Always feel full

bbqoogle · December 2023

When I sit down for a meal, I usually don’t stop until I feel full. At that point I’m not only full, but I feel uncomfortable.

minizebu · December 2023

Knowing this about yourself, you could try one or more of the following things to combat the potential for overeating:

1) Slow yourself down, when you eat. If you eat more slowly, you will give your stomach time to register the feeling of fullness and give your brain the signal to stop eating. You could try pacing yourself by using a timer. You could record how long it normally takes for you to finish your meal (with your feeling of uncomfortable over-fullness). Then, at your next meal, extend the time that you usually take to complete the meal. Take breaks between courses, or take breaks between bites. If you are eating with others, engage in conversation to slow the pace at which you normally eat.

2) Increase the amount of lower-calorie-dense foods you eat at each meal and eat those foods first, before moving on to higher-calorie-dense foods. For example, eat salad greens first before eating cheese, or fill up on soup before eating bread.

3) Only serve yourself a half portion of what you would normally eat at one sitting. Eat that, and then re-assess how full you feel. If you are still hungry, you can go back and serve yourself more. This is a variation of the slowing-yourself-down option (#1 above).

I'm sure other people will chime in with more ideas.

sharon81 · December 2023

I don't have any new suggestions from what was stated above but I know the feeling all too well. I actually will often not feel "full" or still seemingly feel hungry after I eat. I have even tried waiting ten minutes or so before going in for seconds (usually just a bit more). Once I eat the "bit" more, I am stuffed. I think for me, it has to be psychological as I have somehow made seconds a "must have" thing in my life. I find if I ignore the "hunger" or lack of being full long enough, it goes away, however, if it's something really good, it's hard to ignore. I find that I can't make tacos, taco salad, nachos or anything Mexican at my house very often because I have a tendency to overeat it. I try to tell myself, "Self, you can have this again, this isn't the last time for the rest of your life" but then there I am overeating it like I am never going to have it again.
I wish you the best of luck and success in combatting this! Let us know if any of the suggestions work for you.

patshipp5 · December 2023

This is an old suggestion, one I resisted for years, but it was life changing for me. Try drinking a glass of water before you eat. I usually try to drink 8 oz and hour or so before and then another 8 oz before I take the first bite.
I'm not sure if it's my body confusing hunger with thirst like I've heard or, just the actual filling up on water. Either way, it really does work (for me) and worth trying unless you already drink a lot of water. I never have drank a lot of water so, it was a habit I really had to work at incorporating. Good luck and please come back and tell us if you try something that helps!

kraft024 · December 2023

I use Home Chef and so my meal portion sizes and calories are pre-set. I often feel hungry or like I could eat more when I finish. I just distract myself for a few minutes and then I feel full.

I picture my digestive system like an automatically closing window with a timer. When I start eating a meal, the clock starts on being full. It ticks down the same whether I eat fast or slow--I choose what to put in there in that timeframe.

brenn35 · December 2023

I overate the other night and felt awful. I know I have quit eating and wait 20 minutes and I am full. I tell myself if I am not I can eat again but that usually doesnt happen.

rileysowner · December 2023

All I would add is choose a reasonable sized serving, eat it, and only go back for seconds after at least 30 minutes, ideally closer to an hour. This will allow your body hormones to respond to the food you ate and signal fullness.

poisonesse · December 2023

What slowed me down was putting the fork down between bites. Sounds silly, but it works. At least it did for me. 😉

nolongergordo · December 2023

I haven't read the replies so I may be repeating others here.

I used to be like you however when I slowed down my pace of eating by about half it gave the food time to assimilate into my system and for it to recognize that I was no longer hungry. We can eat faster than the hunger hormone is suppressed.

elisa123gal · December 2023

Well, you realize the problem.. that's a great start. I vote.. drink a few glasses of water.. double up your vegetables.. weigh out your protein and any startch... and only take seconds of vegetables until you're full. That routine shoudl work.. then start trying to change your clean plate behavoir as time goes on.. you will.

EricExtreme · December 2023

Make a fist. That is the approximate size of your stomach. However, it can stretch to triple that size (or more). After you begin eating, it takes your body approximately 15 minutes to release leptin, the hormone that makes you feel full. Feeling full is not a good measurement of when to stop eating. Put together your desired portion to meet your nutritional intake goal for the meal, and consume it. If you are still hungry after 15 minutes, drink a glass of water, which you can also do before the meal.

elisa123gal · December 2023

i googled the "fist is the size of your stomach". and it is when it is empty and at rest. But. it doens't mean you only eat a fist size of food. The stomach stretches many times larger when we drink and eat.

lisasays · January 6

Are you eating plenty of non starchy veg? They have water weight and fiber and help you feel full. Also, potatoes are the most filling food on the planet. Do a 50/50 plate with every meal do you can eat larger quantities. Read The Starch Solution! You really can eat a lot and continue to lose.

Sett2023 · January 6

lisasays wrote: »

You really can eat a lot and continue to lose.

Amen!

stegeem · January 7

Drink 2 glasses of water with each meal and set half of your meal aside and see if you are still hungry 20 minutes later. Also, don't be part of the empty plate club, if you get full while you are eating, wrap your plate and set it aside for later in the day or tomorrow. Also, consider having a bowl of soup before your meal, a piece of fruit with each meal or a plate of vegetables or salad before your main meal. I always have water with dinner, I will often have 4 glasses, but I have diabetes. Apparently being really thirsty is a sign of eating too much sugar that day. Hope this helps!

stegeem · January 7

Eat lots of fibre and protein! People that eat enough fibre are more likely to be slim. I eat a lot of popcorn. It isn't too many calories and fills lots of space in my stomach. Eat things are big and bulky but low calorie. Weigh your food before you eat and don't go back for seconds, say "this is how much I'm going to eat". Go for a walk after meals. Get away from the house/food, after eating and distract yourself. Consider eating dinner close to bedtime so you don't snack after dinner. I usually take my sleeping pills within half an hour of dinner because I'm tired after 15 minutes.

thelissakaye5006 · January 7

This is me to a T. I call myself a “bulk” eater. I found part of it for me is being dehydrated. It took me a while to figure out, I don’t get thirsty when dehydrated, I get hungry. I also need to satisfy savory cravings. I would be good all day long and then right before bed want to devour everything and binge eat. I found taking a multivitamin consistently helps. I also like to sleep with a full belly. I know a lot of people are against it. I eat a big bulk veggie dinner flavored with a little cheese and meat/oil. I will save a decent amount of calories for dinner and one late snack. I’ll make a big stir fry like mostly cabbage/kale/broccoli slaw and toss in a small serving of bacon and cheese for flavor. It keeps the meal low calorie with a lot of bulk and lots of flavor, so I don’t go over and go to bed on a full belly.

stegeem · January 7

I don't think eating until you are full is a problem, I think it's just if you are overeating. Although in some cultures, they stop when they are 80% full instead of eating to 100% and that's how they stay trim.

PazRealtor · January 7

To all the respondents good "consejos" tips. I'm taking what I can use, gracias.

rwhyte12 · July 10

I think you need to feel full after eating. You might have some insulin resistance. I am taking Mulberry supplements. Berberine Inostol

willboywonder · July 12

One thing I do to combat that is to eyeball a small segment of the meal on the plate, or literally move aside the part I think is a reasonable amount to eat, then save the remainder of it for later. That is effective for me. I am keenly aware that most food on a plate is generally more than one serving. So, I therefore don't eat it all. Give this tactic a try. Hope it helps.

Hobartlemagne · July 18

I was taught in college health class (on stone tablets) that the feeling of fullness is 20 min late.
That's one good reason to eat slower. I sometimes stop eating, and take a break to see how I feel after a pause before returning to the food.

Always feel full

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