Coping mechanisms for former members of the "clean plate" club...
What...you thought I had some? NO! I'm asking for some.
So far my best practice is to make my plate smaller and measure my portions to where I am reasonably sure I can eat them. But even then sometimes I have a little pouch day, in which case I toss the food in the garbage RIGHT after I know I'm done. I do not have the ability to linger over a half eaten plate of food. I theorize it'd only take abou t 10 minutes (and that's being generous) for my head to explode.
Were you a former member of the "clean plate club"? How do you deal?
So far my best practice is to make my plate smaller and measure my portions to where I am reasonably sure I can eat them. But even then sometimes I have a little pouch day, in which case I toss the food in the garbage RIGHT after I know I'm done. I do not have the ability to linger over a half eaten plate of food. I theorize it'd only take abou t 10 minutes (and that's being generous) for my head to explode.
Were you a former member of the "clean plate club"? How do you deal?
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
That's the problem Nik....lately, I have not been dealing. I have been slipping back to my old ways...What am I doing? It's funny because the food that I didn't really eat before surgery is the food I want now...
There is food all over the place in the office. Sticky buns, bagels, candy galore, chocolate covered strawberries...I am struggling, I will admit it.
There is food all over the place in the office. Sticky buns, bagels, candy galore, chocolate covered strawberries...I am struggling, I will admit it.
Do or Do Not, There is No Try........... 
I was like that. But the pain from overeating thought me that I need to change that. So I did,
Now I WILL stop eating at first sign of discomfort. U still have days that I get too hungry and when I star eating I eat too fast. But then once the hunger diminishes... I had a chance to stop and wait and see if i am full or not. If I feel full (not overstuffed) I know I have to stop eating. And it doe snot matter if that is one bite or 1/2 plate. The pain is not worth the bite.
Sometimes, after 20 min I feel that I can finish the food - my plate, and I will do that if that is one on my major meals that day. If I do not eat enough - I get hungry much sooner, like I did not have a meal. I still make sure that I watch for signal.
I will put down my fork and knife and wai****ching the clock. I give it 10 -15 min. I would talk or get up and do something (when I am home by myself).
I put the plate so it is not "near" me.
I can eat the leftovers- even small qty, incorporated into another meal, or if something is not good as leftovers - I just toss it to the garbage. My reasoning: if I ate the food - it would hurt me so it is cheaper and better for me to get rid of it any way possible.
My motto: "Better toss it up than throw it up"
Now I WILL stop eating at first sign of discomfort. U still have days that I get too hungry and when I star eating I eat too fast. But then once the hunger diminishes... I had a chance to stop and wait and see if i am full or not. If I feel full (not overstuffed) I know I have to stop eating. And it doe snot matter if that is one bite or 1/2 plate. The pain is not worth the bite.
Sometimes, after 20 min I feel that I can finish the food - my plate, and I will do that if that is one on my major meals that day. If I do not eat enough - I get hungry much sooner, like I did not have a meal. I still make sure that I watch for signal.
I will put down my fork and knife and wai****ching the clock. I give it 10 -15 min. I would talk or get up and do something (when I am home by myself).
I put the plate so it is not "near" me.
I can eat the leftovers- even small qty, incorporated into another meal, or if something is not good as leftovers - I just toss it to the garbage. My reasoning: if I ate the food - it would hurt me so it is cheaper and better for me to get rid of it any way possible.
My motto: "Better toss it up than throw it up"
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
I was definitely a member of the clean plate club. You're already doing what i do - only taking what I think I can eat. I definitely feel better mentally about being able to finish something - that's one of the reasons why I prefer powercrunch compared to other bars and why I'll grab nutrisystem microwave meals when I can find them at big lots.
I generally eat off saucers (not salad plates) and use rice bowls. Eating out, one of the kids are almost always willing to share with me - and they're happy to get the "big plate".
I generally eat off saucers (not salad plates) and use rice bowls. Eating out, one of the kids are almost always willing to share with me - and they're happy to get the "big plate".
High Weight 278; consult weight 234; Surgery Weight 219 Surgeon's Goal Weight 150 -10/27/10 - Personal goal weight 140 - Achieved 12/11/10
Pretty much like you do.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Since I live by myself, I have the luxury of being able to plan and control how many servings I'll get out of something, unlike when you have a housefull of folks picking at the leftovers. So I make up my little plate (I found the cutest baby paper plates...no really they are for babies...they have ABCs on them and are divided perfectly for 3 oz protein and 1/4 cup of whole grain and 1/4 veggie). So say I open a small can of green beans or lima beans, I know I can get three servings from that, and I live with that. Same goes for casseroles that I make, etc. Just knowing how I portion out my meals makes me more accountable to not clean out the leftovers (and hey, I save a whole bunch of money too!).
Like you, if my portion proves too much on those small pouch days, it immediately gets tossed in the trash. And while it slightly bothers me to toss food (yep, my mother was raised during depression and subsequently raised me with the motto "eat it up, wear it out, make with do or do without"), I just have to toss it, to better deal with my clean-plate-itis.
If I find myself hungry again before the next scheduled meal, then I make myself a protein forward snack that is served on a plate and portioned out. Gawd, I sound anal! But ya know, it's effectively discovering and using those coping mechanisms that work for each of us in dealing with our own food demons.
Like you, if my portion proves too much on those small pouch days, it immediately gets tossed in the trash. And while it slightly bothers me to toss food (yep, my mother was raised during depression and subsequently raised me with the motto "eat it up, wear it out, make with do or do without"), I just have to toss it, to better deal with my clean-plate-itis.
If I find myself hungry again before the next scheduled meal, then I make myself a protein forward snack that is served on a plate and portioned out. Gawd, I sound anal! But ya know, it's effectively discovering and using those coping mechanisms that work for each of us in dealing with our own food demons.
"Just keep swimming." ~ Dorrie
First, I pu**** away and wait. Ain't nothing that good to warrant the pain of overeating. Sometimes, 20 minutes later or so I can finish.
When I can't, I cover it up and save it for the next day. If it is just a little bit, I throw it away.
I have a skinny friend who says there is no shame in throwing away a little food; just think about the millions of dollars spent on diet foods and programs!
Finishing food is a stewardship issue for me, so I get it...
When I can't, I cover it up and save it for the next day. If it is just a little bit, I throw it away.
I have a skinny friend who says there is no shame in throwing away a little food; just think about the millions of dollars spent on diet foods and programs!
Finishing food is a stewardship issue for me, so I get it...
I eat until I start getting my "full signal" (runny nose or deep sigh) and then I put my plate away. If it stays in front of me I'll eat it. If I wait 20 minutes I will eat it... but I figure that is having 2 meals so I just put it away. If I get takeout I have to put the box in the back seat or I find myself picking through it.
Most Active
Recent Topics
