Fighting the Munchies
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
January 7, 2010 2:41pm CST
Do you have any creative ways of fighting off the munchies? Especially when you know you're really not hungry, you just want to eat.
I've been rather tired lately, and being tired makes me want to eat a lot! I fought it off yesterday just by sheer will, but it was hard. Today I had the same problem, I started to feel tired, so I just wanted to eat. I gave in and allowed myself a chocolate covered granola bar a little while ago, about 2 hours after lunch and 3 hours before dinner, but it didn't satisfy my desire to eat. It made me want to eat more! I knew I wasn't really hungry, just had a desire to eat.
In the end I made myself a cup of coffee. After just a few sips I feel a lot better and my desire to eat has gone, in fact I'm feeling a little full and bloated. So if coffee is what it takes to stop me from snacking, I may just end up having to have an afternoon coffee most days.
What do you do to fight off the munchies? What causes the munchies for you? Being tired, or stressed, or depressed?
1 person likes this
17 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
7 Jan 10
When I get the munchies I do drink coffee..or if I am craving chocolate, sometimes sugar free hot chocolate so I get the chocolate without all the calories or fat of a real piece of chocolate. I have found that gum helps me alot also.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I know how that is.. it is one reason I rarely smile in photos..because of my teeth..my little sister kicked me in the mouth when she was two when I was tickling her and she broke alot loose and I have been having problems since..
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
31 Jan 10
Thanks for the best response Katsmeow. I really appreciate it alot...I am supposed to get back on the dieting wagon I fell off of..I want to lose some weight before Valentine..and then more I want to lose atleast 50-75 pounds by my birthday July 5th.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Jan 10
Gum probably would help, but I cannot chew it. Half my teeth are bad, the other half are false.. gum creates issues!
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I have trouble fighting off the munchies. It really depends on what I am craving what I try to do about it. I just got back from the store and when I was tempted to grab some potato chips I grabbed a jar of Claussen's pickle slices. They give me the salt that I am craving plus the crunch with only 5 calories for 2 slices. They are high in sodium, but fat free and low calorie so it is still better than the chips. Yogurt is one thing that I like to keep in the house too. I have not gotten any in the last few weeks because I have been sick and with all this mucus I have had dairy is the last thing I should be eating. It helps with a sweet tooth too.
My main problem with the munchies is late at night. I don't rally eat much during the day, but after the sun goes down I start craving things.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I always keep yogurt around, it's usually my after dinner snack because the calcium usually curbs hunger, and it's sweet so that helps the sweet tooth.
I too was always a late night eater, but I made myself a rule never to eat past 8pm, and I've done really well sticking to that. There was only 1 slip up, I ordered pizza and wings and pigged out on it until 11pm while watching a movie, so obviously I went totally off the wagon that night, but the next morning I picked up the pieces and got back at it.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
7 Jan 10
Boredom is a bigger trigger for the munchies. I also found that lately when I'm down about something I figure what is the point in trying to lose weight and then I eat. I try to keep snacks around that allow me to eat but eat healthy. I like fruit cups with cherries in them, i think they are del monte. Or a fiber one bar that is supposed to help you feel fuller. It depends what your munchy is, I've pretty much found a lighter or fat free version of everything so I've got it covered lol
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I have also found healthier options for my snacking, but my biggest problem has always been not being able to stop at 1. As I mentioned, I had a granola bar (Kashi TLC, relatively healthy), but I wanted to go ahead and eat another. That's where I have my problem, I have a hard time stopping, or eating in moderation. Eating healthier isn't always the problem, as long as it tastes good.
I also used to have those issues with wondering what's the point, and occasionally still do, although not as much as I did on previous diets. I guess I just have more reason for doing it this time, and that's why I've stuck with it for so long.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
7 Jan 10
It's probably mostly stress and boredom. And the best thing is to fill up on things that don't have much in the way of calories, though that's hard to do when there are more tempting things around.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Jan 10
Yes it is hard to eat healthier foods when you're craving sweets and fatty foods. Also for me, when I have a desire to eat, it doesn't go away once I'm full. My lunch filled me up yesterday, but I still craved some junk food. It's that bad habit that made me fat, that I still struggle with all the time.
1 person likes this
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I once heard that thirst is often mistaken as the desire to eat! It sounds like that might be part of your problem if the coffee helped to curb your hunger.
Whenever I am feeling hungry I always grab a drink first. I try to drink mostly water to avoid the extra calories I dont need, but will sometimes get something different just because I want to taste something!
Good luck fighting your munchies!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I have a bottle of water in my hands all day, and constantly take sips from it, so I am not ever thirsty. I know there are times once in awhile when water doesn't seem to be quenching my thirst, so I'll grab a glass of juice, which I did yesterday hoping to take care of my desire to eat, but it didn't help.
I think the coffee just perked me up enough so that I didn't feel sleepy anymore, which eliminated the desire to eat. As I said, I want to eat when I feel sleepy during the day and can't go to bed.
@david359749118 (46)
• China
8 Jan 10
I think machine will replace human one day and maybe it will countrol our society,the mainstream of our society is to develop more robots to hele us ,maybe it is a dangerous trend
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
8 Jan 10
Boredom, but luckily I do not get the chance to get bored very often or else I would have a problem! I am lucky in that I lose my appetite if I am tired, stressed or depressed so I do not get the munchies very often!. Hope you are well anyway, and well done on your weight loss it is fantastic! xx
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
10 Jan 10
Stressed and Depressed has caused me to be more hungry, and I think that Tiredness has done the same before as well. I usually don't fight it off but find now that I don't get too terribly hungry at all, and that when I do get hungry I don't want to eat as much!
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
8 Jan 10
What I have got into the habit of doing is whenever I get the munchies is to have a big glass of water and then wait 15 minutes to see if the craving passes. If not I go to stage two which is too suck on some Liquorice root as having the taste of liquorice often helps too fool my mind into thinking I am eating when all I am doing is getting a taste. If that doesn’t work, well I succumb usually to a big mug of hot chocolate.
As for what causes it for me, just being awake as I could literally munch on something all day. But seriously I would say it’s most likely boredom which triggers them for me.
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
10 Jan 10
I have these cookies that are super good for you. I munch on them. I also keep crispy vegetables in the fridge, I am horrible for the munchies, and the self control necessary to stop from munching.
All bets are off when I am at work though, I really got to change industries soon. If you want to know more about the cookies, I will send you a link.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
10 Jan 10
The two things that drive me to eat are being stressed and being depressed and this week has been especially difficult for me because I've gone to both extremes. I will have the times that I would be perfectly happy to sit down with an entire container of cookies and eat until my heart's content and then there have been the times that I don't want to eat anything and my husband has to force me to eat dinner.
That said, the thing that helps me to fend off the munchies is water. As long as I have a bottle of water that I am drinking, then I don't tend to get the munchies. Plus, if I eat something every 3-4 hours I don't feel constantly hungry either.
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
8 Jan 10
I try to keep busy. This is about the only way to fight the munchies, to keep the mind occupied. Of course, keeping food out of my line of sight always helps. Unfortunately, there are times where that is hard. For instance, I saw a commercial with chocolate on it and now I have a strange craving for chocolate even if I am not hungry. I think there is subliminal hypnosis in commercials at the very least. Still, there are a variety of causes. The least of which being bored. So that's why I keep busy.
@Esmechan (53)
• China
8 Jan 10
Haha, Katsmeow, i have the similar phenomenon like you. Even though i am not hungry, but i always eager to eat, especially when i am upset,lonely, unhappy or angry. But, after consuming the food, i am so worried about my figure and weight.
I suppose the most effective way for me is keep myself happy and busy, so that i have no time to be depressed and forget the delicious food. Is it suitable for you as well?
@TAZNEM (656)
• Philippines
26 Feb 10
well dont buy them so that even if you like to eat you wouldn't have anything around that's edible. or just strengthen your self control dont eat them if you think it will make you fat or something but its harder when you see them aroound so dint buy them
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
8 Jan 10
Hey kats! I really do know what you mean! Whenever I am really
trying to keep myself from "stress eating" that's when it get's
the hardest! That seems to be when I just want to eat the most,
and I am usually not really hungry either, but just want to eat
and can't fight the feelings! But, with me it happens during the
night, when I am awake and can't sleep like at 3:00AM! Now that
is just plain crazy! I am trying to get to sleep, can't, go to
the kitchen out of boredom and stress and eat! The that makes
everything worse because now I am really uncomfortable and can't
sleep for sure! The there are the times I sort of "sleep eat"!
I am awake, but am eating and then will go to sleep! So, you
think you have problems!
@Khushi309 (139)
• India
8 Jan 10
i m so foodie i want to eat almost all of the time. but i control it, or i would become fat. by the way, its not the coffee satisfying your hunger, its the liquid. have milk, chocolate milk, milkshakes, or just coffee or tea whenever you feel hungry for no reason. this fills you up and makes the munchies go. or you could give in to the urge and munch. munch only healthy things, cashews, almonds, raisins etc, or peanuts are really good to. all of this in plain forms of course. try it out, this should help...
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
8 Jan 10
I wish I had, but usually I end up eating something when I shouldn't. Especially if I have chocolate within reach. Today I was quite sensible, instead of chocolate and chips and cake I woked a heap of vegetables with green curry. It was really good, so I have decided I will make sure I always have one of those frozen packages of wok vegetables and a sauce so I can eat something sensible. I couldn't resist the chocolate afterwards, but I didn't eat the chips and cake.
I think the munchies is a more or less permanent state for me. It gets worse about once a month (very much hormonal), but it's there a bit all the time.
