How can I go to the movies if I can't have popcorn What's the alternative?

I take in a baggie of sausage and cheese chunks, and sometimes a baggie of mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, macadamias, and pecans).

If you want salty/crunch, try taking pork rinds.

I have taken macadamia nuts. Never thought of sausage and cheese but will next time. THX

Atkins Crunchers are good too!

I love the pork rinds.

Cut up celery stuffed with cream cheese is good - I take it to work quite often, cut into bite-sized chunks, in a baggie.

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

Last time we dashed to the movies and I hadn't time to bring my own snacks, I bought a hotdog and threw away the bun. It was delicious! I hadn't had a hot dog in years.

When I've made my own snacks, I've brought home-made jerky, cheese sticks, nuts or sunflower seeds, celery, or cherry tomatoes - basically, any LC food that will fit in a ziplock baggie.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

At the risk of sounding rather harsh and self-righteous (which, in reviewing some of my recent posts, I see I have been doing quite a bit lately!)....

Associating movies with popcorn, ballgames with chili dogs, television with chips & dip, celebrations with cake and ice cream, and coffee with cookies is the kind of automatic activity + food connection that got many of us in trouble in the first place. Most of us have developed patterns of eating for every reason in the book except true hunger. There was a stretch just before I made the lc conversion when I was literally "unable" to watch TV without continuous junk-food grazing. Just like I used to "need" a cigarette every time I got in the car, or "had" to bite my fingernails when I was nervous.

In my opinion, it's really important to our long-term success that we break these self-sabotaging patterns. Rather than try to find something more acceptable to eat during a movie than popcorn, why not work on breaking the "mindless munching" habit altogether? Instead of trying to find ways to minimize the damage caused by eating just for the sake of eating, why not address the behavior itself?

Have a good dinner before you go, enjoy a free whiff of the theater butter, and be proud of yourself for not automatically chomping on something just because you're in a theater. Learning to eat to only when we're actually hungry is one of the keys to lasting change, and very liberating besides.

For what it's worth...

Sky
186/144/under 150

Actually, when I go to the movies, I guess I despise the people eating snacks while I'm trying to see the movie. It's noisy and messy and smelly. And irritating. But that's just my reaction, I suppose. When I was a kid I used to pig-out on the popcorn too.

I have an idea....why not bring in a large bottle of water and drink that during the movie?
I often bring water in my purse for during the show cause I am not much of a pop drinker. I am new to the LC way of life....so you all can guess what greasy crunchy stuff I ate with my water.........sorry......no more of that now!! LOL

Bev

Thanks, Sky, for saying what I was feeling, only so much more eloquently. I was yelling at the screen, "WHY ARE YOU EVEN BOTHERING!!!??" and I didn't have a diplomatic way of phrasing it all.

We absolutely MUST break these kind of automatic connections if we are going to make this a way of life! I enjoy the movies no less than I did before, and it's hella cheaper, too!

Mikeyrat

Started Atkins 5/30/2003
337/283.5/237 - 6'2" 43 YO
Wife: 224/194/165 - 5'11"

Luckily I broke the popcoen and snacks at the movies connection about 10 years ago. I bought a medium popcorn, no butter, and a large (not gigantic) soft drink (diet) and it was $5.00.
It cost more than the price of the movie at that time. I never encourage price gouging, so I stopped eating at the movies. sometimes I smuggle in some snacks but I can go 2 hours without eating, surely.
Rob

I posted that same question when I started and there were some good suggestions. The next time I went I took some nuts. Now that I know where the pork rinds are I may take them next time. BTW. I like the BBQ flavored ones better than the plain. Are there any other flavors available ?

started 7/26/2003
one day at a time...one pound at a time
337/319/200
9/9-316

Sky - well said!

Rob - Yup, that must have been years ago that you bought that junkfood at the movies because soda is now $3.25 and popcorn starts at $3.25 for the tiny bag.

I can't afford the popcorn after paying for a family of four to go to the movies

______________________
Life is short, even on the longest days - John Mellencamp

chargeit-- on the pork rinds issue... there are regular. BBQ and I have also seen "hot & spicy"...

I get bacon and cheddar pork rinds here in Toronto. Porky's brand.



Victors are really just temporary quitters who then regroup with a vengeance.

Thanks for the supportive responses and ideas, everyone To Mikey:

<<"WHY ARE YOU EVEN BOTHERING!!!??" and I didn't have a diplomatic way of phrasing it all.>>

I'm only on day 4, give me a break, okay?