In my most recent posts (Italian Turkey Feta Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps and our latest meal plan), I mentioned that I have been working on making a “weight loss” journal that does a lot more for me than just track my weight… although tracking my weight is part of it.
To be honest, I had a hard time getting my head in the game in 2017, and I ended the year weighing more than when I started the year. I knew I needed to get my eating under control again, and I knew that it would require me being intentional about getting my motivation back. I was determined to make 2018 my year.
Good news: I found the inspiration I was looking for.
In my search for inspiration, I looked to Pinterest, where I found a few things to steer me in the right direction. One of the things I found on Pinterest was this image from Women’s Health.
The image will take you to this site here (Women’s Health), but this list was actually put together by Michelle May, M.D., founder of the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Programs and Training and author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. {affiliate link}
Sometimes the trick to eating less is to get busy doing something else.
I noticed something back when I was working my part-time job (you know… like two weeks ago). 🙂 When I was working, I wanted to eat all the time. It was an office job, and I could do my work and munch on a snack at the same time. I was quite the multi-tasker in that way, much to my detriment. To make matters worse, I rarely held back when someone brought in special treats, which happened almost every week.
In contrast, when I am home working on my blog, doing things I am excited about, I can literally work all morning without thinking about food. It’s crazy, I know! When I am doing my blog stuff, it could be 1:00 in the afternoon, and I would look at the clock and think, “OH! When did that happen? I guess I should eat lunch.” This would NEVER have happened at my other job. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I loved what I did there and the people there, but I was ALWAYS ready for lunch. 🙂
It’s the best magic trick I have in my box of tricks right now.
Do you want to know my newest trick to eating less? Sink yourself into something that you care a lot about and that uses the talents and gifts you have. Boom! Like magic, it’s as if you don’t even need to eat! On the contrary, when you are bored, it doesn’t take much to be lured over to food, food, and more food.
This may not sound revolutionary, but for me it was a big wake up call. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, I LOVE that I get to do this blog. It is my joy to get to share my life (and food) with you! Putting together things like our recipes, meal plans, ebooks, and things like what I am sharing with you today gives me a creative and meaningful outlet… and that means more to me now than it ever has before. The fact that a blog about food actually distracts me from overeating… That is just amazing to me, and it is the reality I live in now! So blessed.
Okay, back to my weight loss journal.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing a few things I am including in my personal weight loss journal that have been helpful to me. Maybe some of these ideas will be helpful to you too?
The first section I want to share with you is a list of things you can do when you want to eat but are really just bored. Or in other words, those times when you don’t need to eat, but you want to just because you are not doing anything else. It’s those times when the cookie calls your name, and you need a good distraction that will pull you away from it. It’s also those times when you already ate an apple, carrots, and a banana, and yet you are still looking for more to eat, even through dinner will be in an hour. You know, those times.
Could you use a long list of things to do besides eat?
Let’s make it personal. I am going to give you a list of 100 things that I came up with (at the bottom of this post) to help get your mind rolling on this idea. At the bottom of this post is a printable version of my list as well as a blank printable to fill in with your own ideas. I want you to consider making a list that is unique to who you are, what you love, who you love, and what you want to accomplish, so I came up with a few questions to ask yourself when you are creating your own list.
14 Questions to ask yourself when you are trying to create your list of things to do besides eat…
1. What projects do I want to do but never get around to doing?
I don’t know about you, but in our house there are definitely some projects we need to have done and things that need to get fixed, but we have gotten used to them being broken. Put those things on your list and cross them off one by one. Is there a room that needs a fresh coat of paint? How about some wooden furniture that needs to be sanded down and stained? Maybe commit to doing one a month?
2. What hobbies do I love?
Do you love to get crafty? Maybe you could make people cards or organize your pictures into a scrapbook. Once you sink yourself into a good project, you will be surprised how quickly time flies. Once you are having a good time, you will forget all about eating.
3. What sports do I love?
Can’t get much healthier than this. Sign up to be in a league in your town or visit the gym. Call up a friend and ask them to go to a tennis court or basketball court somewhere. Think about the things you loved to do as a kid and give them a go. Maybe you loved to roller blade but you haven’t done it since high school. Head to a staking rink, or go outside and enjoy the feeling of the wind in your face as you glide.
4. Who do I love?
Is there someone you would love to hang out with? Give them a call or a text. Is there someone you want to encourage? Make them a card and send it to them in the mail. Is there something you can do, or make, that would make your spouse or children really happy? How about a co-worker or some other family member? The possibilities are endless. Maybe there is a friend who lives far away that you could Facetime or Skype with? Catching up with old friends is very rewarding in so many ways.
5. What good deed can I do today?
This one may force you to get out of your comfort zone a little… or, at least, out of your house. Maybe even come up with a whole list of good ideas and commit to doing one or two per week. Want to get some ideas? Check out this list of 103 random acts of kindness for some fresh inspiration.
6. What steps can I make, or things can I do, to be more organized?
This is a big one. Getting organized is so refreshingly rewarding. There is something about seeing a space that was chaotic and transforming it into a nice, neat, and organized space that makes you feel all good inside. And, of course, the benefits last long after the deed is done. You may not be able to see the results of healthy eating overnight, but you can see the results of a space organized overnight. Instant gratification is one drawer away.
Is your closet stuffed full of clothes you never wear? Sort through your clothes and get rid of, or give away, anything you haven’t worn in the last year or won’t wear again. The act of minimizing gives a sense of control over your belongings.
Clean out your basement or garage. Speaking of the garage, maybe get things ready for a garage sale.
Clean out your desk. Look at the book shelf and assess if there are any books you know you will never read again and give them away. There are a million things you could do that make yourself feel more organized. Want some more great ideas of small things you can do to get more organized? I love this list here.
7. Are there any appointments I need to make that I have been putting off?
Doctor? Dentist? Chiropractor? Counselor?
Part of taking care of your health is getting help when you need it, but it can be easy to put off important appointments either because we are too busy, too distracted, or just plain not interested. Of course, picking up the phone and making the call only takes a couple of minutes. Put your health back on the calendar by making your important appointments. Who knows… checking out an issue that has gone unchecked for years may prevent a serious crisis in the future.
8. Is there something I can do to make myself look, and feel, nice?
Paint your nails, dye your hair, get a haircut, or if time and money allows, go out and get a new outfit? Sew the shirt you love but can’t wear because of the rip, or sew the button back on that coat you love. Iron or dry clean clothes that need it.
9. Is there a work out I can do?
Go for a walk, go to the gym, do a workout DVD, try a workout routine you saw in a magazine, or look up exercises and pick one or two from Youtube or on a google search. One of my all-time favorite workouts to do is this Leslie Sansone Miracle Miles DVD set. If you don’t have a favorite yet, keep looking. There is so much out there! Kaylee is someone who does work for me on MPM, and she says she loves Tracy Anderson workouts because they are low impact and powerful.
When you workout, pay attention to how you are getting stronger and leaner, boosting your metabolism, and improving your mental health just by working out! The benefits of a great work out are immediate and long term all at the same time. There are so many great reasons to work out that go far beyond just losing a few pounds. You can read 19 really big benefits to exercising here.
10. Is there a book you want to read?
Pick up that book and crack away at it! You can even read from your Kindle while you do an exercise machine. A book I have been reading from my iPad as I workout on the elliptical machine at our YMCA is “Make Fit Happen: How to Lose Weight, Improve your Fitness and Stay Motivated for Life” by Ryan J. Shields. It’s fantastic and is one I could see myself reading over and over again.
11. Are you just thirsty?
Drink tons of water! Come on, you know you want to! 🙂 Even if you don’t want to, your body DOES want you to, so do it a favor and grab a glass of water.
12. Have you journaled, done a devotional, or read your Bible lately?
Journaling can be very therapeutic. Flush out all of your aggression and frustration onto a pad of paper, and then wrap it up by speaking life over your situation. Remind yourself of your blessings and what you have to be grateful for in this season of your life.
Doing a devotional can inspire, motivate, and encourage you, and who can’t use a little more of that in their life? Spiritual hunger can be something fierce. Tame the beast with some good one-on-one time with your creator and the lover of your soul. Sometimes we eat because we want to stuff down something that needs to be brought up and flushed out of our system, spiritually speaking. Get it off your chest by praying that thing out and dwelling on God’s forgiveness, redemption, and comfort.
13. Have you brushed your teeth lately?
Once you brush your teeth, you will be surprised how much those Doritos just don’t sound that good anymore.
14. Is there something in your house that hasn’t been cleaned in… well… you don’t know how long?
Lift up the cushions on the couch and vacuum under them, flip over your bed mattress, wipe down all of your baseboards, dust off the ceiling fans, clean all of the windows inside and outside. The possibilities are endless. Pray and thank God for His provision in your life as you clean.
Alisha’s list of things to do besides eat.
Free Printable to make your own List of 100 Things To Do Besides Eat.
Alisha’s list of 100 Things to Do Besides Eat.
1. Drink a glass of water.
2. Write out a list of goals – short term and long term.
3. Read a book you have been wanting to read.
4. Make a list of books you want to read.
5. Balance your check book.
6. Make a list of things you want to do around your home and start doing one of them.
7. If you are into crafts, look up crafts on Pinterest that use items you have in your
home and do a project.
8. Make a list of people you want to encourage and write one of them an encouraging
letter or make them a card.
9. Write thank-you cards to people for being great.
10. Journal. Write out your joys and the things you are grateful for.
11. Go to the gym.
12. Look up workouts on Youtube and do one of them.
13. Light some candles, play some soft music, and take a warm bubbly bath.
14. Make a list of random good deeds you can do and then do one of them, or put it on
the calendar to do one of them.
15. Make a list of the things you can organize (kitchen drawers or cupboards, office space,
pantry, linen closet, clothes closet, basement, etc.), then go organize one of the things on
the list or look up ideas of how to organize it on
Pinterest or on Google.
16. Think of appointments you need to have but have been putting off. Call the places and
get the appointments on the calendar.
17. Call a family member you have not talked to in a while.
18. Paint your nails, clip your nails, or go get a manicure.
19. Dye your hair.
20. Get a haircut.
21. Go buy new make up or nail polish.
22. Look at the calendar to see what birthdays are coming up and make some birthday
cards/go buy birthday cards for the people you love.
23. Take a walk.
24. Go through your seasonings and throw out any that have expired.
25. Clean out the fridge/throw out things that have expired.
26. Meal plan for the next week.
27. Think of something sweet you can do for the love in your life and do it.
28. Write a sweet note to your children, letting them know what you appreciate about them.
29. Play your favorite song from your childhood/teen years and belt it out while you dance to it.
30. Dream up new layouts for your rooms and rearrange your furniture.
31. Surprise your kids and clean their rooms.
32. Surprise your kids and paint their rooms.
33. Weed, plant flowers, or shovel the snow.
34. Do a devotional.
35. Read the Bible.
36. Write in a prayer journal, or lay down in a relaxing room and pray.
Pray for others you love and for yourself.
Pray for strength, peace, love, joy, patience, direction and protection.
37. Lift up the cushions on the couch and vacuum under them.
38. Move the couch and sweep under it.
39. Dust, clean ceiling fans, and take care of cobwebs.
40. Do laundry.
41. Make a list of reasons why you want to lose weight or get healthier.
42. Make a “to do” and a “to buy” list.
43. Brush your teeth.
43. Wash your car.
44. Watch a movie.
45. Take a nap.
46. Go to the library.
47. Learn something new.
48.Take things you don’t use anymore to a thrift store.
49. Make a 1 year plan, 5 year plan, and a 10 year plan. Assess where you are now and
where you want to be. Set goals and map out a plan to reach those goals.
50. Send flowers to someone you know is feeling down or who is going through a hard time.
51. Read your favorite blog or magazine.
52. Put 50–100 paper hearts in a box. On each cutout write something that is special
about someone you love. Give the box to them and tell them to pull out a heart whenever
they need some encouragement.
53. Do the same thing above, but with encouraging Bible verses.
54. Spread positive gossip… “Hey! Did you hear what Susie did the other day? It was amazing… ”
55. Make gift baskets.
56. Make sweet notes that you can stick in your kids’ lunches.
57. Play solitaire with a real deck of cards.
58. Invite friends over to have a game night.
59. Delete pictures off of your phone. When you find a really cute one of a friend or family member,
tell them that you found this adorable picture of them when you were clearing pics off your phone. They’ll love it.
60. Clean out your purse.
61. Go through every book on your book shelf and box up any you won’t ever read again.
Donate them somewhere or sell them online.
62. Find something in your house that needs to be repainted or freshly sanded and stained. Then do it.
63. Do something special that you know your significant other will appreciate – like organizing for the kids to be
with friends one night and surprising him/her when he/she gets home from work with an unexpected date night.
64. Write a positive review online for something you bought, a place you went to, or a service you had done.
65. Offer to make a meal for someone.
66. Start a box of memories for your kids to look back on one day.
67. Secretly start writing letters to your kids that you will give to them when they have their first kid, or when they
graduate, or when they turn 18, etc.
68. Write quotes/sayings/Bible verses that inspire you on post-its and put them in places where they will serve
as a reminder to you.
69. Do an adult coloring book or a paint-by-number book.
70. Send surprise post cards to friends who live far away.
71. Do a puzzle.
72. Do a word search.
73 Play Sudoku.
74. Rearrange your books on your book shelf.
75. Experiment with your hair.
76. Write a note to a grandparent.
77. Make a vision board.
78. Wash your windows.
79. Look through old family photos/scrapbooks/yearbooks.
80. Listen to a podcast while you go for a walk.
81. Clean your make-up brushes.
82. Do yoga.
83. Flip through a cookbook and bookmark/post-it ones you want to try.
84. Look up healthy recipes and snacks online and make a meal plan/grocery list with them.
85. Delete emails and unsubscribe to emails you never open.
86. Facetime or Skype with a far-away friend.
87. Take a nap.
88. Play around on Pinterest.
89. Watch a documentary that you think will be interesting.
90. Watch funny or cute videos on Youtube.
91. Ride a bike.
92. Look up little ways to save money or make money.
93. Start a fitness journal.
94. Clean your kitchen and buy some flowers to put on the kitchen table.
95. Go outside and take pictures of nature.
96. Wash the sheets on the beds in your house.
97. Create a chore chart for your kids.
98. Make a list of things you plan to do this summer – big and small.
99. Take a road trip.
100. Make your own list of 100 things to do when you are bored that is specific, personal, and unique to you.
Do you have any other ideas of things to do when you want to eat but shouldn’t? Drop us a comment and tell us about it. We would love to hear your ideas!
JoLinda says
Thank you Alisha for taking the time to publish these helpful tips and recipes. I am using them for my 13 yr old who has decided to get fit. I am making a journal for her to write in along with the printables. We go through your recipes and decide together what we will be making for dinner and lunches. Do this together gives me hope that she will not become another teen with an eating disorder.
Again thank you for all your hard work and willingness to share it.
Alisha Hughes says
Wow! This is amazing. I love that idea. Good for you guys.
Cynthia Valentin says
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE THESE IDEAS. i DON’T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THIS BUT THESE TOOLS ARE MOTIVATORS FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF WHO DOESN’T KNOW WHERE TO START. YOU ARE VERY APPRECIATED.