredom. Others are associated to circumstances.
For example, some people may find that they snack more when they watch TV. Perhaps it seems “wrong” to see a movie without getting a soda and popcorn. Maybe you feel burden to eat when you’re at a party. Or it could be once you eat one doughnut, you feel like you have to eat them all. Whatsoever your triggers are, recognizing them can help you avert boring eating.
5. Check your fluid intake
Research shows that there are a lot people that don’t exactly know when they are thirsty. People every so often misunderstand symptoms of hunger for symptoms of thirst. Drinking more water may help reduce the urge to snack.
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