tell me your tips to stop eating even when you're full...

[kitkat9]

my problem is just that

I eat heathly food, little meat, tend to make big batches of soup/stew type things, generally include things like sweet potatoes, chick peas, canned tomastoes, parsnips, celery, carrots, so all good stuff!

It's just that I'll sit with a bowlful in the evening, eat that, think,'yum that was great!', go back to the pot for more...

I have this mentality that if it's all good stuff = good for me, but clearly I'm eating too much and not losing weight!

am on WW (22pts), rarely go over my points limit, in fact I'm usually under

so my question really is, if something is v v tasty and you want more, how do you persuade yourself to stop?

Stop making things in big batches!!! Just make a small piece of protein, a couple of vegetables and a lot smaller amount of carbohydrates. Ie. Small piece of fish, handful of greenbeans, roasted cherry tomatoes and 1 or 2 new potatoes for example. Then you cannot go back for more, you'll have eaten it all.

If you get a craving for something sweet to finish you off, try a hot drink like Ovaltine light or highlights just to take the edge off and convince your body you have had more food than you have had.

Lots of exercise. Remembering what goes in needs to be less than I am going to use so I need to feel hungry at times during the day or my body will not be burning fat.

hi kitkat9, my weight has fluctuated over the years and i used to have exactly the same problem - came from a family of big eaters I find that filling up on water throughout the day really helps to make you feel less hungry; only cook the amount you should be eating and NO MORE that way you can't have 2nd helpings; have healthy nibbles for pudding that take a while to eat - eg handfull of raw almonds which can help weightloss, an hour later fill up on water or fruit /herbal teas; have something planned to do straight after tea, rather than giving yourself chance to think about being hungry - DISTRACTION and eat slowly & not distracted by the tv, that way your brain registers that you're actually eating. If you still find you're struggling plan ahead & make sure you have loads of helthy 0 point snacks ready in the fridge for emergencies. Once your past the 1st 3-4weeks it does get easier! Hope that helps

I do exactly that kitkat9! I find that if you do make a big batch then either, divide it up into individual portions using pour and store bags or tupperwares as soon as its cooked. It helps to make you think about how much you are eating, or, use really small bowls if you really need to feel you've had seconds.
Another good tip is to make yourself wait at least 20 mins before having anymore, start doing something else and nine times out of ten you will have forgotton about the extra portion.
Good luck.

serve yourself your portion and immediately put the rest in containers to put in the freezer - will stop you going for seconds

Also - if you think you're hungry try something else first - I find painting my nails is good -if still hungry by the time they are dry, then I'll have something to eat...

I'm as greedy as the next person but find eating off a smaller plate and having a glass of water beforehand helps.

And exiting the kitchen quickly after a meal, turning out lights so it's shut up for the night

Hi, my Mum does weight watchers and find that if she doesn't eat her points then she doesn't lose weight! It's something to do with the way metabolism works to help you. If you don't eat enough points then your metabolism slows down, therefore you don't lose weight!

And if you eat over your points you can compensate with exercise. The weight-watchers drop-in you go to should be able to help you with working out how much exercise/what kind eg swimming you need for X number of points.

Put a piece of chewing gum in your mouth as soon as you have finished what is on your plate. I find the mint takes away the urge to keep eating more.

I have the same prob so watching in interest...
Ill eat my dinner then as i take the last bite i think oooh what can i eat next then i pick up until 10 when i go to bed

"clearly I'm eating too much and not losing weight! am on WW (22pts), rarely go over my points limit, in fact I'm usually under"

If you're undereating points and not getting adequate energy then you're more likely to be eating too little. It sounds counterintuitive but the body has a natural reaction to severe food deprivation i.e. it will hang onto your fat stores rather than use them up.

If you're undereating despite keep going back for seconds then it suggests that your diet is too heavily weighted towards the 'low-cal and bulky' foods (vegetables) ... and if your diet is imbalanced and too low-cal it won't be satisfying. Since WW regards vegetables as 0 point foods, they won't help you reach your 22 point total. It's very common for vegetarians to undereat

I'd suggest getting a better balanced diet from now on and making sure you get the full 22 points a day. Add more protein and fat to your diet as well as starches and vegetables.... nuts, eggs, cheese, seeds, tofu, quorn. Protein and fat makes meals more satisfying. And then try to avoid making big pots of things... just cook enough for one serving until you're out of the habit.