My trick to keep from over eating.

[Guest guest]

I'm new to the group and the podcast. I'm on episode 20 or so and I'm finding it

very motivating.

Despite being very athletic and active, I've needed to lose about 20 lbs for the

past 20 years. I've done it successfully a few times, but I always creep back up

to my old weight eventually. Eating past the point of being full is the main

reason.

I've come up with a method to stop over eating that others might find useful.

Here's an example from breakfast this morning: I had a bowl of healthy cereal

with soy milk. When I finished the cereal, I still felt hungry. In the past, I'd

just fill the bowl 1/2 to 3/4 full and continue to eat. Now, after finishing the

first bowl, I tell myself " You DO NOT have to stop eating yet, you just have to

pause for 15 minutes before you have the second helping " . If, 15 minutes later,

I'm still hungry, then I have that second helping and I feel absolutely zero

guilt about doing so.

What ends up happening 90% of the time is that the " I'm full " message makes it's

way to my brain during that 15 minute pause and I feel no need for the second

helping.

They key is telling myself (very honestly) that really I can have more if I'm

still hungry. That feels so much better than harshly cutting yourself off after

one helping and saying " NO MORE FOOD FOR YOU! " .

Since I started the podcast, I've lost 8 lbs and I'm not feeling the pressure

and stress that I usually associate with trying to lose this weight

-J