People often eat when they are not actually HUNGRY.  They eat because they are bored, stressed, angry, or depressed.  They eat because they it is “time” to eat, or because that is what everyone else is doing.  They eat because their kids are eating.  They eat because they see a commercial on TV, and it looks good, or because they smell something someone else is cooking, and it smells good.  Sound familiar?

So – DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!  Break your routine, if it is the “timing” thing.
Remove yourself from situations where you smell food cooking.  Don’t watch TV in the evening, that is when those tantalizing commercials are the most tempting!

When you first feel hungry, make sure you’ve eaten your snacks and drank your water.   If you’ve done all that, pick something from the list and KEEP BUSY!!!

CLEAN HOUSE

Do the dishes.
Do the laundry, or iron.
Do yard work. (Mow the lawn or weed the garden).
Sort your clothes in your drawers-we all have messes, so make them neat.
Clean out your closets or, if really ambitious and desperate, the Garage!
Clean under the kitchen sink.
Organize your entertainment center. (Put DVDs or CDs in ABC order).
Clean out your purse or wallet.
Sweep the floors.
Clean out your car.  Again, if ambition takes over, Wash and wax your car!
Power wash the house.
Fill empty containers.
Clean your bathrooms.
Thaw out your freezer.
Replace filters in your house

PAMPER YOURSELF

Take a nice leisurely walk.
Write in a journal.
Read a book, or write one if you feel like you’ve read them all.
Look up new recipes, or cook meals for the week and freeze them.
Take a bath.
Plan a vacation.
Go shopping for the new clothes you WILL need!
Plan your lunch menu for the next week or month.
Reconnect with family members and old friends.
Make a dentist appt. -- (even hope for a root canal or at least a crown cannot eat for several hours after)
Look over yearbooks and photo albums.
Wax eyebrows, get a manicure and pedicure.
Get a haircut.
Dream.
Figure out how to spend the $70 you would make if you told 2 people
about this program, and they signed up!

GET ACTIVE!

Put the music on loud and dance wildly.
Take the kids to the pool, playground, or for a walk.
Sit thru a sporting event as you watch your child-for the 999,999th time!
Join a club, or volunteer!
Visit a local nursing home or sick friend.
Play with your animals.
Go roller-skating or swimming, play tennis or racquetball.
Plan a party with healthy foods and enjoy.
Go to your church, and pray or volunteer in the choir.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

Learn to play a musical instrument.
Sew, or knit or crochet a blanket.
Learn how to change your car’s oil, or just replace the windshield wipers.
Visit http://www.discoverahobby.com to learn the basics behind a whole bunch of
different hobbies.

KNOCK SOME THINGS OFF YOUR TO-DO LIST

Decorate or paint a room.
Clean your ears.
Digitize photos.
Take inventory of your home in case of fire.
Do your taxes if you haven’t already.
Teach your parents email.
Pay your bills.
Pray that something on this list works for you!

ON THE CLOCK?

File all your piles of work.
Research a topic… if you have the sources.
Review your benefits and update your beneficiaries.
Teach a co-worker something (you know they aren’t as good as you.)
Volunteer to research a new filtered water system.
Walk around your building and up the stairs.
Write or email your friends or co-workers.
Clean out your desk.
Take pictures of your co-workers and make a slide show.
Clean out voice mails and return calls.
Watch YouTube videos.
Defrag your computer.
File all your piles of work.
Go to the bathroom 20 times a day.
Write your resume.
Plan your retirement.
Order supplies for your desk.

… and if all else fails, BRUSH YOUR TEETH!  You NEVER want to eat after you brush your teeth.  Works every time!