Portion Control Problems

TNAJackson · April 2011

I have HUGE portion control problems... I just can't seem to get a grip on it. A serving size isn't enough for me and MY serving sizes are absolutely ridiculous! I'm getting extremely discouraged. Anyone have any good ideas about how to control portions?

Atlantique · April 2011

Are you weighing the food, or eyeballing it? Weighing it is the most accurate.

What are you eating? If it's mainly carbs (except veggies) you are always going to be hungry. Try aiming for more protein and possibly more fat.

JWeaser · April 2011

When I first started I felt the same way. I measure everything and am constantly washing out measuring cups and the bowl on my scale. Your stomach will adjust. The first few days, I just had to tell myself, have a controlled portion for breakfast, let yourself feel if you are full or not and in two hours, if you are still hungry, you can have a snack. It worked rather quickly and now I look at one serving of rice (1 cup) and say, that is way too much with everything else and I have half a cup. You can do it, like everything else, it's an adjustment. We trained our bodies to think one way and now we have to retrain them. Keep up the good work! You can friend my if you want. Support is very important.

TNAJackson · April 2011

Are you weighing the food, or eyeballing it? Weighing it is the most accurate.

What are you eating? If it's mainly carbs (except veggies) you are always going to be hungry. Try aiming for more protein and possibly more fat.

I'm eyeballing it, but I really gotta stop that... I think my eyeballs have minds of their own!

NeuroticVirgo · April 2011

I'd just get used to weighing and measuring your foods. Its not too bad, and after a few weeks/months etc, your eyeballs will be better at eye balling the right portions. lol

I got a digital scale at Walmart for like $20, and I also bought an extra set of measuring cups (mostly because my family is lazy and we don't always do dishes as often as we should. )

The scale has helped me a lot when measuring for meats. I noticed some chicken breasts that I would have guessed to be 4 oz, were really 8 oz! oops. (I've actually made a game out of weighting and measuring sometimes too...I'm lame...like I'll take a spoon and scoop what i think is 1 tbsp of sour cream...then I'll put it in the tbsp spoon too see how close I was...haha) But you can also measure out your cereal, veggies etc (grams). I was surprised at how much a portion really was. Some stuff I was really under estimating.

Yesterday I made a crockpot chicken and put it over rice. So I took the 1 cup measuring cup, scooped out 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of chicken. I think you'd be surprised at how much 1 cup really is, and once you get used to measuring it doesn't take up as much extra time as you think it would.

Also, what size plates do you have? Sadly...I gave away my old set of plates. (I liked them but they were 12" plates)...and bought some 9" plates. Smaller plates help your eye balls see "normal" serving sizes as acceptable because your plate will look full.

jimbo831 · April 2011

Are you weighing the food, or eyeballing it? Weighing it is the most accurate.

What are you eating? If it's mainly carbs (except veggies) you are always going to be hungry. Try aiming for more protein and possibly more fat.

I'm eyeballing it, but I really gotta stop that... I think my eyeballs have minds of their own!

I would definitely start measuring. You may find that what you consider a portion is smaller than the actual portion.

First, I use liquid and solid measuring cups for all foods measured by volume. I would also buy a food scale because many foods also measure by weight. There is a decent one you should be able to find at any Bed Bath & Beyond for $20, branded as a "Biggest Loser" food scale.

1sisrat · April 2011

Measuring is best untill you get used to it. Really practice mindfullness techniques, they will help you get in touch with your body and it's senses. Once you are connected to your body's signals you will be able to judge things for yourself. The stomac is used to being stretched, now it needs to get used to your brain telling you when it's full.

TNAJackson · April 2011

I'd just get used to weighing and measuring your foods. Its not too bad, and after a few weeks/months etc, your eyeballs will be better at eye balling the right portions. lol

I got a digital scale at Walmart for like $20, and I also bought an extra set of measuring cups (mostly because my family is lazy and we don't always do dishes as often as we should. )

The scale has helped me a lot when measuring for meats. I noticed some chicken breasts that I would have guessed to be 4 oz, were really 8 oz! oops. (I've actually made a game out of weighting and measuring sometimes too...I'm lame...like I'll take a spoon and scoop what i think is 1 tbsp of sour cream...then I'll put it in the tbsp spoon too see how close I was...haha) But you can also measure out your cereal, veggies etc (grams). I was surprised at how much a portion really was. Some stuff I was really under estimating.

Yesterday I made a crockpot chicken and put it over rice. So I took the 1 cup measuring cup, scooped out 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of chicken. I think you'd be surprised at how much 1 cup really is, and once you get used to measuring it doesn't take up as much extra time as you think it would.

Also, what size plates do you have? Sadly...I gave away my old set of plates. (I liked them but they were 12" plates)...and bought some 9" plates. Smaller plates help your eye balls see "normal" serving sizes as acceptable because your plate will look full.

Thanks for the advice on the plates... I'm gonna have to get smaller ones because the ones I have are also the 12" ones. BTW, I LOVE the picture in your ticker!! That's how I feel the majority of the time!! LOL!

Portion Control Problems

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