Re: Eating without distractions

[Guest guest]

Hi, I like this about putting a distance between getting home from work & dinner

with some " down " time. Sounds very nurturing to me & probably great for the

relationship. Thanks for posting this.

mj

> > >

> > > I have struggled with the exact same thing! I KNOW that when I eat without

distraction, I eat far less, and sometimes choose not to eat at all when

otherwise I would have. I've discussed ths with my counselor, and I even told

her that when I tell myself that I can't eat distractedly, I lose interest in

the food. She asked me what I get from my distractors- tv or reading. I told her

that I get distraction and entertainment. When she asked me what I get from

food, I said comfort. Then she asked me what I need to be distracted from and

comforted for. I am at home alone all day, and I realized that I am incredibly

lonely. When I sit at the table to eat by myself without distractions, the

loneliness really sets in. So we decided that, when I'm physically hungry, I

should sit at the table with the stuffed bear that I sleep with. We laughed at

first thinking about it, but the thought of having the bear there made me feel

less afraid. I've tried it a couple

> > > times, and it did help. Honestly, though, I'm still not very good at

eating at the table (without distraction) and would love to hear what others

think!

> > >

> > > Sara

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think for me, my mark of the end of the work day and transition into the

evening is to wash my face and change into some comfy house clothes.

Alana

>

> I like the cocktail idea because it is " doing " something, not just talking

> but contains a relaxing " task " of sorts, sipping on the drink. And there's a

> clear finish line, when the drink is gone. Yet it's clear that the goal is

> not to drink it as fast as possible.

>

> Maybe this could be done with herbal tea. Anyone else have substitutes?

>

> My sister relaxes with knitting. And she does it while watching TV and doing

> other mindless things... might be a good substitute for mindless eating!

> I've never been interested in knitting before but suddenly the last couple

> of days I am.

>

> Oh, and for those in couples, the idea of a drink together, sans kids,

> sounds pretty great for reconnecting, too!

>

> Abby

>

> > My parents always had a cocktail together when they came home from work.

> Just them, about 20 minutes together, they talked about their day and we had

> to wait until that was over before dinner was started. This wasn’t about

> drinking booze, they each had a simple martini or gibson, it was more about

> putting a distance between home and work, shifting gears. Once they had

> their respite, we all joined them and had dinner.

> >

> > When I was still working and the job stress was mounting, I use to talk

> out loud in my car on the way home. I would yell, scream, say all the things

> I really wanted to say, but couldn’t and made myself a promise that once I

> drove into the garage, it was over with. I would not bring it into the house

> with me. It really worked for me. Now that I am retired, if the day has been

> stressful, I sip a drink before dinner, non alcohol when in the truck, and a

> brandy if I am at home. There is something soothing in sipping, and hot tea

> is a natural relaxer.

>

>

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think for me, my mark of the end of the work day and transition into the

evening is to wash my face and change into some comfy house clothes.

Alana

>

> I like the cocktail idea because it is " doing " something, not just talking

> but contains a relaxing " task " of sorts, sipping on the drink. And there's a

> clear finish line, when the drink is gone. Yet it's clear that the goal is

> not to drink it as fast as possible.

>

> Maybe this could be done with herbal tea. Anyone else have substitutes?

>

> My sister relaxes with knitting. And she does it while watching TV and doing

> other mindless things... might be a good substitute for mindless eating!

> I've never been interested in knitting before but suddenly the last couple

> of days I am.

>

> Oh, and for those in couples, the idea of a drink together, sans kids,

> sounds pretty great for reconnecting, too!

>

> Abby

>

> > My parents always had a cocktail together when they came home from work.

> Just them, about 20 minutes together, they talked about their day and we had

> to wait until that was over before dinner was started. This wasn’t about

> drinking booze, they each had a simple martini or gibson, it was more about

> putting a distance between home and work, shifting gears. Once they had

> their respite, we all joined them and had dinner.

> >

> > When I was still working and the job stress was mounting, I use to talk

> out loud in my car on the way home. I would yell, scream, say all the things

> I really wanted to say, but couldn’t and made myself a promise that once I

> drove into the garage, it was over with. I would not bring it into the house

> with me. It really worked for me. Now that I am retired, if the day has been

> stressful, I sip a drink before dinner, non alcohol when in the truck, and a

> brandy if I am at home. There is something soothing in sipping, and hot tea

> is a natural relaxer.

>

>

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think for me, my mark of the end of the work day and transition into the

evening is to wash my face and change into some comfy house clothes.

Alana

>

> I like the cocktail idea because it is " doing " something, not just talking

> but contains a relaxing " task " of sorts, sipping on the drink. And there's a

> clear finish line, when the drink is gone. Yet it's clear that the goal is

> not to drink it as fast as possible.

>

> Maybe this could be done with herbal tea. Anyone else have substitutes?

>

> My sister relaxes with knitting. And she does it while watching TV and doing

> other mindless things... might be a good substitute for mindless eating!

> I've never been interested in knitting before but suddenly the last couple

> of days I am.

>

> Oh, and for those in couples, the idea of a drink together, sans kids,

> sounds pretty great for reconnecting, too!

>

> Abby

>

> > My parents always had a cocktail together when they came home from work.

> Just them, about 20 minutes together, they talked about their day and we had

> to wait until that was over before dinner was started. This wasn’t about

> drinking booze, they each had a simple martini or gibson, it was more about

> putting a distance between home and work, shifting gears. Once they had

> their respite, we all joined them and had dinner.

> >

> > When I was still working and the job stress was mounting, I use to talk

> out loud in my car on the way home. I would yell, scream, say all the things

> I really wanted to say, but couldn’t and made myself a promise that once I

> drove into the garage, it was over with. I would not bring it into the house

> with me. It really worked for me. Now that I am retired, if the day has been

> stressful, I sip a drink before dinner, non alcohol when in the truck, and a

> brandy if I am at home. There is something soothing in sipping, and hot tea

> is a natural relaxer.

>

>

> >

> >

>