Healthy eating and living alone

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2004
Healthy eating and living alone
10
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 6:42pm
I'm hopelessly unable to eat well balanced meals while living alone. No one is there from stopping me from eating whatever I want, including junk food that I cannot stop buying for myself at the market. Before each and every exam I start binging to calm my nerves. I can dicipline myself to study but not to eat properly. I lost 10 pounds over the summer but am gradually gaining it all back plus some. . .
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2005
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 6:50pm
I'm going through the same thing. I find myself eating the most unhealthy and unbalanced dinners. Lunches I've been okay with, but dinner time I just eat rice or else eat a frozen dinner.
One thing I started doing though was walking in the evening. I recently found a good walking buddy, so we go out at about 7 or 8 every night and walk for a good hour or 2. I find the more physical I am and the more I try to keep myself out of my apartment in the evenings, the less likely I am to eat junk food or whatnot.
But I digress, you lost 10 lbs this summer so congrats!! Perhaps finding ways to be more physically active can help maintain your loss?
Also, one thing i do when I grocery shop is just, don't buy junk food. I find healthier versions of junky stuff- ie this low-fat yogurt based brownie mix (can't remember the name now, but it's in the cake mix section) or chips and salsa or even some sugar free cookies. You may want to try journalling what you eat too- it really helps visualize your eating habits.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2003
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 6:53pm
You are NOT alone! I am the exact same way... I eat like crap, or sometimes just don't eat and I live alone. When I used to be married, I was forced to either cook or he would cook since there were two of us it was easier. Now, huh! I'm lucky if I throw together a quick salad and veggie burger, which is what I had tonight. If it involves more then just throwing something on the George Foreman, then forget it. Plus, I have a major issue with grocery shopping for some reason - I just hate to go, it's such a hassle, so there is never any food in the house either. I just had a guy over last week and he brought beer. He went to go put it in my refrigerator and just looked in there and said - "don't you eat?" it was sad!
OH well, I guess my only suggestion woud be to buy easy stuff that's quick and try to stay away from the junk food. Or, maybe treat yourself to ONE item of junk per grocery shopping trip, that's what I do, usually.
good luck! :)
Cat
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 9:37pm
Try making a grocery list before going shopping and only buy what's on the list. I cook my food for the week on Sunday and then freeze it in small containers so I always have non-junk food to eat. Also, try exercizing regularly to head off the damage caused my excessive eating. Iri
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2003
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 11:28pm
I eat much healthier when I m single. When I m with someone I have to go out for dinners especially if we are still dating! I cannot escape from it. I m not overweight but I would like to loose 3-4 pounds for my training. I think if I stay a month or two more single I can reach my goal so there is always a good side of being single.
Plus I get to go only to places that I like and I get to plan my weekends :~)still I would give it all up for a hug and a kiss a la "Baise de l'hotel de ville"
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2005
Fri, 10-07-2005 - 12:11pm

living alone is HARD on the diet! I live by this motto (because remember when we were younger and we'd want a candy bar when we'd go through the check out line and our parents would say "no") well... I'm an adult now and I get to make the decision. So I pick up a candy bar or any other thing anytime I want... because I can! :p Which is about as healthy as eating fast food everyday!

I feel REALLY unhealthy right now because I've been eating out almost every evening and I just can't do that - I PREFER to eat at home and not that I eat much better but I eat earlier!

Anyway...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2004
Fri, 10-07-2005 - 2:56pm

Maybe I'm wierd but I enjoy cooking for myself so I find it fairly easy to eat healthy and frankly, most of it is willpower which you will or won't have whether you are involved or not (and I would get upset if I was involved with someone and he told me I couldn't eat something anyways).

You have to look at other factors in your life, stress causes most people to overeat so you have to balance it out. If you feel stressed, go for a walk instead of eating. Maybe make a tape of notes that you need to study, put on some headphones and "workout" to that.

To make it a true commitment you have to change many everyday unhealthy habits, it is hard when you first make the changes but once you get yourself in the routine of something it makes it easier. There is no easy fix.

I like to exercise and the weight that I've dropped so far is my motivation, I was never heavy per se but I was definitely chunkier and out of shape and I never want to be that way again, I just didn't feel good about myself. The key is moderation, you can still enjoy foods you like, just in appropriate portions and you have to exercise, I enjoy exercising now and it also helps me sleep better too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2005
Fri, 10-07-2005 - 3:18pm
another problem is... I'm hungry the minute I walk in the door from work so the odds of me taking a bunch of time to fix something healthy - I tend to find the fastest thing! :-s
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2004
Fri, 10-07-2005 - 4:26pm

Then you have to replace your usual snacks with healthier ones if you know this is something you do or try and have something ready to eat when you come home (leftovers, something ready to microwave, etc.). I try to keep Luna bars or nuts or something when I want to munch on something quick. I know better than to surround myself with cookies or something like that because I will devour them in one sitting.

Like I said it takes discipline and willpower and you have to just make yourself do it. You have to make a genuine effort if you really want to change your eating habits, it won't happen by repeating the same routine with the same food.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2005
Sat, 10-08-2005 - 9:55am
Hi...new here. I'm just out of a serious relationship & battling the bad habits that come with lonliness....staying up too late, eating poorly. I recently joined a gym where I can take classes like step, yoga, and bellydancing, & besides giving me something to look forward to, I'm finally shedding the 10 pounds I put on during my unhealthy relationship. It makes it easier to pursue healthier habits as well...i.e. fewer bags of chips, more green tea. It's helping me to feel heathier & a little better about myself. Good luck!
Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 10-08-2005 - 11:31am

A lot of times, I'm the same way.