How do you make yourself STOP eating?

Ok, so I'm going to sound so dumb, but I love my Dora bowl that I eat out of. It's adorable!!! You could even go so far as to have kid-sized forks and spoons - try it!
Also, how do you eat? Do you just sit there and focus on eating or are you watching tv, reading, on the computer, etc? Try to concentrate on the food - the distractions could cause the overeating too.
What about green tea or some low sodium soup before you eat? Could make you fuller quicker.

I personally found that once I changed my diet, and starting eating clean, unprocessed foods, and eliminated any refined carbs (or grains too), that my appetite went down.

I mean, sure, I could eat 3 slices of pizza, or a whole plate of pasta. But if what is on my plate is a chicken breast with a side of spinach, not only does it fill me up better and faster, but I don't have the urge to have more and more.

I also get wildly selfish about food. I'm actually a pretty generous person with everything and anything else, but when it comes to food, people better back off!

Again, something I've been trying to fix...

I think it has its roots from when I was growing up in a under-the-poverty line family? Not sure

A lot of us grew up in the "clean your plate" mentality, or worse yet, the "if you don't eat it, someone else will" mentality. I grew up in a family of brothers that were occasionally known to spit on food that they didn't want to share...Your awareness of this issue is your best defense. The realization that it's okay to be hungry, that food will come to you again, and that you are doing something to really take care of yourself is the "aha!" stuff that changes the stuffing into thoughtful eating.

Also, I wanted to commend you for taking the time to learn this about yourself at such a young age. I wish I had cared as much when I was only 10 or 20 or 30 pounds overweight (and a lot younger)! Hopefully it's a journey that will stick with you!

I had a problem with this until I found MFP. Just the act of logging all my food, understanding how many calories I'm eating per day, and having a clear goal to meet has caused me to eat much less and exercise more.

Have you been logging your food?

Make sure you don't eat dinner alone. Have someone there to engage in conversation. Make a rule to put another bite of food into your mouth every 45 seconds (giving you 25 seconds to chew!) Drink water in between your bites. If you're talking to that person, don't eat while talking. Start with the foods you like least and hopefully they'll make you somewhat full, then save the best for last.

I weigh all my food when I'm plating it.... so, I know that I can eat every morsel on my plate; no more, no less!

THIS!!!!
Also, Get yourself a set of measuring cups. 1 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1 tbs, and 1 tsp. I use mine with every meal. I broke all my meals and snacks down into "mini" calorie goals. Example, for lunch my mini goal is 400. I use my scale and measuring cups and do not put more than 400 calories on my plate. If I have extra calories I add them to my goal for my next meal.

First you need to be able to weigh foods with your eyes and not a scale. I know what a cup, half cup look like without a measure. I know what a 3-4 oz serving of meat looks like with my eyes. I do weigh some things but not very often. Your plate should be 1/4 Protein, 1/4 grains, pasta, potato and 1/2 all the veggies you can stand basically. I still eat the same way as always. If you don't have enough self discipline to control what you put in your mouth you won't ever lose weight or keep it off.

What everyone else said buy...just maybe...

Many years ago a doctor who took a very holistic approach to health recommended a diet to me that was very effective. For mainly other reasons to do with digestion and acid secretion he recommended that I not drink in the period 20 minutes before a meal to 20 minutes after. I found thi9s limited the amount I did eat very effectively. Drinking cleanses the palate and you are then ready (enthuisiastic) to take another mouthful. If you don't drink you feel much less like having another mouthful. I ended the meal with a small piece of fruit which had the effect of cleansing the palate and was very satisfying. I now know that, physiologicallly, the small piece of fruit just has enough sugar to kick-start the digestive process and is a very healthy thing to do.

Maybe it is an option worth trying.
I also was very short of food as a 'youngun' and I worked out I do tend to overeat when food is around because I'm afraid of being hungry later. It is good to get through one's head that if we are still really hungry later we can just go and get a little more food anytime! I know it is harder than it sounds that's for sure!!!

This is my weakness. I can eat really healthy, but then if you leave the food in front of me, I'll eat and eat and eat mindlessly. For me, I have to physically get up and put the food away or throw it away to stop eating. Throwing it away always reminds of me of Sex and the City, where Miranda throws the cake away to stop eating it, but she pulls it out of the trash and keeps eating!

I ate frozen grapes tonight after I finished my salad. They really did cleanse my palate well. I would have reached for chocolate in the past.

I have also heard the water advice from a herbologist.

I started using smaller plates. I thought it sounded silly, but it's helped me.

We use the 8" salad plates instead of the 12" dinner plates now and it has really helped our portioning.

I have a problem with eating - if the food is on my plate, I will eat all of it. No matter how full I am.

Lately, I've been trying to put a lot less on my plate and remind myself that I can go back for seconds if I'm still hungry, but it's difficult... Does anyone else have the same problem?

It sounds weird but psychological studies find that blue plates decrease appetite try buying smaller sized blue plates (plastic of course don't invest unless it works). I have not tried it but it was one of the more interesting stats I learned while getting my Masters

Weird! I have blue plates that are smaller and it actually does work! I didn't think of that until I read that haha!

Agree with everyone, and also want to add- not only does using a smaller plate help, so does a small fork! I use my baby salad fork for everything at home

I try to take a drink of water between every 1-2 bites of food. It kinda forces you to slow down. I have a problem with inhaling my food lol.

Also, I found that when I start to feel full if you take some of your drink and pour it on your food you won't want to eat it! Its pretty wasteful but it stops me from continuing to eat when I'm full.

I really like the the water idea. I use this method all the time and it works. Between the slowing of your eating & the water the consume, it will help to fill you up.

If I'm at a restaurant, I cut the plate in half with my fork so that I only eat what's been portioned for me. I always take food home, knowing that I can have it later. That tends to ease my hunger.
If I'm at home, I have super small bowls that only hold about a cup to a cup and a half of food. That way, I eat a "full plate" and see how hungry I am after that. We eat a lot of Asian food, so bowls are the typical dish. Small plates are the same rule.. use a super small plate and see how hungry you are after that.
Oh, and lots of water. Hot tea and hot water tend to ease any craving for more food.

I do that to a bigger extreme, I get a box and put the half of the food in it so it is out of sight out of mine.