Need Help to Control My Portions

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9/21/12 12:05 P

It's okay to start learning the art of this phrase. "I'd really love to, it's really yummy. But I've had enough."

SparkPoints: (3,314)
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9/21/12 11:16 A

Thanks ARCHIMEDESII,

Your sound advice has calmed me and gives me a new prospective on how to achieve my goals. When you said "That's how good health starts. It starts with one small change." I realized that i am seeking overnight changes. I don't just want to lose weight but i need a changed lifestyle and that takes time. I know it will be hard and i am comforted to know that when i cry out for help/advice some one is there.

Thanks all and you will hear my cries.

SparkPoints: (3,314)
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Posts: 54
9/21/12 11:00 A

Thanks, i have to spent a little more time in the kitchen and being a working mom it can be difficult at times but what i will start doing instantly is snacking on fruits and vegetables that something i don't do, and it will definitely reduce my hunger feelings. Thanks

Posts: 447
9/20/12 4:52 P

There are a couple of things I have down due to my own portion control issues. 1) I messure out portions and serve them up in the kitchen, and we always eat at the dining room table. If it's not sitting there at the table calling my name I do a better job at not over indulging. 2) I pack my left overs and prepared foods into containers in 1 portion sizes. When I go to make lunch they are already in the right amount, and if I am overly hunger I am less likely to over do it. 3) I eat a lot of snacks. I love to eat at meals but I find by snacking through out the day on nuts, grapes, apples, carrots ect. I am not starving when I sit down and do a better job of sticking with my plan.
Hope some of that helps you.

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9/20/12 4:49 P

I have the same problems with portions! I love to eat a lot of food. (That's what got me into trouble in the first place.) As I've been trying to lose weight I've tried to incorporate more fruit and veggies into my diet. This way I can eat more than I could if I ate a lot of fatty food.

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9/20/12 3:11 P

Welcome to Spark People !

Remember, you're trying to change habits learned over a life time. That's not going to happen overnight, a week, a month or even a year. Change takes time. Thus the need to be patient with yourself and your body.

Don't look at weight loss or good health with an all or nothing mentality. if the only healthy thing you were to do for yourself today was to drink 8 glasses of water, that's still a step in the right direction. And that's what you do. You start with some simple changes you CAN stick with. Don't try to do everything at once or you will end up frustrated. Set some simple goals.

Example, if you're not used to eating 6-9 servings of fresh fruit and veggies each day, set a goal to eat 2-3 servings each day for one week. if you're not used to drinking 8 glasses of water, set a goal to drink 2-4 glasses each day for one week. If you're not used to regular exercise, set a goal to take a 30 minute walk each day for one week. Once you've achieved these goals, then you set new ones.

That's how good health starts. It starts with one small change. Can you take a 30 minute walk each day ? If so, you've just started a regular exercise program.

As far as watching your portions, that is something that will come with time. One thing I would recommend is to set up your Spark Nutrition profile. Let the software set a calorie range for you. Then do your best to stay within that range. Start logging your food choices. Logging your food will help you learn portion control.

Patience, it's a virtue.

SparkPoints: (3,314)
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Posts: 54
9/20/12 2:57 P

I love to eat, and having breakfast and dinner with my family is something i have always done and enjoy doing. But eating with them is killing me. I don't seem to be able to control my portions so i over eat every time, and to make it fatal i hate to exercise. So i over eat and "under exercise". I need Help!!!