1) I'm doing a PhD and writing my thesis. I find this very anxiety producing (over an above Uni which is anxiety central to start with - fear of failure is a real pain in the butt) and tend to procrastinate rather than just do the bloody thing. Guess what heads the top of my list for procrastination tasks?? Yup, food.
2) I get bored/lonely after dinner when hubby is generally out in his shed playing cars. Guess what I tend to get in to? Yup, I raid the pantry.
I have come up with a number of strategies to combat this (I should be able to, I'm studying clinical psychology
) However I still find it very difficult to beat (let that be a lesson to you all - just because you know how it should/can be done, doesn't mean it's easy). My strategies include:1) Being aware of my high risk times and be on alert to my behaviour and thinking patterns - have a plan to deal with it!
2) Being aware of my permissive thoughts and use cognitive strategies to attempt to address them
3) Using distraction (maybe I should actually work on my thesis hey?)
4) Using chewing gum to help delay until the craving passes
5) Drink water for the same effect.
6) Limit access to procrastination food by only taking enough food for the day and limiting any cash I have access to at Uni.
It's all very good in theory, and I find if I can get the gum into my mouth it works well, but I struggle with the "I'll just have one X and then I'll get the gum" which tuns into 2, into 5, into the whole packet etc. No fricking wonder I can't lose anything aaarrrggghh!!!! All the while I'm thinking, "no, put the (insert offending item here) down and get the gum!" but somehow my mouth has a mind of its own.
So here's what I'm doing - Being easy on myself for slip ups and celebrating any wins (let's face it, this isn't going to change over night). Using support such as this forum and a weight loss buddy I have to report to or use as distraction. And trying to "plan the work and work the plan".
I would like to start by recording one success: I used to find it impossible to go to the supermarket without buying at least one chocolate. Since I noted this as a high risk time, I've managed to knock that one off the list just by being aware of it.
P.S. my exercise is more or less fine, I do at least an hour a day of cycling (2 on days I cycle into town), plus walking the dog. I also generally eat pretty healthily, I just eat too much of it (although a do have a weak spot for junk at parties). Having been down this road before I probably know more about healthy eating and exercise than most skinny minnies - it's just a matter of actually DOING it.
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Wish you all the best and thanks for sharing you story!