Do you do portion control or calorie control?

davefinancial
davefinancial Posts: 3
in Food and Nutrition
When I'm hungry, I'm hungry. Portions never filled me up. If I'm eating burgers - it will take 2 to fill me up. Hot dogs - it will take about 3. I don't change how much I eat, I change what I eat.

Here is a McDonald's calorie example. One regular hamburger (100 grams of food) has 250 calories and will not fill me up. I can eat two Boca Vegan patties on a full size bun (184 grams of food) which has the same amount of calories.

I could eat a slice of pizza (132 grams of food) and take in 300 calories but again that won't fill me up. Instead I'll eat an entire bag of salad with a couple servings of shrimp and dressing (460 grams of food) which will fill me up and actually contains only 280 calories.

In summary, don't be afraid to eat. Just be smart.

Replies

  • TinGirl314
    TinGirl314 Posts: 430 Member
    I have to do both...but my blood sugar issues keep me from processing food correctly.
    Sounds like you found a great system for yourself!
  • robindina
    robindina Posts: 157 Member
    I do both as well. I use the calorie counting as a guide. I also use it in my choices at restaurants. If I'm debating between 2 entrees I use the calorie count to make the decision. I concentrate on the portion size too.
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    Both. Portion control is HUGE!
  • RitaSantoss
    RitaSantoss Posts: 986 Member
    I try to do both. Because one cannot happen without the other.
  • Tymeshia
    Tymeshia Posts: 194 Member
    I do both. I do portion control to teach my body that I only need 1 serving. I watch the calories too becaus, may the 1 serving of an items is way too high and might want to make another choice
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    I do both-I measure everything. And I would never eat at McDonalds! YUK-O
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    well, at the end of the day it IS both--it just depends on the calorie density of the food you're eating.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I am trying to do both. Especially being an emotional eater - both help me a lot, although I struggle to keep at it.
  • JuanaViviane
    JuanaViviane Posts: 20
    I try to eat normal portiones of food with low kalories and also food that will keep you full for a long time, like porridge or rice. No fast food :)
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    In the end, you need both.

    After all, this MFP thing is more of a lifestyle change than a diet, for me. I have definitely learned to eat smarter.
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    Both... And the types of foods as well
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I think the wording here is a little confusing...portion control and calorie control are really the same thing.

    The concept I think you're hinting at is called "Volumetrics"- getting more food for less calories. The term was coined by Barbara Rolls, a Penn State nutrition professor. The philosophy is to consume more low-energy density foods (higher water content, higher fiber) to fill you up more and increase satiety with equivalent calorie content meals. She has a book on it that might help you- but the idea makes good sense.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    'Volumetrics' doesn't fool my body. If a meal is low cal my stomach can be uncomfortably full while my body tells me, loudly, to eat more. It may depend on the balance of hunger hormones in the individual, I suspect, and, especially near goal weight, my ghrelin is veeeeeery demanding!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    'Volumetrics' doesn't fool my body. If a meal is low cal my stomach can be uncomfortably full while my body tells me, loudly, to eat more. It may depend on the balance of hunger hormones in the individual, I suspect, and, especially near goal weight, my ghrelin is veeeeeery demanding!
    It only works for me with adequate fat. Low fat meals don't keep me full at all no matter how high-volume they are either.
  • windycitycupcake
    windycitycupcake Posts: 516 Member
    "volumetrics" i've never heard that term before, i like it.

    yes this method works for me, i prefer larger meals and larger amounts of food made up of low calorie components. my salad bowl is actually a giant stainless steel mixing bowl bigger than my head and i fill it up with a salad for 350 calories or less, including a protein and seasoning

    i'd rather eat an 8 egg white omelette than two measly eggs. i don't like small meals.
  • seximami79
    seximami79 Posts: 156 Member
    I do both, depending on what it is...if it is roasted seaweed snacks that are two servings per container, but 30 calories per serving, I have no problem eating a couple of packages.

    If it is cake, I eat less of a serving...
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I don't have to worry about portion control as long as I'm doing the cooking. I only make what I want to eat. IE, I won't cook an entire box of pasta... I'll make enough for one normal serving for me and one somewhat larger than normal serving for my husband. Never any leftovers and I can't eat what's not there.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    LOL well pizza and burgers don't do it for me.

    Just eat what you like and what satisfies you within a calorie budget. LOL a couple of slices of pizza would take up most of my budget because I'm small. I just eat enough protein and carbs to satisfy me and fill up on fruits and veggies. Everyone must find what works for them.

    Just don't make it complicated. Eat what you like, mostly healthy if you can, within budget. No good food bad food mantra to drive you insane. KISS, Keep it Simple... :)
  • angmarie28
    angmarie28 Posts: 2,895 Member
    I do both, but if im really really hungry, I steam alot of veggies because they fill me up with little calories
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    Portion control was part of the reason I gained weight in the first place. I had no self control and ALWAYS filled my plate up then went back for seconds.

    So for me calorie control helped me with my portion control. I weigh all mine out and cook it separate than my husbands or measure it out depending on what it is. Keeping within my calories help me keep the portions smaller so I am not going out of control and I rarely go back for seconds.

    Every now and then something won't fill me up like it normally does but for the most part my combination of calories and portions work for me!
  • milk_shakes
    milk_shakes Posts: 46
    for now i don't control my vegetable portions. i will eat 2 cups of salad most days at lunch, 2 cups of a veg at dinner otherwise i'm starving by 9pm and miserable.
  • miadhail
    miadhail Posts: 383 Member
    I do both. Mostly calorie control though especially on food I make or know what the nutritional info is. I do portion control when I am out in a restaurant or in my parents' place (omg mom has the best food!!) because I can't accurately count the calories the food has. I usually just quick add 500 calories for meals like those, what matters is that I made sure I eat slowly and take a reasonable portion. :) More on the veges, less on carbs and meat about the size of a deck of cards. Yep portion control when I have no clue what calories it has works for me :)
  • DrowningMermaid
    DrowningMermaid Posts: 143
    For my snacks, I portion control because when I buy them, I put them into smaller containers so I don't eat the whole bag of chips or whatever it is I'm snacking on. Because I totally could eat the whole box/bag. Snacking is my worst habit regarding my diet, but when it comes to meal time, I think more about the calorie intake. I just prepare the food however I want to, make sure I have a well balanced meal with lots of vegetables, minimal carbs and plenty of protein.
  • Doxeydoxie
    Doxeydoxie Posts: 75
    Calorie for me. Simply easier.
  • redwan2001
    redwan2001 Posts: 286 Member
    Portion control does matter, but I keep an eye out with the calories. Of course with salad one can eat a whole bag lol. I am with you there :)


    Nadia
  • davefinancial
    davefinancial Posts: 3
    Eating healthy and exercising is a life style change, not a diet as we all already know. I am a 29 year old female who has three young children, and sits at a desk for 10 hours each day, at work. HOWEVER I eat healthy. I see a lot of diaries on here, where individuals are under their caloric intake, however what they are eating is not necessarily the healthiest of options. I exercise at least three times a week and make sure the food that I'm eating contains the nutrients my body needs to gain muscle, maintain energy, and give you that "full" feeling. Of course we all eat junk some times and who doesn't go out for a few beers on the weekend. Point being, it's all about balancing. Also, I didn't previously mention i am 5 ft 2" and weigh 105 lbs. FYI, I am aware I am on my friend's profile page by accident.
  • Nina2503
    Nina2503 Posts: 172 Member
    For me Its about getting the best value for my calories, but even with healthy food portion control is important, its amazing how little a 'portion of cereal is for example and how easy it is 'over estimate portion sizes. I look for good calorie value foods and weigh and measure and avoid junk or processed foods most of the time

    I find that my diet these days is not so different to my pre MFP days, but it is my portion sizes that have changed. so for me it is both.

    After all it was eating too much (of anything) that got me here in the first place!
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member
    I tried to go with Calories first but I would never have enough after lunch. So I got into Portion control and only eating until I'm not hungry rather than full. Works great for me now, I end with extra calories at the end of the day.

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