I am eating too much junk and processed food while watching movies and youtube videos. I want to stop as it affects my health. Any suggestions.
Stop buying it. That’s how we slowed down / stopped.
This is the way. It’s easier to have will power at the grocery store. Stop buying that crap and you’ll have a harder time binging.
+1
I’m a little overweight and I avoid buying any kind of chips and snacks because I know I have almost zero willpower.
Also, eating a bit less than usual on each meal, like knowing when you’re feeding and when you’re just eating for pleasure.
Maybe I won’t lose any weight but I hope to gain as less as possible.
Like others have said one of the easiest things to do is simply don’t buy the junk.
Personally I found that the real game changer is finding a healthy snacking alternative. For me this is almonds and dried apricots. They’re still quite a ‘dense’ energy snack but it scratches the sweet tooth itch and is much more filling. Plus you get the added protein, fats & micro nutrients that you would usually miss in processed items.
Try out some different alternatives (my wife loves to snack on dates and Greek yoghurt for example) and try mainly just to focus on finding something you enjoy so you can swap the habit.
Good luck!
Stop buying it.
It’s a lot easier to stop yourself from eating a bag of chips while watching YouTube if it’s not just sitting there in your pantry and you have to go to the store to buy it.
You just have to resist the urge to get the junk food during your grocery trips, not every hour you’re at home and bored.
Exactly what I came here to say.
Drinking lots of water or brushing your teeth might help you resist the urge.
I read somewhere that often when we are feeling slightly hungry we are actually thirsty and our body knows there is moisture in healthier foods. But we tend to aim for salty dried out snacks that really have no benefit. So I suggest getting a large water bottle and make the effort to drink when feeling hungry. That’s what I do.
- don’t buy the junk.
- don’t snack, you’re not 6 months old to need to eat at 3 hours interval.
- during the transition period try to find alternatives like carrot sticks or whatever.
- don’t eat at TV or equivalent, eat only at the dinning table when you decide and without distractions.
Good luck
Lots of stop buying it comments in here. How about: Stop watching so many videos? The best way to stop eating is to occupy your mind and hands. Got any hobbies? Get one that involves using your hands and concentration. You must find something that you personally enjoy. You can’t eat if you’re busy concentrating on something you like doing while occupying your hands! Bonus points if it’s something physical that helps get you in shape.
Also, it might take time.
For completely different reasons I started to draw, like 5 minutes a day (that was tougher than most things I have done, weirdly) and keeping at it for a couple of months.
Thats the way to go from one(less good) thing to another, reliably doing it every day, and quickly (well they say 90 days) it becomes an easy and pleasant thing you like to do.
Did it with jogging too, took longer (as I wasnt in shape for it, had crap shoes, back and muscles) but eventually it became a nice thing to do too.
And it all ads up, helping. I mean life is hard.
Pro tip, one day check out keto, and the idea about stopping eating all kind of sugar (potatoes, candy, snacks, processed food…). Don’t rush it but know that it’s really good for both your physical health(who would have thought eh) but also for your mental health, it’s quite the thing. So maybe one day eh!
Last words; everyone can do it, it just takes time. If you dont have the mental, just take it slower and it’ll come around.
Don’t have it in the house. Don’t buy it. Don’t even go down those aisles in the store.
Make a shopping list and be strict with yourself about what you add to it. Then restrict yourself from buying anything not on the list so that you stick to it. Best way (that I know) to be deliberate about what food comes home with you.
Popcorn. Home made not bought.
Now if you want to go super healthy, air popped with no butter is so low calorie that you can basically not count it. Oil popped is a little higher, but still much better. Its only once you start drowning it in butter that it gets not so good for you. Also if you like it SALTY theres that…
But once you do a little digging into infusing oils and flavored salts and spice mixes, you can make some mind blowing shit. Popping the kernels in chilli infused oil and then hit them with a lemon and garlic salt… fuck yeah.
Think about how much it costs in total for a month’s worth of junk food for you. Then figure out all the things you could do with that money instead. Helped me a lot when gas is high and I can’t drive to work and also afford junk food
I just want you to consider one more aspect of it. I’ve seen this discussed and backed up with scientific articles but I’m too lazy to find and include them in my post. Basically, all your cravings originate from your gut and your gut is ruled by the bacteria that have made your gut their home over the years. You’ve colonized your gut with a particular set of bacteria by giving them what you eat.
Now, if you change that food pattern, these bacteria, that control the gut, will make your body release chemicals that will make you crave for food that will keep them alive. Realise this and act accordingly. Being conscious about it has helped me overcome many food related ‘addictions’ i had like that of soda, of wafers. I still fall prey when I consume sweets continuously for a few days during festivities. Everytime it is the same struggle against the cravings, but I realise I’m just fighting against the settlers in my gut, brave it for a few days and notice my cravings become dull over time. Probiotics like kimchi, saurkraut, kefir, kombucha etc. help to some extent but ultimately it is more of a mind game.
Make what you will from my advice, but it does work for me. I wish you all the best in your fight against your gut settlers.
I love me some salty food so I feel the pain. I’ll echo the sentiment of not buying it in the first place. Will power is an exhaustible resource.
I find that it almost doesn’t matter what I snack on I just want to snack. I will literally buy a huge bag of carrots and just eat those. Or my other favorite is toss a couple of strained cans of garbanzo beans in an air fryer, spray a bit of cooking spray, toast those suckers for 25 min, and salt/season them for a protein heavy snack that actually has fiber. Cheap, easy, and gives me similar vibes to a potato chip in an incredibly more healthy way.
Get lazy enough not to get up and get it, then it’s easier to go longer without it and eventually (I think 1-2 weeks) you’ll probably not even feel hungry for snacks.
Are you hungry or just bored and looking for extra stimulation while enjoying some entertainment? Have you considered a fidget toy or something to keep your hands occupied? A puzzle? Knitting? Chewing gum?
I was able to curb my nervous/bored eating and drinking with bitters and sours. Instead of reaching for food I now reach for some tea (with just lemon), coffee (decaf black), a glass of water with lemon, or just suck on a lime wedge. The lime thing is mostly to curb alcohol cravings.
PS: My wife’s answer was Kombucha. Everybody is different.
