Overweight behaviors- QOTD

#1. Overweight people use larger plates.
When offered two plate sizes, 98.6 percent of those with the highest BMI took the larger of the two plates to the buffet. A bigger plate tricks your eye into thinking you’re not eating as much when you stuff more food onto the surface—and into your mouth. Use a smaller plate, get a smaller belly.

Bonus tip: The same principle holds true for drinks, as we've found while researching the upcoming Drink This, Not That! The larger the cup, the bigger your gut. Check out our list of The 20 Worst Drinks in America and The 40 Best and Worst Beers for two eye-opening lineups of belt-busting beverages that'll drown your diet aspirations. (It's baffling that some drinks can pack more than 2000 calories!)

#2. Overweight people eat while looking at food.
Of those with high BMIs, 41.7 percent took seats that overlooked the buffet, instead of sitting in a booth or facing in a different direction. The sight of food tends to make our minds think we have more work to do, eating-wise. Keep your food stored in the fridge or stashed in the pantry, not out on the countertops.

#3. Overweight people eat with maximum efficiency.
While Chinese buffets offer chopsticks, 91.3 percent of obese patrons opt for forks. That just makes it easier to shovel in the food.

Bonus tip: For simple steps to live a longer and healthier life, read through Dr. Oz's 25 Greatest Health Tips Ever. His tips will dramatically improve your life.

#4. Overweight people clean their plates.
Of those patrons who were the heaviest, 94 percent cleaned their plates so there was nothing left. Ignore Mom’s advice—let a little linger, or take it to go.

#5. Overweight people chew less.
Researchers actually monitored the chewing habits of the buffet-goers and discovered that the heaviest one-third among them chewed their food an average of 11.9 times before swallowing. The middle one-third chewed an average of 14 times, and the leanest one-third chewed 14.8 times.

Bonus tip: Whatever you do, don't chew on these 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America. Some of these secret meals pack days' worth of salt, sugar, trans-fat and saturated fat! Learn exactly which ones so you can steer clear.

#6. Overweight people dive in.
The leanest people in the study typically took a lap around the buffet first, to plot out what they wanted to eat. But the more overweight group charged right in; doing so means you may fill up on some less-appealing items, then have to go back to snag that one nosh you have to have but missed the first time.

#7. Overweight people skip breakfast.
A simple habit, but missing this crucial meal raises your risk of obesity by a whopping 450 percent! Start your day with some lean protein and fiber—which will jumpstart your metabolism and keep you full. (An egg sandwich is actually a great choice

OK, claim your behaviors...How do YOU match up?

1. I DO this one right-I still use small plates and bowls

2.  I DO leave snack food on the countertops and notice that I snack more when I see it.  (Need to hide the BAD snacks)

3.  I shovel it in with the best of them.  The bigger the bite the better.

4.  I almost always clean my plate.  It's very hard for me to throw food away. (Hence the reason I use small plates)

5.  Chew?  What's that?-I down food like there's never going to be any more ever again. 

6.  I do peruse the buffet to see what I want but mainly cuz I don't want to fill up and miss something GOOD.

7.  I faithfully eat breakfast.  It's either a protein drink or a 100 calorie bagel with peanut butter. 

SO basically I do 2 things correctly out of 7...hmm, I see a little need for improvement.

1.  I eat on a smaller plate when possible.  It does make me feel like I am eating more.

2.  The only snack foods on the counter are fruit and some crackers.  If I make a dessert it may be on the counter too.  But for me I want to eat the batter and once it's cooked it just doesn't taste good.

3.  Although I am always the last one through eating I do take much bigger bites than I did as a newby.

4.  Depends on the day for me.  There are someday I feel like a bottomless pit and I can clean everyones plates.  Then other days I just can't do it.

5.  I don'****ch this one like I should.  I think I probably chew about like I did preop.

6.  I look around a buffet.  I'm one that likes to pick things off the buffet that I wouldn't have at home because noone else in the family will eat them.

7.  I always eat breakfast.  But I can't eat a big breakfast.  Most mornings it's a bagel.

Claiming my behavior... lol

1. all my plates are the same size... so no choices here.... I do opt for the smaller bowl when using bowls though...

2.  I try to buy better snacks, but they do live on the bar in plain sight.....

3.  I'm a very very very efficient eater.. LOL

4.  A lifetime of habit is hard to break, at home I always clean my plate, but when eating out I get a to go box.

5.  I've learned the hard way to chew chew chew, but still can fall back into old habits when I'm not paying attention to my eating...

6.  I'm one of the start at one end and work your way to the other type people.....

7.  I eat breakfast every day.   

I lost count of how many good bad or indifferent ones I missed, do halfway right count for me or against me?????

1.  I do use a small plate when I'm home or at family and friends.  Don't really have that option when out dining and yes I find myself eating more on a larger plate.

2.  I prefer sitting by the window.  We have only been to a buffet a couple of times post-op and we do not sit close.

3.  Yes I use a fork or spoon depending on the need.  I've tried to use chopsticks.  Everyone else would be waiting for me if I used the chopstick to try to eat, lol.

4.  I have problems with the clean plate syndrome hence why a small plate works best.  I've been trying to be more aware of the satisfied signal instead of full signal (this is a tough one when food taste so good).

5.  I do chew my food well.  One bite of it not being small enough and it hurts too much to force it down.

6.  No problem here either.  Buffet limited, I do choose to see what I want instead of settling for just food.

7.  I usually eat breakfast.  Sometimes on the weekend I'll skip when I get busy around the house instead of eating first.  I cannot eat when I first get up, my breakfast during the week is around 8:30 at work.

I love OUTD and this is a good one!! Here goes , and I will be honest:

1. Yes I do use sm plates and bowl and most of the time use small utensils.
2. I do not go to buffets but do keep some snacks mostly healthy out! Live w/a man than thinks all food should be out and visible!
3. I love eating with chopsticks and work hard at not shoveling foods yet old habits are hard to break.
4.I do clean my plate, there are starving children in China you know!!
5. Chewing, hmmm, most of the time but needs improvement.
6. N/A don't do buffets!
7. breakfast every morning!!! Never did it before WLS

4 goods ones
2 sometimes
1 whoops

Pretty good!
Meggie

1. I use smaller dishes when available...yeah!

2.  I DO leave snack food on the countertops...bad me! 

4.  I have food left fairly often.  I get a take out dish when I can carry food home from a restaurant.  Limo loves my leftovers at home!

5.  I chew more now than pre-WLS when I NEVER chewed!

6.  I do look at buffet foods, just don't eat at buffet's now very oftenm.

7.  I eat "breakfast" every day, even if just my protein coffee.

Not too shabby...so why am I the "fat" one still?

1.  I have like three different sized plates at my house and ALWAYS use the middle sized over the big one for dinner.

2.  I keep stuff out on my counter, but it's not generally snack foods.  I keep them in the pantry and only go in there when I need to!

3.  Sorry, gotta use a fork or spoon.  Chopsticks are ridiculous.  I'm not a fan of chinese food anyway!

4.  This is an easy one...No!  Really, I hardly ever finish my plate.  My hubby is quite willing to say, "are you done" and then attack what is left!

5.  Chewing....sigh...Yes, I do chew like I'm supposed to MOST of the time but definitely can feel it if I got lazy and didn't chew good enough as I feel miserable afterwards!

6.  Sorry, I just can't go to a buffet anymore.  On rare occasions when I have been post WLS, I look at everything first, then start with the proteins, then add the veggie/carb section.

7.  Breakfast?  There's such a meal?  UGH...I VERY seldom eat breakfast!

#1. Overweight people use larger plates.....I do this. I've started collecting pretty salad plates or saucers, so at least my plate is nice to look at.

#2. Overweight people eat while looking at food....the only thing that sits out is bread. It's no longer my friend and not a temptation at all. But I agree...if something like almonds or jerky is left in plain site, I'm suddenly hungry for it.

#3. Overweight people eat with maximum efficiency....I used to try to use chopsticks but got tired of staining my shirts.If I ever go to another chinese buffet I'll try again.

#4. Overweight people clean their plates....I've conquered this one! I either measure out what I want ahead of time so there aren't any leftovers, or I stop eating when I'm satisfied. I've learned from you gals to learn these habits at this stage so they will serve me in the future.

#5. Overweight people chew less.....I'm finding if I get in a hurry I do chew less than I should. I'm working on it.

#6. Overweight people dive in....I always took a lap to make sure I didn't miss something. Now I do it to make the most of my small space

#7. Overweight people skip breakfast.....Never now.

#1. Overweight people use larger plates.
I use little bitty plates at home and since  when the kids are with we split meals I always ask for a couple of saucers - serve me and Rach what we want and give the boys and or tim the big plates it all came on

#2. Overweight people eat while looking at food.
I prefer nothing out but the fruit basket.

#3. Overweight people eat with maximum efficiency.
I am good with chops sticks and could out eat my family when they used forks - now I use them for the fun of it

 #4. Overweight people clean their plates.
take home if I can but it is HARD to throw food away - not cleaning my KIDS plates is hard for me .

#5. Overweight people chew less.the years my grandmother spent trying to teach me to chew - I never did learn that one till I started getting food stuck at about 6-9 months post op when I stopped being so careful - I am pretty good now

#6. Overweight people dive in.
now I look around - used to just start grabbing

 #7. Overweight people skip breakfast. never - I love breakfast - but have taught myself that a shake at 5 and food at 7:30 or 8:30 is ok too