I tend to eat when I am bored, tired or lonely, and I guess I am not the only one.  I am slightly disabled, and I am not able to hold an ordinary job, but I do what I can when I can.  To keep busy, to meet people, to feel useful.  That is why volunteering is so rewarding.  I cannot do too much that will compromise my joints or back, but  have found some niches I love.

To be a volunteer gives me the freedom to say no if I have a bad day or month, and I am appreciated when I return.  (I inform about my shortcomings, and usually get to work around them) It also gives me great plesure to be among people, talk about stuff that interests me, and just beeing useful. I also get a lot of nice experiences.

I have two regular events now.  I work at the opera/ballet, and at the House of Photography in the town where I live.  I have also been a red cross volunteer, when I was more fit.  I get to see the shows, and go to the exibitions, and have made a lot of friends in these workplaces.

Tonight I was feeling a bit down, so insted of TV and a risk of stuffing my face, I went to the opera as a paying customer.  Best Idea I had this year!!  I saw my friends on stage and in the orchestra, and could concentrate on just enjoying, and not paying attention to the rest of the public.  I got the ticket at half price because of my involvment, and that was a blessing, for my funds are low...

One of the benefits with beeing around people, is that I don't think about food until I get really hungry, and when I loose myself to beautiful music and performance, that can take a while. Now my head is still buzzing with the music, and I am drinking loads of ginger/lemon "tea" with sweetener instead of eating, because my other senses are satisfied.  One of the bases gave me a bottle of port, because I had sat in his office to sign for some deliveries while he was out of town; that bottle will have to wait until my planned guilt- free day in a couple of weeks

When I work at the opera it is usually as a doorman/ticketeer, but on two occations I have been one of the extras, almost behind the curtains, so far back did we have to go, but it was an experience of a lifetime.  My alto is so deep, so I usually sing tenor or barytone in my quire (another brilliant activity!) But on stage I have to sing alto.  I could never pass as a man.....

At the house of Photography I coordinate the volunteers, making rotas, filling lists, making work descriptions and so on.

Beeing busy keeps me active, and when I am active I don't think about food.  That can backfire, of cause, with slipups at social gatherings, but not that often.

There are so many organisations that are dependent on volunteers: the red cross, big sister/brother to a child with little family, language training with new citizens, hospitals....  There are a lot more in USA than in Norway, so everyone can find something that suits them if they really try.

If you want to fill your spare time with something meaningful and at the same time get distracted from the urge to binge, I can really recommend volunteering, or social or cultural pasttimes!!  An active life is a full life!  And when you are not up to it in times of stress or illness, you just say no, and no hard feelings.  I love it!