Old vs. New eating habits

I am realizing that even thought I am full, I still have those horrible old eating habits. I have to make sure that I only serve myself what I can or should eat.  If it is in front of me, I have the absent minded effect of eating what is in front of me. I was always brought up to eat what is on my plate and not waste food.  40 years of that habbit doesn't seem to break easy.  I don't even like going out to eat any longer, unless I know I am going to go directly home after dinner.  It ****** me off to spend 8 dollars on a burger or a chicken breast only to eat a portion of the meat and have to throw away the rest.  So I guess I'm saving a lot of money not eating out any longer. Do any of you still have portion problems, you know eyes bigger than your belly.  I really have to measure all of my food, because I am a terrible judge of portions.  Hell if I could just get my wife to see things on the same scale I do, she would think she was married to a porn star. I have found the nice little semi/disposable glad storage containers that are around 1/2 cup in size.  It makes pre-packing food much easier. What do you guys do to keep from over eating now?  Any tricks of the trade out there? Scott

Not sure how great of an answer this is but I eat more often and try not let myself get too hungry. When I get hungry I tend to eat too fast and then over eat and feel miserable. But I have also been stalled at 220 lbs for many months now so I'm not sure if my method works. My goal is to be under 200 lbs.  Doug

Thanks Doug, I think you are correct. I know that things have changed in my food eating. It used to be that if I was physically active, I wouldn't feel like eating after that for quite a while. Now because I am eating such a small quantity, that I find that after physical exercise I am starving.  This is usually around dinner time.  My routine is to get off work, then I go to the gym for my workout, then home for dinner.  By the time I get home for dinner, it seems like it has been a long time since lunch and I'm starving. I need to pay attention to my eating at that time, because I tend to eat too fast. Thanks for the reminder. Scott

I could've written your post. I'm in exactly the same boat you're in. When I'm at home, I do pretty good, but for some reason if I'm in a resurant or eating pot luck at work or church or whatever, I put about twice to three times as much on my plate as I can possibly eat. Old habits indeed. I don't have any good ideas other than to eat as many meals as possible at home where you're kinda in your control zone and avoid eating out as often as possible.

I weigh my portions (I am 3.5 months out) and don't plan to stop anytime soon.  When I'm out, I try to imagine the portion size and have done okay that way so far.  If I guess, then weigh, I am always heavy on the portions.  I am gonna have to do a lot of work to get back to normal! CB

Yeah when at home I either break out the measuring cups or the digital food scale. When I am out, it's a bit harder.  Especially if you want to taste the items on your plate. It's amazing how much food they server you.  Even the childrens orders are usually 3-4 times the size of what I am supposed to be eating. Scott

This is a very common problem .I too had/ have the same problem .  It is NOT easy to over rule 40 pluse years of ( bad ) eating habit 's  It has been a topic of my wife and I for the longest time.  ( we both had wls )  That is to say we hate to go out for dinner anymore . First of all trying to find a place that servers a some what healthy meal is to say the least a challenge.The portion sizes are out of controoooole !!!! ( super size it )  I have  been to culinary school , so I know what a healthy meal is.  I don't go out very much anymore . When you  stop and think about the money your about to spend , and the fact that I know that I can cook it better and more to my liking. It leaves me with no other choice , stay home and cook it myself .  I still fight with my portion sizes though .I am trying to cook in smaller batch's  now , but that is proving to be a bigger challenge then i thought it was going to be !    I have reached a point were I have to ask myself , Was I happy with the meal , do I feel I got my money's worth , and am I full . If the answer is yes then be happy . The end ! Take your doggy bag home .         Nick

I read somewhere that portion size can be estimated by having the portion no larger than the palm of your hand. Didn't say anything about the depth of the portion, so I suppose there's a loop-hole there. Doug

and the size of your hand too.  I've seen some people with hands like bear paws.  That would create quite the single portion serving. Thanks for all the responses guys.

I do the same as Charlie B. I weight my portions because my eyes are WAY bigger than my pouch. but in the last two months (pre diet and postop), I'm learning quickly what size I should eat, but more importantly.... how LONG I should eat. Each bite I take is a dime to nickel size and I always put my fork down between bites.  Mainly cause it takes a bit to chew each bite 20-30 times. I've tried to eat in new environments also... I.e. Not in front of the TV, etc.  Since I live in a small place, that's been hard, so I turn the TV off (IF it's on) and turn on the radio... or turn the DirectTV to an XM channel.