So this morning, the receptionist where I work brought in some store bought boxed doughnuts for my class today. She decided to put them out on a plate...and the proceeded to cut them all in 1/2. When I asked her why she was doing this, she said, well, people are more likely to pick up 1/2 a doughnut.

I have never eaten a 1/2 a doughnut in my life. These are not HUGE doughnuts, they are regular round cake doughnuts.

She is a naturally very thin person who often just skips lunch or has a yogurt because she isn't hungry. It's funny how to her a 1/2 a doughnut is a serving. And to me 2 doughnuts is a serving.

I think there is just a difference in our brains!

I've always heard that a great way to lose weight is to "think like a thin person", lol...perhaps that's how it works.

I really think that is a big part of this battle, making our brains RE program how we look at food. I know for me, that has been what has gotten me this far - and for the first time, I know I will make it to my goals (AND more important - STAY there!) I HAD to make those changes in my mind, otherwise I would be well over 300 pounds for the rest of my life.

i saw a neat thing on one of the medical shows, where they had MRIs of people's brains, and how the levels of dopamine, the "FUN & HAPPY" hormone, are released

they showed the response to alcohol, heroin, and food (for fat people) and the results were all pretty much the same GULP!!!

The more you eat, the more dopamine, more more more til the receptors are so overwhelmed you need more more MORE to feel the same buzz . . . . the good news is that ALL pleasureable things will release this good feeling, and that exercise can boost the # of receptors, so you need less dopamine to feel the same effects....

so let's all have tons of sex and exercise!!! yay!!!!

Im with you Sandi. I have to stay away from trigger foods like donuts or I would binge on them. I couldnt have just a 1/2 or even 1. Id need 2 or 3 so I stay far, far, away. I need a thin brain too.

Here here!

sexercise!

ROFL! Y'all made me snort water from laughing so hard!!!

Here´s the weird thing, I think my brain has changed a bit.

A couple of examples:

- My favorite breakfast over here used to be chicharrones, or fried pork with fried sweet potatoes between a big french roll. Last week I tried to have one, but I could only eat two bites before I felt disgustingly full.

- My rice portions were out of control. Easily two to two and a half cups of white rice. Now I keep myself to about half a cup, even when I´m in a restaurant and they serve me the full out serving of rice.

- About a month ago I had three cheetoes. I didn´t think that was possible. I have friends who don´t believe me.

- I haven´t eaten a doughnut since January.

Wow, I´m turning weird...

Ha.. 1/2 a doughnut is only one bite! I'm with you 2 or 3 doughnuts is a serving lol
I always found/find it odd when eating near skinny people. They'll have a 1/4 or 1/2 of the meal and push the plate away?!?! And I'm thinking "whats wrong with them?" I'm just starting to realize that there is nothing "wrong" with them there is something WRONG with ME. Eating until I feel sick isnt normal. I'm getting much better but its really difficult!

My first thought was that she was just cheap and trying to stretch them.

Gonna work on my fat brain right after I work on my snarky brain.

only if weird is the new AWESOME!!!

It has taken me a long time to be able to take just a small portion of anythng good or to actually eat part of a meal and push the rest away. It is very hard to reprogram the bain for all the bad things we have done for so many years.

I have felt the same way! It always made me angry when my thin friends would stop eating with food left over on their plate. It made me feel bad about myself because I couldn't find the strength to stop myself. I cleaned the plate. It was always so embarrassing to me when a waiter/waitress would clear the table and make a stupid remark like, "You didn't like that at all, did you? heh, heh..." Grrrr.....

I think part of it was that I felt for the longest time that I was missing the full sensor other people had. No matter how much I ate, I could always keep going, always wanted more. A bottomless pit. Eating less, eating slower, cutting out binging, cutting out fast food, etc. has made a difference. I do feel fullness now. And I do stop eating when I feel that. Amazing!

Here's my popcorn story: My friend has been small all her life. In college she weighed under 100 pounds, but not because she was trying to--she is just a small-boned person and naturally thin.

When she eats popcorn, she picks up *a* piece of popcorn. She then bites it in half and eats that half, then she eats the rest of the piece. Sometimes she even bites it in thirds if it's a big piece. A bowl of popcorn lasts her the whole night! Only, usually she doesn't finish a whole bowl--gets tired of it.

And how do you eat popcorn? I used to eat it by putting as much popcorn into my mouth as I could. I would be chewing that while I reached for the next handful.

I've made myself learn to eat it my friend's way--and it really does last a lot longer and is more satisfying as a result.

Jay