Ahh!  I've been vegan for almost a year now, and it's helped me feel and look better, but my portions are out of control!  I stopped losing weight, and I think it's becuase I'm eating a ton of healthy food.  I know it doesn't sound bad, but for example, instead of having a little bit of watermelon or sald I will have huuuuge bowls, enough for like a serving platter!  any ideas how to counteract my compulsive eating?  I didn't have this problem as a non-vegan because I would be sooo full and bloated after a meal I knew when to stop.  Admitidly, I've always had portions on the larger side, but this is getting crazy!!!! any ideas?

try drinking more water? it helps keep me from eating too much. im obsessed with water. im actually also trying to lose a bit of weight too.

being vegan hasn't really affected my weight too much, mainly just my health-ive managed to stay at a pretty stable weight for the last couple of years, ive always been careful to consume enough calories so i DIDNT lose weight, so sometimes i eat more than i need to stop being hungry. so far whats helping me lose weight is just eating when im hungry, rather than just out of habit. u shud eat nutrient dense foods, and make sure your not depriving yourself of certain foods/food groups otherwise that will just lead to binging. apparently drinking green tea helps with weight loss. i also drink hot lemon water every morning. it really kickstarts your metabolism. if you come across anything let me know

love melody xx

Melody, How do u make your "hot lemon water" ? Sounds good...

i just have a glass/cup of hot water with half a squeezed lemon in it. if im being really good have it before i have breakfast- i try to get up, have that, do some yoga/meditation and then eat breakfast. good kicksatart to the day! :-)

I love hot lemon water! My co-workers think I'm crazy to drink it, but it is cold in my office and when I get tired of hot tea or Teechino, I love hot lemon water.  I haven't notice it affecting my metabolism, though - I just think it's delicious.

maybe its just the wate ror hot water thing-it helps wake me up. or maybe its a combination of that and other things i do. but anyways, its delious aye. glad other ppl have tried it.

Oh man! I feel for you. Are taking any new meds. That will do it for me. I had to quit all mine.

Oh Sabrina, I feel for you!!  I too have portion control issues.  I get a real "high" when I look in the pantry and see all the yummy stuff.  I eat a lot too.  I have been trying to add in water/tea to my day.  Do you like tea?  I found a wonderful place in the mall called Teavana - they have lots of teas and the expertise to help you combine them into whatever flavor you like.  Maybe if you "treat" yourself to it, you'll see it as that, and it'll also fill you up (I make mine strong and pour over ice - you can re-brew the leaves a few times too!).

I also like smoothies, and they help fill you up.  I freeze super ripe bananas to use as the "ice", and that makes it extra thick (also, pour into a  freezer mug and it almost turns into ice cream!).  You can control your calories and ingredients going in, and if you use a spoon, you'll eat slower.  Maybe that'll help????

Best of luck!!!

 Definitely more water is a good idea and fruit! I find it mainly phsychological though, like many things in life! I told myself that just because I had cut out formerly filling things like dairy and meat and other heavier proteins that I always depended on to be the main 'filler' of the meal, that didn't mean that now it was a complete free for all when it came to portions. I still try to stick to the simple 3 meals a day plan, with small snacks in between or just one snack a day. This way, I'm always aware that I'm only eating 3 main meals a day, they'd better be highly nutritious vegan meals, so that I'm getting the variation of nutrients and calories I need. In reality, your body should want less bulk per meal if it's getting higher nutritional value per meal.

Good luck!

check out this blog. It's my friends, she just started it but soon she will be posting everyday & it would be a great way to figure out what to eat! She is not completely vegan although she doesnt eat alot of meat or dairy so it could be helpful. Give it a try..

http://eatlikemee.blogspot.com/

I too eat too much. I am excited about all the new foods my taste buds now like. I was such a fussy eater now I crave salad and beans etc.  This week I ate a sweet potato for the first time ever and tonight refried beans on hummus chips.  Maybe if you/ me write a menu ahead of time and can see it. I am visual.  Instead of just taking out rice and hummus and salad and thinking it is all great at one time I would cut back.