Eat the size of your fist in one sitting

I know it's a silly question, but someone recently told me that you shouldn't eat anything more then the size of your clenched fist in one sitting, because that is about the size of your stomach.

Is there any truth in this? Because I have freakishly small hands, does that mean I have a small stomach?

Replies

  • Mslmesq
    Mslmesq Posts: 1,000 Member
    I think it's more important to eat only until you are about 75-80% full, not until you are stuffed. To do this, eat very slowly. If you ate too much and feel stuffed, you ate too much. Well, except on Thanksgiving of course cause that's a tradition. :-D
  • I think this is an unnecessary complication. If you're within calories/macros and not getting indigestion, I wouldn't worry about it. Stomachs are freakishly elastic.
  • remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you
  • janer4jc
    janer4jc Posts: 238 Member
    I've heard the fist comment and while I don't know if it's entirely true, if you keep it in mind it should help you to not overeat.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    No, eat within your calorie budget. If you ate your fist size of broccoli you'd be under nourished and if you ate your fist size of fudge you'd be in sugar shock. It's not really a sensible way to estimate food. Pretty sure my stomach is bigger than my fist which may be part of my problem!
  • FirecrackerJess
    FirecrackerJess Posts: 276 Member
    I've lost even eating after 8pm, I do not think time makes a difference, more of a old wives tale. As long as you are not going to bed right after I think it is fine. My clock is not on a traditional morning/night type of system. So it all depends on when you start your day I think and when you go to bed.

    As for the size thing, I'd be starving if I ate the size of my fist or less. I am focusing on my calories and not worrying about something else, cause too many things is just too many chances of messing something up.
  • silver_arrow3
    silver_arrow3 Posts: 1,373 Member
    remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you

    Well that's helpful... :noway:

    OP, think about it... if you eat a fistful of lettuce for dinner versus a steak of the same size, are both going to fill you in the same manner? Not so much.
    MFP makes it pretty easy to track your caloric intake - it's calories in versus calories out (burned). It really is that simple.
  • TX_Rhon
    TX_Rhon Posts: 1,549 Member
    remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you


    No........just no.

    Eat when you are hungry.
    Eat a big breakfast if your hungry
    Eat carbs, eat fat - they are tasty. If it fits your calorie limit -- eat it!
    Do not fast if you do not want to. No food "goes right through you" unless you eat really bad Mexican food - LOL!!!!
    Seriously, your body takes in nutrients from everything you eat!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you


    truth



    not really
  • sydneyplainjane
    sydneyplainjane Posts: 140 Member
    I remember reading that if you have meat/protein it should be larger than about the size of your fist, but not the whole meal.
  • obaker
    obaker Posts: 76 Member
    I've heard the fist comment and while I don't know if it's entirely true, if you keep it in mind it should help you to not overeat.

    Well, this is a pretty sensible comment.
    While we all (should) know that you need to keep within your calorie budget, I do believe that the 'fist portion' thing is a great guide. A friend of mine at work has been using this method for a long time and it helped him to lose quite a lot of weight. He doesn't count calories but he has now formed good habits and very rarely over eats.
  • pita7317
    pita7317 Posts: 1,437 Member
    Whatever you eat and whenever.
    Eat very slow, savor every bite and actually pay attention to the flavor/taste.
    It amazes me how doing this has reduced my portions...now eat dinner on a salad plate and sometimes don't finish.
    The days of a 8-10 oz steak with all the norm sides or a plate full of pasta, are long gone.
    Good. Don't miss it at all.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Nope - ignore that suggestion. Eat to your calorie and macro goals in a way that suits you best.
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    What if I am wearing hulk mitts... Can I use that size fist instead? :-D

    411RY7WZT2L._AA280_.jpg
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    What happens if you've got freakishly large hands? ;-)
  • TallGlassOfQuirky
    TallGlassOfQuirky Posts: 282 Member
    As a tall woman with proportionately miniature hands, my life would suck if I had to follow this rule.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    I remember reading that if you have meat/protein it should be larger than about the size of your fist, but not the whole meal.

    The old rule for meat was the size of your palm, not your fist. Weighing food is much more accurate than using body parts to measure.
  • remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you


    No........just no.

    Eat when you are hungry.
    Eat a big breakfast if your hungry
    Eat carbs, eat fat - they are tasty. If it fits your calorie limit -- eat it!
    Do not fast if you do not want to. No food "goes right through you" unless you eat really bad Mexican food - LOL!!!!
    Seriously, your body takes in nutrients from everything you eat!

    I am fairly certain that was sarcasm. especially since the first and last are contradictory
  • remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you


    No........just no.

    Eat when you are hungry.
    Eat a big breakfast if your hungry
    Eat carbs, eat fat - they are tasty. If it fits your calorie limit -- eat it!
    Do not fast if you do not want to. No food "goes right through you" unless you eat really bad Mexican food - LOL!!!!
    Seriously, your body takes in nutrients from everything you eat!

    oh and as far as your fourth point, try thai on an empty stomach.
  • teamAmelia
    teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
    I know it's a silly question, but someone recently told me that you shouldn't eat anything more then the size of your clenched fist in one sitting, because that is about the size of your stomach.

    Is there any truth in this? Because I have freakishly small hands, does that mean I have a small stomach?

    I'm pretty sure that they were referring to the serving size of each food item. It's just the way that some people try to help others visualize a portion size. But, that doesn't mean that the portion size for each food is the same. Regarding the size of your stomach, I have no idea. Ask your doctor, but I doubt that it would affect your diet, unless you have some rare condition. And, don't believe everything that you read on the net. See this quote below. You can find posts in this forum from people who swear by these contradictory theories.
    remember to also not eat past 8pm
    and don't eat too early
    don't eat a big breakfast
    carbs are evil, cut them out
    fat makes you fat, don't eat those either
    fast all day and eat in the last 2 hours at night so the food goes right through you
  • What if I am wearing hulk mitts... Can I use that size fist instead? :-D

    411RY7WZT2L._AA280_.jpg

    :laugh:
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    If this is true, can I use Andre the Giant's hand size?
    andrethegiantwithbeer.jpg
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    What happens if you've got freakishly large hands? ;-)

    Yea .. me too. *winks*
  • TX_Rhon
    TX_Rhon Posts: 1,549 Member
    What happens if you've got freakishly large hands? ;-)

    Yea .. me too. *winks*


    You know what they say..........big hands............






    Big gloves :laugh:
  • cgarand
    cgarand Posts: 541 Member
    I think it depends on what you are eating.