Sin #4 - or Sin Number Bore?

Boredom Eating - I think I can nibble on a whole meals worth of calories just through mindless boredom. One cracker, another cracker, some cheese with that cracker and so on. They key word here is mindless! When I think of the best way to describe boredom for me - it is mindlessness. I don't get physically bored perse' because usually when I stop, it is because I am at the end of my day and I am tired but that doesn't mean that my mind is not wandering, meandering haplessly and finishes up pulling open the fridge door or untwizzling the twist tie on that pack of crackers. I am doing it before I even think about - MINDLESS BOREDOM. It is a habit, I own it, it is a B A D habit and one that I am crap at breaking because it happens during those moments of winding down - I am certainly not hungry because in all likelihood I ate less than two hours ago.

It's difficult, let's face it! I think back to that old adage, "idle hands are the devil's workshop" or as my dad would say, "you are mischief in the making"! Yep, mischief is right, right into the kitchen cupboard where the peanut butter jar is located more like, because boredom reduces FOCUS, makes you lack initiative, it can even make you feel sad or tired, all feelings that can lead to emotional eating which from my experience has never ended with positive results.

Two ways that I have learned to cope with such situations are to either:

1. Find ways to prevent "idle hands" by getting busy with little hobbies during the 'witching hours'. This could mean a 1000 piece puzzle, a great book you can't put down, learning to knit, online crossword competitions - You Get My Point...get busy with something that's not taxing but rather enjoyable, just anything to keep your mind off of the trip to the kitchen.

2. Eat more protein heavy in the meals prior to your boredom outbreaks, I've tested this and it works, it is not a theory. Additional protein, be it having a tin of tuna or an extra chicken breast with dinner has proven beneficial for me in the evenings, curbed my munchies and even removed thoughts of wanting snacks.

I had read in magazines and websites the power of protein, not just from a nutrition perspective but also from the, "feeling full" narrative, and I'll be honest I thought it was baloney! I don't know why when sound advice is given out by professionals, my dietician included I just did not want to hear what was being said. I seeked out help, got help or was given advice - but I knew best! Well I should have paid more attention, or at least given it the good old college try. I don't think I will cure boredom eating any time soon but I have learned to trick it into submission enough to cut back on it taking over. Being in control will lead to positivity and that's a winning combo for success any day!