Living The Lifestyle Friday 2/12/21

imastar2

We meet here to explore, share, celebrate and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday - crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - newmantjn (Todd)
Thursday - misterhub (Greg)
Friday - imastar2. (Derrick)

Today's Topic: Portion control or just plain overeating. I'm currently dealing with this condition since 1st of year resulting in substantial gain. I love food but I know there's more to it than just that.

How do you do deal with this issue of portion control or just plain overeating.

whathapnd

I really like savory/salty flavors, and I find that if I don't have those options readily available, I'll eat evetything in sight as a surrogate. So I've learned to keep a few things on-hand like homemade turkey sausage, tuna, homemade soup and even low sodium deli meats so that if I don't have a better option, I can grab one of those items and feel sensually and mentally satisfied instead of continuously searching for satisfaction.

Also, my food scale stays on the counter. Just changed the batteries.

@imastar2 Derrick - - have you ever considered pre-tracking? That might help you create days of meals with planned indulgences while still staying within your calorie/points goal. I sometimes pre-track dinner so that I know what I've got to play with the rest of the day.

whathapnd

Forgot to add, if I go significantly over my calorie goal for the day, I try to make up some of those on subsequent days. Not to the point of making myself miserable or being punitive, but over the course of a week I can find a few savings opportunities.

steve0mania

I deal with portion control by serving myself my well-defined portion in the kitchen, and then bringing it out to the dining room. I do weigh some things (my near-daily potato, for example) and measure other things (rice in a measuring cup) to make sure I keep to single portions (and avoid drift over the years). Plus, I have a personal rule that I won't get up and take second portions.

Snacks are more challenging, and I really should measure those out (I don't) and stick to the same "one-serving" rule (I don't).

podkey

Like some others I do better putting the right portion on my plate and moving to eat in anothr room. Not perfect but helps me.

crewahl

To me, portion control and overeating are two sides of the coin. Portion control is determining how much you intend to eat, and eating only that amount. Overeating is eating without thought, plan, or a choice for the consequences. Everything else is technique.

I’ll say up front that what put me off about many diets was portions. Three ounces of beef, or a half cup of cereal? Heck, I spill more than that at a meal! It wasn’t until WW that I realized that a portion really was a standard measurement, and that I could have multiple servings or portions. The issue, really, is knowing or choosing (and, I guess, accepting) when to stop.

Example? Last night I ordered an Italian dinner to go. I’ve learned that I can stuff the entire meal down my gullet if I’m willing to be uncomfortable. I’ve also learned, though, that I can be happy with half the meal. So, when I brought it home I cut the chicken parmigiana, the meatball and the sausage each in half. I put half the pasta on my plate with the protein, and put half back the the remaining pasta. It was a good meal,, but the key is I went into it with a plan and stayed with the plan.

The thing that allows me to do this is a recognition that my choice to limit consumption today is the only way to get to the goal I want for tomorrow. Unless I consider virtually every food choice in that context, I’m still both capable and prone to overeating. Do I want a larger portion of the chicken I baked on Tuesday, or do I want to have a weight loss Wednesday - and get back to my goal weight within a year or so? I have the insert that little question into every food choice, because the answer to “do I want that pint of Ben & Jerry” is always yes. That’s why the question needs to be “ do I want that pint of Ben & Jerry more that I want to get to my goal weight?”

Al_Howard

We tend to portion control how much we prepare for meals. For each or us: 5.5 - 6.5 oz. potato, 4 oz. corn or peas, 8 oz. most green veggies, however I usually cook more meat than I should.
BTW, speaking of "portions". Recently read an article by a dietician (RD) which reminded that the "portions" on the NI labels is for "reference", per the USDA. A half cup of Frosty O's vs a half cup of oatmeal, makes you think. The point is, 3 oz. of most proteins just is NOT enough foe most people.

88olds

First thing that struck me at WW was how big my “normal” portions were. And the 1 thing that has stuck from day 1 in WW- my food scale is always on the counter. I use it every day.

imastar2

So I've fought the portion control battle for most of my life save about a 20 plus year period from around age 21-41. I had come off a 100 lb loss around age 20 and began to jog daily and literally jogged 6 miles daily for the full 20 years and most Saturdays 10 miles. I had some pretty good times most days at 6-7 minutes a mile. So one might say what changed? Life happened I don't need to go into it but that's the simple explanation.

It's really mind over matter as far as my situation is concerned. I'm one of those people that developed the wrong eating habits as far as portion control was concerned thus resulting in going weight. So clearly for me sticking with a winning decision is mandatory and along with that the curtailment of sweets. I've been off the rail with snacks and sweets and we all know the results of that.

So what's next? Get back on the bicycle and do what I need to do to accomplish whatcI need to do.

Hope all have had a great weekend and a great Valentines Day. 👍❤