Portion Control ONLY Success Stories?

HaleyAlli

Has anyone lost weight and gotten healthy JUST by cutting portions? Like eating kid's meals when out and about, listening to your stomach to see when you're full, etc.? I did this once and lost down to about where I am right now but then I stalled. I'm looking to lose about 32 more lbs., is that possible by eating whatever I like, just less of it?

Thanks!

kmeekhof

My opinion- at some point you are going to have to make healthier choices.

squitzwife

partially. I definitely had a problem of eating too much and cutting the portions has done the trick. the problem is that, if you are eating horrible food, your body is going to be screaming for nuitrient and nuitrients come with calories. if you aren't eating healthy enough you are going to have a hard time keeping down to small portions.

jennywrens

I haven't changed my diet MUCH ...... I've cut out all the chocolate and crisps etc for the most part (I still have them sometimes) but my meals have stayed pretty much the same!

I guess it depends what you're eating already! If its fast food every day then getting a kids meal might help you lose weight in the short term but it wont improve your overall health!

oddyogi

It depends. Do you exercise? Or are you just cutting portions?

HaleyAlli

It depends. Do you exercise? Or are you just cutting portions?

I exercise 4x a week at least. I just have a hard time eating "healthy" while I'm still living with my mom.

meggers123

I don't deny myself anything. If I know I want something with more calories, I will work out extra hard that day. That being said, we don't eat fast food, only eat organic meat (so only about 3-4 days/week), and don't buy any soda, so that takes out some unhealthy choices.

I don't think you should deny yourself anything, because you'll be more likely to cave and binge it later. But you're also here to make a lifestyle change, so think about what choices you do make.

jacksamjack

Portion control is important, but if you aren't keeping a check on cals/protein/carbs (remember that kids meals are meant to appeal to kids) then you are probably having a serious affect on your metabolism.

Eat more is probably my advice - stick to your calorie allowance but try to eat as much as you can fit into that allowance. You may just be pleasantly surprised with the results!! JSJ xx

brandiuntz

It depends...is eating too large of a portion how you became overweight?

Eating too much of everything was part of my problem. I lost 40lbs before finding MFP. Much of that was reducing portions. But, my diet was a relatively healthy one...baked meats, no red meat, very little fast food.

I have had to start eating even healthier...more veggies and less fat to continue my weight loss.

Cherrycandy

Yes. I dont try to starve myself, im the type that if I start denying myself things...ill cave and eat 100000 cal's. I eat whatever I want, I just dont over-eat or eat my food on a turkey platter. I want to enjoy life and I LOVE food, so I want to experience all food's and enjoy them. If I want cheesecake, I eat it, if I want cookies, I eat one. I just dont eat the WHOLE cheesecake or whole dozen cookies.

Heraci

I agree with brandiuntz. I had been only a portion control success story in the past. I weight 180 pounds before I started college and through telling myself that I wasn't going to eat as big of portions (and not being able to afford as much food being on a college budget, I dropped myself down to 150 and I've been hovering there since. I've recently started eating a little more now that I am exercising, but portion control in itself can be successful depending on how you gained weight in the first place.

HaleyAlli

Yes. I dont try to starve myself, im the type that if I start denying myself things...ill cave and eat 100000 cal's. I eat whatever I want, I just dont over-eat or eat my food on a turkey platter. I want to enjoy life and I LOVE food, so I want to experience all food's and enjoy them. If I want cheesecake, I eat it, if I want cookies, I eat one. I just dont eat the WHOLE cheesecake or whole dozen cookies.

YES this is what I'm talking about. I can't live without chocolate and I feel like I'm starving without it right now. I still eat decently healthy, I get lots of whole grain and lean meats, etc., but I feel like I'm missing out without my favorite foods.

Melissajojo3

portion sizes is a struggle for most people like myself.. I used to be able to eat a mcdouble from mcdonalds, a chicken mcspicy, a yogurt parfait and a large soda. I can't beleive it how I used to eat from today, I have really changed my eating habbits, today I won't even take a bite of a burger from restaurants, I do eat burgers don't get me wrong, but I rather cook it myself using turkey meat or lean beef. Its all about healthy choices. even pizza hut, I used to be able to eat 5 slices, OMG!!! terrible right.. Now I can only eat 1 slices and an 8oz water to fill me up...

HaleyAlli

portion sizes is a struggle for most people like myself.. I used to be able to eat a mcdouble from mcdonalds, a chicken mcspicy, a yogurt parfait and a large soda. I can't beleive it how I used to eat from today, I have really changed my eating habbits, today I won't even take a bite of a burger from restaurants, I do eat burgers don't get me wrong, but I rather cook it myself using turkey meat or lean beef. Its all about healthy choices. even pizza hut, I used to be able to eat 5 slices, OMG!!! terrible right.. Now I can only eat 1 slices and an 8oz water to fill me up...

Honey you are speakin my language. Pizza Hut is one of my weaknesses... Their pizza and breadsticks are to DIE for.

barbiex3

yes, I lost about 20 pounds...
when I started college I was 158 pounds. I didn't have a scale, and I didn't weigh myself the entire 1st semester. I lived on campus, and I had a meal plan, and all I really did was get a salad with every meal, and I ate the salad first before whatever else I wanted (pizza, pasta, tacos, etc), so I ended up eating less of the bad stuff. Also, I didn't go out and get large blizzards and junk food on top of my meals. If I wanted to eat at mcdonalds, I counted it for two meals of the day. If I wanted to eat a large blizzard, I counted it for two meals. My exercise did not change at all during this time, and when I went home in December I weighed 138.5, but I managed to gained a few back to 145, but I still lost a significant amount of weight through portion control.

HaleyAlli

yes, I lost about 20 pounds...
when I started college I was 158 pounds. I didn't have a scale, and I didn't weigh myself the entire 1st semester. I lived on campus, and I had a meal plan, and all I really did was get a salad with every meal, and I ate the salad first before whatever else I wanted (pizza, pasta, tacos, etc), so I ended up eating less of the bad stuff. Also, I didn't go out and get large blizzards and junk food on top of my meals. If I wanted to eat at mcdonalds, I counted it for two meals of the day. If I wanted to eat a large blizzard, I counted it for two meals. My exercise did not change at all during this time, and when I went home in December I weighed 138.5, but I managed to gained a few back to 145, but I still lost a significant amount of weight through portion control.

Salad first is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!

barbiex3

portion sizes is a struggle for most people like myself.. I used to be able to eat a mcdouble from mcdonalds, a chicken mcspicy, a yogurt parfait and a large soda. I can't beleive it how I used to eat from today, I have really changed my eating habbits, today I won't even take a bite of a burger from restaurants, I do eat burgers don't get me wrong, but I rather cook it myself using turkey meat or lean beef. Its all about healthy choices. even pizza hut, I used to be able to eat 5 slices, OMG!!! terrible right.. Now I can only eat 1 slices and an 8oz water to fill me up...

Honey you are speakin my language. Pizza Hut is one of my weaknesses... Their pizza and breadsticks are to DIE for.

lol ordering pizza used to be like a weekly thing, but I still lost weight. I think it's because I would only eat like one meal a day. I know some people say that's not healthy, but sometimes that's what used to happen.

WalkingGirl1985

I was watching my portions from April-September 2010 and lost 30 pounds, I believe it is possible, just continue to eat healthy, small meals..I think you should be fine. I was counting calories off and on after I joined, I feel if i count the whole time, the stress from it might be too much to handle..right now I am taking a break, going back to portion control and see how it does for me for a while.

SweetTeaBlossom

Pizza Hut is my weakness. I cannot control myself so I just don't eat it at all. I make my own pizza at home so I can control the calories and get my pizza fix without feeling like I'm sacrificing anything.

Does your mom allow you to cook? It's easier to have your favorite foods, but not all the calories if you're making them yourself. Another MPFer recently pointed out the SkinnyTaste website. I am seriously drooling over the recipes.

I wouldn't ever give up my chocolate - that would lead me straight to failure. I just look for smarter (less calories) ways to get it. My new favorite choco treat is Ghirardelli semi-sweet chips. 70 cals for 32 chips and they taste decadent. I eat them slowly to really savor the flavor.

Give yourself time. You'll figure it out. It's a lot of trial and error, but you'll get there. I'm still learning every day.

hayleymc3

I went from 304+ to 213 using portion control, but I also changed the types of foods I ate. For example, I switched to nonfat milk. I started using whole grains and wheat. I made a cheese or mayo rule, since I love both (basically, if I have a sandwich I can only have one or the other, not both. lol)

I also exercised a lot too.

I think that if you use portion control but continue eating unhealthy things, you're not really helping yourself. Since this is a lifestyle change, portion control can be a wonderful tool. However, feeding your body the right things is very important and should come first (in my opinion).

ace175

My biggest problem was portion control. I used to eat an entire box of kraft macaroni and cheese, tons of mozzarella sticks, pizza rolls, chips, snacks, french fries, etc. I've lost all the weight so far by cutting these out/down. I still have chips here and there (such as veggie chips). Instead of ordering pizza from dominos or something, we make pita pizzas (so good!), when we go out to dinner (Outback is my favorite place), I get the smaller steak, light style (without the butter/seasonings). Now i follow the serving size on everything. However I haven't done this just alone. I've started incorporated A LOT healthier food, fruits, veggies, tons of water, PLUS working out 5 days a week for an hour or so.

If portion control is problem, start cutting back, and read the nutrition label. If you want pretzels, don't just grab handfuls...check how many is in a serving and eat that many! It might take a bit to get used to, but it'll help! But you can't do that just alone!