Am I overeating?

[Ellalovescake]

I get told a lot by family that I overeat and I’m starting to worry that I might be.
For breakfast I eat: a large bowl of porridge with two bananas and yoghurt and two slices of toast with jam on and either a coffee or a hot chocolate. For lunch I usually have a croissant, another 2 bananas, a yoghurt, some carrot sticks, an apple, some grapes, a Bourbon biscuit and a glass of orange juice. For a snack in the afternoon I then normally have a glass of milk and a digestive biscuit. For dinner I usually have something like a roast dinner (with 3 veg) or spaghetti bolognaise (admittedly I quite often go back for a second serving) and for pudding I mostly have a chocolate yoghurt or just a plain yoghurt. Before I go to bed I often have a hot chocolate or warm milk and if I’m still hungry sometimes a slice of toast. I’m 5 foot 7 and I’m 10 stone 9 pounds and am 28 years old so I’m not really overweight but do get what I think is reflux which is mostly worse after eating. I just wondered if this seems excessive to be eating and if anyone thinks that cutting down might help with the reflux?

And also if losing weight might reduce any reflux?

Have you seen the doctor about your reflux?

That is a lot of food. But if you have a medical condition do not listen to bods on the internet go and have a proper chat with your doctor

Yes that’s a lot, it’s a very big breakfast, and why such a snacky lunch rather than an actual meal?

Everyone is different, and my eating habits leave much to be desired, but just for comparison: yesterday I ate nothing for breakfast or lunch, and had 4 fish fingers, some homemade wedges and sweetcorn for tea. I had a bowl of museli some time later. I also drank a shit ton of black coffee.

That's a fairly typical day for me though there are occasions when I eat far more. But what you're eating (the amount) would make me feel physically ill. I'm 5'5 and 8 stone 11.

It does seem a hell of a lot to me but, as I said, I don't eat well so not the best judge.

I could only manage half of that if I made a massive effort. Does sound like a lot. I am shorter than you and a weigh a little less but still that seems a lot.

A serving of fruit is one banana not two to start with... Plus I would normally have porridge or toast not both...

I mean, it is likely that this may be causing digestive issues but equally go see your doctor...

Thank you so much for all your replies. I’ve avoided going to the doctor because I was worried that they may tell me I’m overeating but wasn’t sure. My partner (who is older than me and a little overweight) eats much less than me, which does sometimes cause me worry, although he has had health issues. I am otherwise healthy but do find myself getting very hungry a lot. I tend to eat an odd lunch because I don’t have very long for lunch at work and eat a lot of bananas because I often still feel hungry after one!

Sounds like overeating to me - it eating more than I could manage anyway! My typical daily diet goes something like:

Breakfast - portion of Wheaties with a chopped banana and some whole milk

Lunch - Chicken salad sandwich, baked crisps, hand full of cherry tomatoes and a yoghurt (maybe a piece of fruit too if I'm having a particularly busy day at work)

Tea - Lasagne/Cottage Pie/Meat and Veg. But I try and be mindful of the portion size and whether I need the added extra or not e.g garlic bread/Yorkshire puddings

I'm 5' 6 and weigh about 9 and a half stone 

That’s a huge amount of food.

That is a large amount of food.

Does seem like a large breakfast but the rest isn’t bad at all, it was 4 bananas that seems a lot

Op, that is a lot of food although you don't seem very, if at all, overweight.

Bananas turn to sugar very fast causing cravings for another, and another .....try swapping bananas for 10 almonds each time, much more nutricious and won't cause cravings. Add blueberries to your porridge, (all berries are very good and filling.)
Swap your regular yoghurt for live greek youghurt as ordinary ones are mostly sugar...

Also have a decent lunch, like chicken/ham/egg salad, sprinkled with pine nuts and any crunch vegetables to hand, or avocado on ryvitas with tomatoes, filling and good for you..

Try and eat your evening meal by 7.30 pm and only have tea/herbaltea after, if you are really hungry then another handful of almonds....l would expect your reflux to go with these changes.

I can eat but that’s an awful lot of food in one day. 4 bananas?!

I think you need more protein to satisfy your hunger. There’s an awful lot of sugar and carbs.

And milk!

The calories in a banana are just about the same as a two finger Kit Kat.

Bet you get constipated.

It's a lot of food. Are you eating slowly enough to realise that you are full? Takes 20 mins for our brain to realise we are full.

A lot of sugar which gives highs and lows and makes you hungry again.

Eggs for breakfast. Chicken for lunch. One banana then nuts, berries, hummus etc.

No second portions until 20 mins later.

Make sure you're drinking enough water. Can be confused for hunger.

If I ate 4 bananas a day I would never shite again.

OP, it depends on your interpretation of the word 'overeat'. To me, it would mean to eat more than your body needs, and given that you're not overweight it doesn't appear that you are overeating.
For comparison, I am a similar height and age to you, and I eat around half those calories in a day and go to the gym regularly just to maintain a healthy weight (sob...I'm really jealous). I think it's just a reflection that some people need and can process a lot more than others.

In terms of reflux...I also suffer considerably from that. Bananas are supposed to help, as is milk. If you've tried over the counter remedies and they don't really help, I think it would be worth a visit to your GP. It would be really easily resolved with a prescription of lanzoprazol or similar.

Wow that’s a lot of food. Maybe you feel hungry because you have a snacky lunch. It also sounds like you’re grazing all day long rather than having 3 proper meals.

It sounds a lot of food to me too. I'd pop to thr doctors for a blood test for things like thyroid or diabetes.

It also sounds like you’re grazing all day long rather than having 3 proper meals

Seriously? Cause that's one hell of a breakfast and evening meal and it's a relatively large lunch as well.

Cutting down might help the reflux.

But how lucky are you to be able to eat all that food and not be overweight!

I'm amazed you're not overweight with all that you're eating! Not just the quantities, but also the amount of carbohydrate that you're consuming.

I'm betting it's also the carbs that are causing your acid reflux.

That is a heck of a lot of fat and sugar in one day, and lot of fruit, which is quite acidic. Perhaps you could cut back on the fruit you are eating and replace it with veg and salad.

Assuming you eat meat, why don't you have a ham or chicken salad sandwich or wrap at lunchtime instead of the croissant & bananas?

The first thing I thought was that you're eating a lot of sugar and carbs! I know from experience that if I eat lots of sugary/carby food I feel very hungry and not satisfied. I feel you're eating a lot because this sort of food doesn't fill you up for long. Try eating less carbs and more protein and fats (yes fats really satisfy me and make me eat less). I eat lots of protein, fats and mountains of vegetables. I'm 5 ft 7 and weigh 10 stone 4.

Do you drink any water?

Seems to me like your stomach is totally overloaded with acidic fruit which is why you are then craving yogurts and milk etc to calm everything down.