I’m really struggling with portion sizes. I have a really hard time just eating two pieces of pizza, 5 tortilla chips, 1/2 cup of ice cream, etc.. Granted this is all “junk” food but I am not ready to eliminate foods I like completely so I’m trying to fit them into my calorie allowance. Sometimes I’ll have enough calories to double a serving but for things like pizza, if I ate 4 slices it would wipe out my day.
So far I’m doing pretty good and staying within my calories but it’s becoming physically and emotionally painful to not eat more. It’s not that I’m hungry, I just want it. And no, I don’t want to make healthier versions of these foods.
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To answer your question, my standard is 4 slices of thin crust with ham and pineapple. Unless it's homemade, in which we make individual pizzas with each pizza crust containing roughly the equivalent of 1 cup of flour, plus oil, toppings, etc. Then I eat the whole darn thing and just accept the consequences on the scale the next morning as worth it.
It depends on the pizza, but yes, I can be happy with 2 slices, especially if the meal is rounded out with something else like a salad. When I was younger and at the height of my irresponsible eating, I can remember going to a local pizza buffet and eating probably 3/4 of a pizza. The thought makes me sick now, even though I am still overweight. Sometimes simply going with thin crust can reduce the calories from 300 to 200 a slice, and then I might still have a 3rd. Investigate the menu options & calorie info for your favorite pizza places and you may find something you like that would give you a little more leeway.
For any "heavier" or junk food type item I try to incorporate it into my day by having lighter or smaller meals to allow for it. I would much rather have eggs and fruit for breakfast, veggie-heavy light lunch, and then go all out with a big burger and onion rings, than be the person ordering a bunless grilled chicken and salad.
If it's a really good pizza from an Italian restaurant, then I usually am good with two but, of course, the calories are higher. I follow a weekly calorie goal so it's no issue to balance it out over the week if I need to.
For other things, I don't go with serving sizes on the packages. I take what I want based on the calories I have available. Usually 28g of chips are fine as a side, but if it's part of an entree (like nachos) then it's usually 1.5 servings or so. Other stuff, like ice cream, I have 1.25-1.75 servings.
Most of the stuff just became the new norm and not an issue. For more calorie dense foods/meals, the weekly goal helped a ton.
ETA: I'm also a small female. Bigger folk, especially men, will want/need more. No way my husband would be okay with just two, but then he has twice my calorie allowance.
A smaller amount of pretzels or popcorn is more satisfying than chips to me.
I'm not a big dessert eater but if I take my time and really savor a small dish of ice cream or a cookie it is more satisfying. I hold the food in my mouth for a bit and really try to notice the flavor and texture.
A smaller amount of dark chocolate is more satisfying to me.
There are lower calorie versions of products to try or make your own.
Try making this cheesecake for a dessert-> https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10500016/low-calorie-protein-cheesecake/p1
I save some calories from most days and have one day where I’m over my goal (but within my weekly goal). That allows me to actually “fit in” calorie-dense foods in portions that I find satisfying or in addition to foods that will help me be full.