Poll: Tips on not overeating

I'm very interested in this topic!  I already use a small plate and measure out my portion beforehand.

Currently, when I get the afternoon munchies, the one thing that's been helping is making a cup of coffee (decaf) or tea.  The warm liquid seems to fill me up and squash the munchies.  I use that trick after dinner too if the munchie****

But otherwise, I've been trying very hard to really listen to what my body is trying to tell me.  So, if I am truly hungry (not just head hunger or boredom or whatever) I will eat something. 

Well, I am just one day away from the two-week post-op mark...

I really just concentrate on how I'm feeling before I take that next bite...if I realize that I feel "full" or am about to take that next bite for no other reason than 'it is there' then I put it down or toss it entirely.

What I usually do is measure my portions, then if I still want more when I'm done, I wait 20 minutes.  If I still want more after 20 minutes, I get some more.  Usually, by the time 20 minutes is up, I've decided I don't need more.  Plus then it's almost time to start drinking again and I'm usually getting thirsty, so that helps me decide against eating more.

I also have noticed that if I eat starchy carby stuff, I can eat a lot more.  If I stick to protein, I get full faster.

1.  use small plates/bowls (bowls are 2/3 c got them on clearance at Walmart--plates are 4" square)
2. use baby sppons and forks
3.  portion, measure and or weight out before eating.

I am 3.5 months out and still not hungry.  I have to remind myself mto eat.  So I realyl don't get munchies or hungry. 

Mary
RNY 1/9/12

I try not to make more than I can eat. If I'm feeding myself and my two children and I'm making, oh....say, beef hot dogs. I will make exactly four hot dogs. One for my daughter, two for my son, one for me. That way, once I've eaten my hot dog, if I feel like I want more, I have to go in and cook another one. If that seems like too much work, chances are good I'm not actually hungry. I don't often cook in bulk or enough to have leftovers anymore. When I do have leftovers (last night, I expected to eat two sausages, but only had one) I pack the leftovers up as soon as it's done and put it away for lunch the next day.

I also share things with my kids. If I make a full cup of yogurt with fresh fruit or something, I'll spoonfeed part of it to my daughter while I eat it myself. Helps to pace myself and not just sit and blindly eat the whole thing.

I plate everything. I don't eat out of a bag or a box. If I want crackers or bread (which is rare), I get my serving and put it on a plate. Seeing my food laid out on a plate rather than eating from the bag helps control portions and lets me stop when they're gone.

hmmmm......I too plate everything ahead of time. about a 1/2 cup. sometimes I can fini**** and want more (which I don't have) and sometimes I can't fini**** I HAVE to keep myself busy - I am prone to boredom eating. So I keep busy....cleaning the kitchen, folding clothes whatever.
I also use a timer and try REALLY hard to make my food last for 30 mins......it's hard and sometimes it only lasts 15 mins.

I have found that sometimes when I think I'm hungry, I'm actually thirsty. 

I pack for the day (well, at least during the week). 

Measure, weigh, bag, count.

Once I've finished my evening meal (what I've correctly portioned out) I take my plate into the kitchen, put it in the dishwasher and put away any leftovers. Then I go practice my piano for up to an hour. This also allows me to NOT drink for a specific amount of time after eating; and my piano teacher loves me more for being such a good student.

After the hour (or whenever I'm through with piano practice), I'll have a big drink and I find that I'm usually still very satiated from dinner. I don't have a snac****il later in the evening.

On Sunday, I measure and pack all my food (breakfasts, lunches, and snacks) for work (M-Th) so all I have to do is grab and go. Since I have everything I need at work, I don't go off and get things I shouldn't to eat. Weeknights I keep spinach, turkey, chicken, tomatoes and cucumbers always in the house to make a nice salad for dinner if nothing else is available. That way I can relax a little the rest of the week.

I also always wait an hour to drink after eating. So if I finish eating, I want to drink so I will wait so I don't have to start my timer again.