Thinking about it after the fact...

khelm31

What tips or tricks do you use to make yourself stay conscientious of what you are eating in the moment? I've been finding myself lately, doing this thing of not thinking before I eat something. Then afterwords I'm asking myself why did I eat all of that, or why did I eat that at all...

Kanzaki3

Most of the time I plan and log everything that I'll eat in the beginning of the day or the night before. There's going to be times where things don't go as planned and so I adjust my meals throughout the day. If I eat way too much, then I'll tell myself to kill it at the gym.

Naomi0504

For me, it has to start at the grocery store. Once it's in the house, it's all over :-)
The rare times I'm able to resist is because I know how hard I worked out that day and don't want to start derailing my progress.

Cindyinpg

Both of the above. I prelog everything and do my shopping based on that.

cdahl383

Plan your meals for the day ahead of time and that will never happen. I'd also recommend a digital food scale too to weigh out your portion sizes. What I thought was a serving in some cases was actually double the serving!

Agree on the grocery shopping stuff too. If its not in your house, you cant eat it. So just buy healthy stuff and limit your junk foods and then you won't be able to get too out of control at home in the event that you weren't able to plan your meals ahead of time.

HeatherHoskins

I found that if I posted on MFP before I eat, I eat less. I am more aware of the numbers and what I am putting into my body. One of the reasons people gain the weight in the first place is because they eat without thinking. You have to focus on what you are eating. Snacking, watching if front of the tv, or while running after a 3 yr old all distract you from what you are eating. You mind doesn't register that you are eating so you eat more. If you write it down first then you know if you go back for more you are messing up your calories.

cmriverside

Really, it takes practice. It takes all of the strategies people have listed above - and then do them over and over until they become who you are.

One day at a time.

MizMimi111

I really made the commitment to log every day and log everything. It is such a habit for me now that before I eat, I log. So I've built a sort of checks and balance system this way. It really makes me pause to think before I eat something.

I don't log anything ahead of time but I can definitely see how this would be helpful.