eating until I'm "stuffed"

Eat slower when you can. Eat about half of what you put on your plate, then wait 10-15 minutes and see how you feel. It takes a while for your brain to process how you feel when you're eating, so do that and see if it helps. And when you're in a hurry, it's REALLY hard to do that though because you stuff the food in so fast and by the time your brain realizes it, you're already stuffed!

what if you weigh out an appropriate portion (ie: the official serving size) and put the rest of it away.

I'm the same way. I love to eat until I can't move.

So I fill up on leafy greens and stuff like broccoli, celery, non-starchy veggies.

On days that I have unstoppable hunger, it isn't uncommon for me to eat an entire head of cauliflower.

I like to make up my plate and set aside leftovers before I even eat. It helps me not dig into whatever is left because it's already in a dish ready for the fridge. Yummy leftovers!

I'm trying this!

I agree with eating slower, but also suggest that you sit down to eat with no distractions (like TV) and really focus on your food. This may sound a little weird, but really think about how much you enjoy the texture, flavor, and scent of every bite. Chew slowly and thoroughly and swallow before you get another forkful. It makes eating a more satisfying experience and I think it is easier to stop when you are full. Part of the reason I have stuffed myself in the past is purely psychological -- just the need to keep getting that satisfaction every time I take a bite. Really enjoying every bite I put in my mouth makes it so much easier to not need to just keep shoveling and shoveling.

Try logging what you plan to eat on here before you eat it. I do that sometimes, and it keeps me from overeating. It's a little reminder for me when I've reached my calorie goal for the day, and that anything else I add to my plate is over my budget.

It honestly gets easier. As you get used to eating less, your (or at least my) body becomes uncomfortably full more quickly. I can't eat like I used to... even if I wanted to.

I also serve myself, and put the rest away before I take my first bite.

That's my issue too.
This is what has worked for me:
• Look up what actual portions are (like 4oz of protein etc...) Here's a guide from the American Dietetic Association, I am sure there are others:
http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442468830

• Get a scale and weigh everything. I have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006WBW356/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

• Weight *everything* you put on your plate.
It sucks, I know.
Particularly because how tiny portions are supposed to be.

Eat three meals and two snacks using those portions and make them fit within your allotted calorie amount. If you need more calories add things like avocado, nut and seed butters, trail mix, cheese, olive oil.

Put the measured food on your plate.

Put the leftovers away right after you make the plate(s)

and that's it.

Like I said, it sucks. Particularly because I used to eat like the guy in "Man vs. Food"

I also add more herbs and spices now to my food and find it a lot easier to deal with the lack of volume.

And I recently got smaller plates (normal size, I guess) because the Alice in Wonderland-sized plates I had before made it too easy to overload.

Drink A LOT of water throughout the day. It helps to not feel hungry and gives that full feeling much faster.

Slow down and enjoy your food & family.

When I first started, I would have something to do after I ate. So I'd eat my plate, and then immediately go run errands, or fold laundry, or something that kept me busy. The more I was able to keep from eating until 'stuffed' the more my stomach started to shrink - if that's the right word for it.

After about a month or so I'm noticing that my portions are making me feel pretty stuffed. I don't know if it's all in my head or what, but it's working!

Thank you everyone! Its good to know I'm not alone and the suggestions were awesome!! I've already started trying to portion by using smaller dishes and eating slowly. Tonight I'm eating chili and using a 1 cup bowl.. will eat 1 bowl now, one later. Already logged in the two cups chili and I'm still under for the day!!

I love making home made chilli and it's pretty low on calories (depending on how you make it). Let spices and garlic handle the flavoring vs what restaurants do like adding extra sugar and etc. Nothing wrong with sugar by the way, but I think you can make a pretty mean chilli without adding extra sugar.

In my experience, it really is an acquired habit thing. When I reflect back now, I'm astounded at how often I had that stuffed feeling and got used to it being "normal." Now that I know what real portions and satiety is, I cannot stand that overstuffed feeling. So, good news....it gets easier!!! Truly, after you've stuck with accurate logging for a bit and seen some loss, you will feel better and won't miss eating until you're stuffed.

Try eating on a smaller plate. That may help. I have that problem to and I always feel I need to "eat everything on my plate" and my nutritionist recommended smaller plates to (1) ensure smaller portions and (2) allow my mind to feel that relief of cleaning my plate without adding to my waste line. The trick is to eat slow and once your done to then wait and IF your still hungry then have seconds on that small plate.

See link below for more info:

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmHI4YksNOwraSz32TCqlZOrUV0VLYG2MFwVp4W43gOtxCS6kg2g

My real trick is drinking lots of water all day long. I try to drink at least the equivalent of 12 8 oz cups daily, and I drink water when I eat. Weighing out my portions helps, as does loading up on green/yellow vegetables. Also, eating slowly when possible, or if I am in a hurry, only eating a specific sized amount of food.