What's on YOUR plate? The importance of portion control.

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LifeisaBlessing
Posts: 337
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2016 1:08 pm

What's on YOUR plate? The importance of portion control.

Post by LifeisaBlessing » Tue Oct 02, 2018 5:36 pm

I came across these eye-opening images on another diet/fitness website and thought I'd share for those who may be struggling with the idea of portion control and what exactly comprises a reasonable plate of food.

How much can a plate hold?

Spot the Difference

Notice the wide range of calories that can be placed on a single plate, even with "healthy" choices.

Definitely some food for thought! :)
I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
~Jimmy Dean

The second you overcomplicate it is the second it becomes the thing for which it is a corrective.
~El Fug, on the NoS Diet

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Post by Soprano » Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:04 am

When I'm eating at friends or relatives I find it interesting what their normal portions are compared to their weight......

Not many that serve large portions are slim

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

ladybird30
Posts: 1118
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 10:41 pm

Post by ladybird30 » Thu Oct 04, 2018 4:49 am

Somewhere between the 11 and 12 inch plate looks about right to me, with a bit of fat added.

Let say that is dinner, with breakfast and lunch a bit smaller.

That would give about 1800 or 1900 calories for the day, enough to allow a slow weight loss and give enough energy for exercise.

Those smaller plates would be starvation level for me if 3 plates was all I had for the day.
Three meals a day - not too little not too much, but just right

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Fri Oct 05, 2018 10:38 pm

Cool visuals.

I would gain weight on an average of 1800-1900 calories a day. I would have even when I started, if I had also had extras on S days. I would just get way to full! But I'm not very tall, though I'm not tiny.

I've used my hand- palm, fist and thumb- as serving estimators as general guidelines for so long that the portions on the first link of the bottom plates looked huge to me.

And I did guess right on the second link because I looked for the dense food, not the greens.

Greens is something I would add to the plates in link 1!

Also, I do periodically use a measuring cup to scoop servings out since I cook in bulk and then take the food out for the meal. So I've gotten used to what they look like on the plate.

No matter what, it takes a bit of honesty to admit that it feels very different to eat those bigger portions even if they do fit on the plate. A corollary of No S should be "no S-tuffing yourself," even on N days. 8)

But if I had tried to limit myself to small portions at first, I would have felt like I was on a diet. Now my plates can just look like I'm on a diet.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

ladybird30
Posts: 1118
Joined: Sun May 07, 2017 10:41 pm

Post by ladybird30 » Sun Oct 07, 2018 3:00 am

That average of 1800-1900 calories per day would includes extras on S days. not that I have calculated it over a week since I started No S. But it is based on logging my food as accurately as I could for several weeks sometime in the last few years. It's not something I can be bothered doing now.

I have never been able to eat less than that without getting very hungry.

But lets say, with a heroic effort of will power I lasted for 5 N days at 1500 cals per day. Come Saturday I would be unable to restrain myself. Lets say I ate 2 slices of cheese pizza, 1 piece of chocolate cake and 2 cups of icecream on top of my normal food. That, according to the USDA food tables, is an extra 1760 calories. On Sunday nausea and a food hangover would probably prevent me repeating that effort. However, I would probably still be in the grip of the desire to overeat. So lets say I ate an extra 800 cals on top my normal food.

That is an extra 365 cals per day when averaged over the week, putting me back at 1860 cals per day on average.

I prefer to eat much the same on S days as N days, as regular habits make me feel better.
Three meals a day - not too little not too much, but just right

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Post by oolala53 » Sun Oct 07, 2018 2:12 pm

Sounds like it's getting you what you want. Negotiating the amount of hunger we want to feel is key. Do-ability counts for a LOT!
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

poilly
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:13 am

Post by poilly » Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:13 am

oolala53 wrote:Cool visuals.

I would gain weight on an average of 1800-1900 calories a day. I would have even when I started, if I had also had extras on S days. I would just get way to full! But I'm not very tall, though I'm not tiny.

I've used my hand- palm, fist and thumb- as serving estimators as general guidelines for so long that the portions on the first link of the bottom plates looked huge to me.

And I did guess right on the second link because I looked for the dense food, not the greens.

Greens is something I would add to the plates in link 1!

Also, I do periodically use a measuring cup to scoop servings out since I cook in bulk and then take the food out for the meal. So I've gotten used to what they look like on the plate.

No matter what, it takes a bit of honesty to admit that it feels very different to eat those bigger portions even if they do fit on the plate. A corollary of No S should be "no S-tuffing yourself," even on N days. 8)

But if I had tried to limit myself to small portions at first, I would have felt like I was on a diet. Now my plates can just look like I'm on a diet.
This review is the best.

dropfiftyfast
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 11:15 pm

Post by dropfiftyfast » Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:48 pm

oolala53 wrote:Cool visuals.

I would gain weight on an average of 1800-1900 calories a day. I would have even when I started, if I had also had extras on S days. I would just get way to full! But I'm not very tall, though I'm not tiny.

I've used my hand- palm, fist and thumb- as serving estimators as general guidelines for so long that the portions on the first link of the bottom plates looked huge to me.

And I did guess right on the second link because I looked for the dense food, not the greens.

Greens is something I would add to the plates in link 1!

Also, I do periodically use a measuring cup to scoop servings out since I cook in bulk and then take the food out for the meal. So I've gotten used to what they look like on the plate.

No matter what, it takes a bit of honesty to admit that it feels very different to eat those bigger portions even if they do fit on the plate. A corollary of No S should be "no S-tuffing yourself," even on N days. 8)

But if I had tried to limit myself to small portions at first, I would have felt like I was on a diet. Now my plates can just look like I'm on a diet.
THIS

elegantportions
Posts: 128
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 6:06 pm
Location: Montana

Post by elegantportions » Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:51 pm

Thanks for posting these links. I loved the graphics.
EP
5'5" Female Age 62
Dec 2018 Year 5 BMI = 25.8

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