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Clean plate syndrome



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Hi everyone,

I am 6 months out and still learning day about myself and how things work. I am especially struggling with eating everything on my plate. This something that I was taught from a young age. My grandmother would always say "waste not, want not". But now it is something that could be very damaging to my new stomach.

Is anyone else having/had this same program? What do I do to help myself?

Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

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Yes! Cleaning our plates was a part of growing up and is deeply ingrained. Using a small plate helps, but when full before finishing I still think I should eat that last couple of bites. I did once and was so uncomfortable I dont want to feel like that again.

It is a fine line and we just have to pay close attention to our bodies and ignore those voices from the past. Even when measuring food it can be a challenge as sometimes I just can't eat as much as at other times.

We need to deprogram.

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I have more trouble with wantng to clean my plate at home than eating out. At home it is just a small amount left that won't make another meal so it is being g wasted. When eating out, the leftovers make 2 or 3 more meals and nothing is wasted.

Not something we just get over. Takes time and effort.

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I struggle with this, too (I'm pre-op). The other thing I've been noticing is that I have anxiety when the fridge is full of food. I feel it shouldn't be wasted (and therefore I should eat it). So, I need to get better at buying smaller amounts of things, especially perishables. And cooking smaller amounts. My stepmom (born skinny, stayed skinny her whole life) is so good at this. She makes exactly enough, and her fridge is never full, let alone over full. I know it will be easier when my kids are gone, but I want to start changing that. My other issue is when there is nothing to eat--that makes me anxious, too. LOL. Maybe I need to shop every day, just what we need for that next day. I dunno.

Edited by Hellya

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"Get used to never finishing a meal" were instructive words my surgeon used early on as I was starting solid Protein again.

It's an easy thing to handle.

Say for instance I"m at restaurant and my order arrives.....a large piece of salmon and some steamed vegetables. First thing I do is size up the fish and slice off what I know is a proper portion size an get a to-go box for the rest.

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I weigh my food too! Otherwise my eyes are bigger than my stomach I ask for a to go box when I'm out when I place my order - I know I won't be able to eat it all.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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I weigh my food every time I eat it. I know I can eat 3-4oz at a time, so that's what I weigh out, and that's what I eat.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I also weigh everything I eat. I tend to weigh out 4 oz of food. But as we all know, what we can eat from meal to meal. This is part of what I need to put into practice.

Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

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