I'm a health-conscious person. I check the nutritional labels, I try to hit up each section of the food pyramid every day, and I exercise as much as I can. The one thing I can't seem to do, though, is register that I'm full until I've gotten past the "full"stage and into the "discomfort" stage.
So now I'm wondering, in a healthy way - does anyone know how to avoid this problem? I'm not a speedy eater, and I genuinely don't think eating fast is my problem. Maybe it's knowing my limit?
And this problem can be particularly bad in places where food is continuous or portions are large; I'm tempted to clean my plate in restaurants that I know serve more food in one meal than I would need all day.
I'm far enough away from being overweight for that to be my main concern. I just don't want to leave every restaurant or dinner party with a cramp, and it seems quite unnatural that I do! (Although I did hear some evolutionary theory about how people are natural binge eaters, due to the fact that during the hunter-gatherer stage they didn't used to know how long it would be until their next meal).
But still - babies, the most perfect example of humans at their base, stop eating immediately when they have had enough.
How do you stop from eating too much at meals? How do you register you are filling up with food before you reach your max?
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Comments (47)
I don't know, I have the same problem!
I like food, especially really good food, and I want to eat as much of it as possible. haha
I suffer from a different problem. No matter how much I eat, nothing registers! I am NEVER full so I chug water when I'm done eating. It always makes me full and I stop eating then.
However, when I do feel extremely full, walking it off usually helps! (:
don't speed walk, just a nice stroll outside in your yard or neighborhood or something (:
the easiest way to do it at restaurants is to split the dish in half to have wrapped up. with most places, the serving size is about right [a comfortable full] if you eat half of the massive plate of food they serve.
If you have easy access to food, then when you go to restaurants, try to get things from the appetizer section. These will not always be perfect portion sizes as they can be large too, but price is a pretty good indicator of size, relatively. If you order an entree, expect to eat half of it and drink more water (not juice or soda, just plain water).
I used to do that at buffets. Normally I am a slow eater though, so I don't have too much of a problem with it.
I would say that if you're eating multiple plates just wait 5-10 minutes between each plate, which is what I do now. Have a conversation with someone else sitting at the table. Or, if you're alone, maybe read a few pages of a book or something.
And if the problem is putting too much food onto one plate then, obviously, try to decrease the amount.
Also, make sure to eat veggies and protein first, because they'll fill you up more than processed food and most side dishes.
i have the same problem! i just loove eating. the only thing that helped me with this was taking green tea supplements, they curbed my appetite...but i ran out of them so now i'm back to eating everything in sight :P
I have the same problem, and it's really frustrating-- I'm a bit overweight and I'm trying to lose it. I exercise at the gym and outdoors regularly, and I eat healthy foods, but I have so much trouble stopping myself from eating until I'm uncomfortable. It's driving me crazy. I can usually stop myself from doing it, but the urges to binge are just as uncomfortable as the binge itself. It's mostly "snacky" stuff that I have a problem with.
I try to distract myself from it, or go for a jog if I'm feeling close to binging. I don't really have any answers for you though :/ sorry
Es mi problemo tambien. There just needs to be a good DISTRACTION! With my boyfriend, I'm willing to go with just two meals a day. But I don't see him often, so .. like the rest of you, I need to find some activities and hobbies to help distract you from eating too much.
try drinking more water while you eat
I have the problem of mindlessly munching on stuff. I'm not shoving it in or anything, just not thinking about it.
The way I keep from doing that is to count and record calories. It's a bit intensive, but I have gained 15 pounds really fast in the last year. So, when you are having a bowl of cereal, for example, measure out a serving and only eat that much. Write it down. You may have to believe your mind over your body for a while until your body re-adjusts. As for restaurants, try splitting a meal between two or three people, or have part of it boxed right away so that it's never even on your plate.
Good luck!
@ArtByV@xanga - Good idea!
@xJennified@xanga - Haha, I can relate to that too, but that ain't a problem - it's a solution to my other problem! The water idea's a good one though - maybe I don't drink enough water during meals?
@kahauolupea@xanga - Hm...do those really work?
@the_artificial_human@xanga - Yeah, exercise is a great moderator of appetite! Sometimes those snacky foods (chips, etc) are so easy to go overboard on because they don't do anything to fill up your stomach :-/ Trust me, I understand! (Tortilla chips are my vice).
@fiona - it worked for me :)! i remember i'd be actually physically hungry (like stomach growling) and i'd have no appetite.. which is unusual for me because i always have an appetite, even after eating a huge meal haha.
I don't even get this! I'm the total opposite, I can eat really quickly, but I have a cut-off point where I suddenly can't eat anymore without feeling/being sick.
It means I never put on weight, which is definitely good. Maybe try eating slower? That sometimes helps with "feeling full".
hmmm i have this problem too. I actually put alot of veggies on my plate for dinner (they make you fuller easier -- for me anyway) and just remember to eat slow. When i go out, I just want to keep eating because I hate left over food! And the fact that the food is so good..But just try on focusing eating SLOW.
Tough to stop eating yummy sushi :)
All you gotta do is eat slow and give your stomach time to send messages to your brain that it's now "full."
@fiona - Snacky food has always been my issue-- I have found some nice alternatives lately though: like Snapea Crsips, rice crackers (cheddar ones are my favorite), and sweet potato chips-- they're usually healthier and lower in fat and calories. Not sure if that would help at all or not :P
I drink a glass of fiber water before I eat cuz fiber is a filler. And keeps you regular. (=
There is an almost fail-safe solution. Eat extremely slow, and take a break.
If you eat waaaaay slower than you ever would normally and take a five-minute break after eating for ten minutes, you will retrain your brain to eat less. I know this works because I have done it. It didn't promote starvation, but it led my brain to desire a healthy amount. Also, don't stop when you're "full," stop as soon as you're "comfortable." You will get full in a few minutes, and you won't have overeaten.
when you go to a place that serves A LOT. Ask for 1/2 your dinner in a to go bag. That way you wont think about eating it. Or in the middle of your food, put down your fork and wait 5/10 min and see if you're still hungry.
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I do the same thing. I'm not unhealty, overweight, or out of shape, but I just like food. If I'm out to eat, I'll clean my plate and feel miserable in the end. Mexican restaurants especially do that to me what with their chips and giant burritos! I wish I knew how to stop, even if it's just eating some of it and bringing the rest home for later.