Portion Control: Solutions To Aid You With Weight Loss

Calories are the key to weight loss or weight gain. Too many calories consumed and not enough calories burned are what makes us gain weight. Everyone knows this of course but do they put it into practice?

Here are a few tips to help you with portion control.

Measure your portions

Get a food scale and use measuring spoons or measuring cups. When we know that a tablespoon of light cream cheese is only five calories but we don’t measure out a tablespoon and instead use a butter knife to put on a dollop, we aren’t doing ourselves any favours by eating light cream cheese. When you look at calories on the food label, be sure you understand how much is a portion. A bagel might list 100 calories instead of 200 but that could mean a serving size is listed as half a bagel.

How big is your plate?

Use smaller plates to fool yourself. If you use a huge platter instead of a lunch plate you’re more likely to fill it. If you use a small plate, you are more likely to feel full by the time you are done but even if you do go for a second portion, you’re probably taking much smaller portions when you use a small plate or a bowl instead of a dinner plate or platter.

Don’t eat anywhere but at the dinner table.

Eating at the computer or in front of tv can increase mindlessness in terms of portions. If you are aware of what you are eating, you will stop when you have had enough and your diet can be a success.

Measure, Measure, Measure!

Don’t eat from the bag. If you want some potato chips, don’t eat from the bag, measure your portion instead. Be conscious of what you are eating so you don’t overeat and this goes back to tip #1. Know how many calories are in that bowlful

Track your caloric intake

The only way to truly know what you are eating is to track it. Many online food journals exist that can help you track your calories taken in as well as your calories spent on exercising. Hard math can result in weight loss