30 Things You Can Do Instead of Snacking

Snacking can be the downfall of many people trying to lose a few unwanted pounds. If you are someone who has trouble in this area, it's time to sit down and brainstorm some ideas. Think about activities you can do to occupy your mind and/or your hands. Have you ever noticed when you're totally engrossed in something that time just flies by and you totally forget about eating? That's the type of activity that will work to keep you from grazing and adding unwanted or unneeded calories.

I'm not saying snacking is bad. In fact, many nutrionists believe that 6 to 8 small meals spread out through the day is far better than 3 large meals. As with most things, moderation is the key and the quality of the snack. Chips and candy will give you far different results than carrot and celery sticks.

To help you get started, I have come up with 30 activities that will keep you from snacking. Some of them occupy your mind, while some of them occupy your hands. Some of them do both. If you think about it, I'm sure you can come up with another thirty ideas yourself.

1. Drink 8 ounces of water- Most of us fall short in getting our daily water intake. Drink water when you feel like reaching for a snack. Thirst actually resembles hunger. Try drinking your water from a chilled margarita glass for a bit of exotic flair.

2. Handwrite a letter or thank you note to someone you haven’t talked to in awhile. Check your birthday lists and set up reminders for upcoming birthdays. 

3. Clean up your email box. Delete old emails, unsubscribe to things you no longer look at, and file emails you want into folders. This is something I do daily at home and at work so that it never piles up on me.

4. Enroll in a class-take something fun like cake-decorating, calligraphy, photography, fly-fishing, etc.  This can occupy your time a couple nights a week. 

5. Join the gym-Take a Zumba class, use the aerobics equipment or do your own water aerobics in the pool.  Whatever, you choose, make sure it's something you look forward to.  Maybe grab a friend to take along.  My family joined the gym and all three of us enjoy this time we spend together and look forward to it.

6. Take a scenic walk or ride your bike in the neighborhood. Drive to a scenic area and park to walk. Go to the local school track and walk laps. More and more towns are creating attractive walking trails for public use.

7. Read a book. Find a riveting book that you don’t want to put down. A great motivating book for losing weight is “Finally Thin” by Kim Bensen.

8. Watch YouTube videos. Look for old episodes of your favorite comedies, TV and movie bloopers, and music videos from your past.

9. Join a league. Many companies have office bowling or softball leagues. Have fun competing against co-workers.

10. Meditate for 10 minutes. Go somewhere quiet and relax with your eyes shut for a few minutes.

11. Take a relaxing bubble bath.  Light some candles, put on some soothing music, and enjoy this time alone. 

12. Walk the dog, or if you don’t own one, offer to walk someone else’s.

13. Grab your digital camera and/or video camera and take some photos. Bring them back and have fun editing them on your computer.  Email a few to friends and family.

14. Call your mother or best friend. Call someone who misses you and make their day. 

15. Plan your next vacation or even your dream vacation. Look up places to go, order brochures, read reviews, etc.  Use Google Earth to help you pick out scenic hotels to stay in.

16. Go virtual traveling on Google Earth. I have a series of hubs on all the great things you can see using Google Earth. You can easily spend hours doing this.

17. Watch your favorite TV program or movie. Many programs are offered online as well.

18. Spend time with your kids. Find out how their day went, help them with their homework, read them a story, or better yet, tell them a story about your past.

19. Spend time with your spouse. At least once a week, you really should try to dedicate time to be alone with your spouse.

20. Work in the yard. Clean out flower beds, pull weeds, or rake leaves. Mow or fertilize your yard, plant bulbs or flower seeds.

21. Clean out a closet or a chest of drawers. Reorganize your closet or straighten your sock drawer. Gather unwanted items for a garage sale.

22. Take up a hobby like sewing, knitting, cross-stitching, needlepoint, crocheting, painting, or scrapbooking.

23. Write dates and names on the back of photos and file them or put them into photo albums. Scan important photos to your computer to be saved onto disks.

24. Help an elderly person run errands or mow their grass.

25. Go for a drive. Take a drive in the country near sunset for a relaxing experience.

26. Visit the library or a museum.

27. Take your kids to the park. Kick a ball around with them or throw a Frisbee.

28. Paint your fingernails, toenails, or give yourself a facial.

29. Mend clothes. You probably have several pieces that have a missing button or a hem that is out. Take a needle and thread and fix them up.

30. Play a game online. You should have some standard games on your computer such as Minesweeper and Spider Solitaire. You can also find lots of games online to play. Some are free, some require a subscription and some have free trials.