Getting Use to Portion Sizes

It's been about 3 weeks for me and sometimes I just want more even though I'm not really hungry. It's a mental thing. Just keep telling yourself you want to loose weight and if you eat the extra that isn't going to happen.

In my experience you do actually adjust to feeling more full on less food. I think a huge part of that craving for more is psychological (as you mentioned, you're not really hungry, you just want more - and I feel that way often too). With that being said, I have noticed a change in my satisfaction level since I started consuming smaller portions 7 days ago. Like you, I have been measuring out all of my portions and eating considerably smaller servings. Yesterday I allowed myself to splurge slightly and went a bit past that satisfaction point and guess what... I felt stuffed! It wasn't really a very large serving at all (I'd say pretty average actually), but it became clear to me that my stomach must have shrunk a bit because it really filled me up. So, I'm not sure how long you've been constricting your servings, but my guess is that you should feel more satisfied from smaller portions after about a week.

The biggest challenge is just being aware of when you want to eat more just "because". One tip that helps me is that when I'm craving and I think I'm hungry, I imagine a food I wouldn't typically eat simply for the enjoyment of it and see if I still want to eat. In other words, I picture something I like, but don't love (for instance, a bowl of green beans... I like those, but I certainly wouldn't gorge on them as I might with, say, pasta). If I still want to eat that bowl of green beans in my mind, I know I'm truly hungry. If I don't, I know I'm probably just experiencing a craving urge and it will pass. Hope that helps! Hang in there - you can do it!

I was 310 when I started using the site back on May 1, 2011. It took me about a week and a half to get used to the change in my portion sizes. My goal is to eat 1800 to 2000 calories a day (regardless of working out or not that day). I was really tired and hungry that first week and a half, but once I got passed that it started to get better. Now there are days where I am really hungry, especially at night and sometimes I go to bed early to fight the urge. So far this has worked for me as I've lost 21 lbs during the month of may. Good luck to you!

Dave

Hi I was a huge overeater before. Basically used to eat too fast till absolutely stuffed.
I have been doing the same as you measuring diligently for about 5 weeks and only eating till not hungry rather than till full.
I have recently noticed that my appetite has dropped. Eg:
Had my parents over for dinner a couple of weeks ago and cooked far too much prawn risotto. As it doesn't keep and it was a bit of a treat night I ate more seconds, this was still less than I would have eaten six weeks ago but I felt stuffed half way through that plate.

I've had similar experiences on one or two other occasions too

it took me about 3 weeks for my stomach to shrink and feel full off of smaller portions..if you are still hungry just make smart choices fruit or veggies..Do not ever starve your body..