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Physical FitnessHow to get rid of "mindless eating" habits?
[+5] [4] Steve Veller
[2011-03-09 17:31:40]
[ diet weight-loss eating-habits ]
[ http://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/641] [DELETED]

About 2 years ago I have listened to "Mindless Eating" audio-book and used some of techniques from there (like using smaller kitchenware, removing all sweets from the room and so on)

I wonder if there are more such "tricks" we could share here

(3) I'm not sure this is an appropriate question to ask here. It's a very broad, open-ended question that has no direct answer. - Nathan Wheeler
(1) Agreed @md5sum if the question is re-written with a more specific goal, I feel it would be better. - KronoS
(1) @Steve - Asking for tips and tricks is really the issue here. I would suggest rewriting this so that it's a question with a single answer, even if that single answer is quite complex. - neilfein
@md5sum - I am sorry, but I really don't know how to rewrite this question so it will have a single answer (and I do believe that question about painlessly losing weight is one of the "practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face"). If I knew the answer already, I wouldn't be asking, to this question had to be open-ended(imho). If open-ended questions are prohibited here, please remove this one. - Steve Veller
You may also want to add some examples of what was in "Mindless Eating" as most people probably haven't read/heard the techniques it contains. - Walter
@Steve Veller - from the FAQ, "If your motivation for asking the question is “I would like to participate in a discussion about ______”, then you should not be asking here." I'm not really sure how you could re-word the question either, but the question is definitely just a discussion question. - Nathan Wheeler
you can reduce your hunger with some tablet, or aminoacids like tyrosine - Csabi
just don't become dependent - rmx
Care to explain what this tablet does and why it would inhibit a sense of hunger? - Ivo Flipse
Amino acids stimulate your body, tyrosine decrease the hunger.google it en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrosine - Csabi
@Csabi - and the "some tablet"? - Nathan Wheeler
I do not wanna get comercial but for example brutal blade brutalnutrition.com/brutal/blade - Csabi
[+7] [2011-03-09 17:39:35] Andrew Ferk

20 second rule - if it will take you longer than 20 seconds, you generally won't do it. Example of something I did when my girlfriend gave me a bag of twizzlers at work, and I couldn't stop eating them: I tied it in a bag, put it under the seat of my car, and drove the car to the parking lot across from the office.

Removing taste from mouth - brushing your teeth, using mouthwash, or chewing gum. This can help remove the taste from your mouth that may make you want more.

Weighing and bagging - Buy a scale and little baggies, and weight out the serving sizes into the small bags. This has really helped me from putting my hand in bags or boxes and taking handfuls.


"Removing taste from mouth ..." thanks a lot, that's a good one - Steve Veller
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[+3] [2011-03-10 09:16:49] TheLearner

What really works for me is to get the whole household involved. If you are single then its much easier, but when you buy food don't buy sweets and chocolates and then you don't have access to them.

If you don't have sweets and chocolates and fatty foods in the house, its much easier to avoid the temptation.

Ordering groceries online also helps me because you aren't tempted but displays in the shop.


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[+2] [2011-03-10 21:29:58] wdypdx22

Set up portions in advance.

On a movie night I set up a bowl with a snack portion. The bag of chips or whatever is put away and I have the pre-determined snack for the movie. That way it's mindful and not mindless.


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[+1] [2011-03-10 23:42:45] yellowblood

I like the approach of understanding why you feel the hunger and thinking about the scientific aspects of your desire for sweets when you look at them.

Overall your brain creates this desire for sweets simply because it's a source for HUGE amount of energy (calories). In the wild, letting go of such a "good" source of energy is stupid and will probably lead to your species extinction, that's why the urge to eat it is so big.

When I think about the last paragraph while being attempt to eat something fat, it's much easier for me to ignore that food even if it's a delicious Ice-Cream or an hot chocolate-cake.

Another thing to think about is "will eating this food make me feel good?". The answer is no, it won't. No matter how tasty it is, the joy only lasts as long as it is in your mouth (that's what she said!). Having a great body.. well, this kind of joy lasts for years!


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