i’ve been using food to fill empty hours which isn’t healthy at all. it became an habit. eating every 3 to 4 hours even when i don’t want to, just because is the norm. it has been like this for years. i want to fast and reset, but i know it will not be easy as i may want to rely on food due to boredom. what do you do to distract yourself? i want to fast for spiritual and health reasons, reconnect with my hunger signals and be more conscious about the food i put in my mouth. it isn’t okay for the planet or my poor stomach to eat so much. i want to eat with consciousness and pray for the food i am eating.
That empty space in my day where I used to eat I find the toughest part of multi-day fasts. My brain is like “something is missing today… oh ya, food!”, then I think about food non-stop.
I have an old house and I have an endless list of projects, big and small. I find putting on my headphones and spinning up an audiobook or podcast and doing these some little jobs really helps. I also chill at my computer and watch youtube vids (I rarely eat at my computer). Doing the things I do when I eat/snack like watch TV is not good for my fasting.
Make goals. Learn something new, start a side hustle. An online course, a new hobby, a side business or volunteering somewhere can keep you busy and hyperfocused.
And do a set of pushups or go for a walk whenever you feel the urge to eat out of boredom. (And don’t forget to stay hydrated)
Fasts do get easier when you become fat adapted as you won’t feel as hungry. When you do eat, focus on nutrition: high protein and healthy fats, very little healthy carbs to stay satiated and keep cravings away.
I made a List of “things to do instead of eat” and it has helped me, since I’m also a boredom eater.
Things like, work out, take a shower, play with my cats, clean out my car, play anima crossing, read a book, take a nap… “literally anything else!”