My trick is to use a small plate. I use to eat on a dinner plate. but now I eat on a salad plate, or even a tea cup plate @_@ anyways, I serve myself much less on these smaller plates and I feel full even though I know I'm eating smaller than the serving size. I guess it's a mental thing with me.

This is kind-of related ... I read on one of these threads to watch for a sigh when you're eating, and that will be your body telling you that it's gotten enough. I didn't believe this at first, but it has worked for me every time.

I suppose using a slower eating technique would be a good way to address your problem, too. I haven't done that yet so I can't say how well it works.

I measure out portion sizes, too.

A friend once told me to stand up and turn around three times. Tell myself I have had enough and when I think I want more to do something like walk from one room to the other and back. That changes your habit and starts a new one that include exercise.

Originally Posted by Luckymom1:
A friend once told me to stand up and turn around three times.

So how's that work when eating out? :D

Originally Posted by almostheaven:
So how's that work when eating out? :D

Just consider it a little dinner entertainment for your fellow diners! :lol:

I rarely feel full at all. Unless I am very careful I will eat until literally the food is in the back of my throat I am so full. If I can't stop eating on my own I make my hubby take my plate away. If I can stop on my own I make sure hubby knows how good I am for doing it on my own - lol. Most of the time here lately I can't seem to stop on my own though.

Yeah, I know it sounds funny but maybe turning around at a restraunt is odd try walking to the ladies room and back instead. No not to get people talking that your bulimic or anorexic but just to get away for a second wash your hands or something maybe change dinner conversation to activity recruit a fellow dinner into your scheme to lose.

I am in the weigh and measure crowd. I have four growing kids to feed so I have to cook in quantity, but I get my food, weighed and measured, eat it, and have the kids clear the table and put away the leftovers. I have been fortunate in having never devloped the habit of clearing the kids plates as some moms do, largely because I started battling weight issues as a young teen and went to weight watchers for years where it was drilled into me that "the food is wasted either way, so don't put it on your waist" long before I even had kids.

One thing I picked up from my sister who has a lapband was to take little bites, and put your fork/spoon down between bites. She was told this during pre-banding counseling. It really helps me slow down and then register that I am full. Eating fast - or mindlessly - always leads to overeating for me. :)

Everything everyone else mentioned, plus: when I eat taco salad at a fast food restaurant, for instance, I eat the meat and greens in the taco shell, but I don't need to eat the taco shell, but will find myself nibbling on it after I'm done with the rest. I've found that I have to pour a little of my drink on it, that's disgusting and who would want to eat it then. Of course, you can tell that I don't usually go to fancy restaurants. :D Also, a few weeks ago, we went out for a birthday lunch and the restaurant brought out ice cream for all of us. I took a few bites, but didn't want to mindlessly nibble on the rest of it, so I poured a little salt on it. That helps me to keep from nibbling on things on my plate that I wouldn't want to take home.

Originally Posted by Tisha___:
A trick for when you go out to eat, is to ask for a to-go container as soon as you get your plate, and devide it up right then. I know that I personally am not very likely to dig into a to-go container right there at the table. And then, you have some yummy leftovers for the next day!:)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I do this at restaurants too, the ones that we know have huge portions (there's one that serves delicious cuscus, but there's no way I can nor should finish the whole plate!). We always say "it's for the dog". In truth, we bag it for us, that's a free meal, after all. :p

Thanks for all of the support everyone. Pheww, it has been a tough week. But I have been doing better on the portion control the last couple of days. I have been trying to be more in control by cleaning up right of way and putting the food away. I also have connected the portion control to emotional eating. That is a toughy for me too as I am sure for most people. I tend to eat more when I am feeling tired and overworked. Lacking the me time. That is one of the things I am trying to learn on this journey to schedule time for me and how that is my responsibility and not the burden of others to entertain me. Does that make since? What I mean is my husband, my family we all have busy lives and we often get caught up in the waiting game where we put off having fun until the others can be there too. Well, that is great and all and I still want that time with them but I can't spend my life waiting either. If they can join me great, if they are busy I will miss them but I can still go to a movie, go to the gym, work on a project or something and that doesn't mean that it will be like that always. There will be another day.