Do you stop eating when you feel full?

I eat until I feel full. My stomach feels stretched and doesn't want more. Some people don't get this feeling though.

I sometimes go under my goal. Lately it's been farther under than I'm really comfortable with, but I don't think that's permanent. Perhaps I just need to focus in on some higher calorie foods, but at the same time, I think it's OK.

I used to eat until full. I probably used to eat until MORE than full. Thus the need for a tool like MyFitnessPal.

I remember a few years ago on a dive boat after I had lost weight and was maintaining. I had developed pretty good habits. I didn't have a scale, and that was fine. For that trip, I logged my food as a "recipe" I created that I called "SCUBA Diver Rations." It consists of 700 grams of carbs, 130 grams of protein, and 130 grams of fat (total of 4490 calories). I have another recipe for river trips called "Rafter Rations" that's lower calorie. We eat a lot when diving.

Anyway, one night we had grilled tri-tip with broccoli and rice and I don't remember what else. I had a reasonable amount. I went back for some more broccoli and maybe some more rice. The galley crew asked if I wanted more meat. I didn't NEED it, but want? OK. It was delicious. Anyway, I ate it. As you know, it takes a little while for the full feeling to hit your brain. Well, I hadn't waited long enough, and pretty soon I felt over-full. It was actually uncomfortable. I remembered thinking, "Hmmm... I used to feel like this all the time, and I used to enjoy it." I didn't enjoy it anymore. I don't think I gained weight on that trip, and it taught me a lesson I already had learned. But it sure was tasty.

Some people "bank" calories by eating below goal for some days so they can have a high-calorie treat meal and still hitting their goal for the week.

If your goal is set correctly for the calorie level you "should" be eating, it's best to try to hit it on average over time.

So, I have to ask @refactored - do YOU eat until full and stop, or do you keep eating until you hit your goal? Do you stop eating at your goal even if you happen to NOT be full?

My calories are all over the place. I do try to keep protein constant. My hunger, or "satisfaction" is very much driven by protein. But calories? Whatever.

I’m another one who never feels full. And if I’ve eaten white bread-forgetaboutit. I’m starving in 5 minutes. Don’t understand why.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

That isn't really how I think of it. It's more about working out eating patterns that keep me contented (non-crave-y) the majority of my waking hours.

Generally I fix meals that I know are calorie appropriate and likely to be filling in a "stick with me" sense, then I eat them without much considering whether I feel full at the moment. I don't want to routinely eat way below my calorie target, or way over. I do want to feel satisfied, but it's not a focus every meal when it comes to how much to eat.

Part of the issue is that I know I eat fast, but it seems to take me longer than the reported 20 minutes-ish after eating to feel sated. If I eat amounts that I know are right and foods that suit me, at reasonable-for-me intervals, everything generally works out OK. If I feel hungry or crave-y when a meal isn't coming up soon, I'd generally have a snack to keep things on an even keel.

Yes, it took a bit of time when first losing weight to figure out the best eating patterns; and they needed a little adjustment (add-ons) when it was time for maintenance.

blood sugar doesn't instantly go up when you eat - it takes time, and that's part of what causes a feeling of satiation. i experimented, taking my blood sugar at a variety of times after eating, and at 20 minutes after the start of eating, it starts to climb. since i'm a fast eater, like you, at 20 minutes, i'm already done.

I will continue eatng to get what i think i need into my diet. For example.. i just ate an all greens salad after my chicken and carrot main entree for lunch. I was more than full eating my chicken dish.. but i felt i needed some greens for nutrition in my system. and right now.. i feel i need to eat half of a grapefruit to get my vitamin C.
Ha.. i actually think this way when i eat.

Like Ann and Spring (and perhaps others who were less specific) I know how many calories I want and put that on my plate. (Or if it's a new meal and I haven't worked out the calories in the recipe builder yet, I guess, and work it out after.)

I don't have seconds, but if I make something especially yummy, I struggle with not picking at that as I'm putting it away.

I try not to eat past full. I use a hunger scale to guide when and how much I eat. One is so hungry you're shaky and dizzy and ready to eat whatever you can touch and 10 is so full you can't even move and might even be sick. I wait until I'm at about a 3 to eat and eat until I'm at about a 7. Then I'm done and whatever is left gets put away.