How to Use Portion Control for Weight Loss

Using portion control to lose weight is what many diet plans are based on. You can either join a group like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig or you can use portion control yourself. If you get into the habit of practicing portion control you will lose weight and be able to maintain it. It will become second nature and you will not feel like you are on a diet. Follow these steps to learn portion control.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. You can still eat your favorite foods, just cut the portions that you are used to in half. If you feel hungry add celery, carrots and apples to your meal. They take a long time to eat and you will have time to feel full until you get used to eating smaller portions.

2. When eating at home, place the food on the plates in the kitchen. Do not place serving bowls on the table. This discourages second helpings, the enemy of portion control.

3. Never accept the up size offer at a fast food restaurant. Meal deals are not a good idea, skip the fries all together and just have a sandwich and diet drink.

4. Learn to know how much a portion is. 3 ounces of meat, the recommended portion, is the size of a deck of cards. A serving of potatoes or rice is about the size of a tennis ball. One ounce of cheese is the size of 4 dice. Most of us are used to servings that are actually 2 or 3 portions. Train your eyes to know what a portion is.

5. Use a smaller plate. Our plates have gotten larger and larger and we want to fill them up. Use a smaller plate and smaller portions will look larger. Portion control is about retraining your eye.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your physician before starting any diet.

[2besure]

on 1/3/2009 Great information. #5 really works too.

[Jennywrites]

on 12/20/2008 Excellent tips, something I really need to learn! 5*s