You were full ten minutes agoHabits

unbry

You were full ten minutes ago

A short book about eating past the point of being full, because the food is there and stopping feels like a loss

16 chapters10,046 wordsAbout 46 minFirst edition

What's inside

·Before you startThis is a short book. You can read it in two or three evenings. It's about one habit. Partway through a meal you've had enough. You may notice it and you…2 min
1The corner of the lasagneHere's an example. It's a Wednesday evening and you've made a lasagne, a big one, in the dish that feeds six. There are three of you. You serve yourself a…3 min
2What the extra paysNobody keeps eating for no reason. If the extra gave you nothing you'd have stopped years ago. So before arguing with it, I want to list what it pays, as…3 min
3"It still tastes good"This is the most natural belief of the lot. The food is delicious. Each mouthful is a pleasure. Stopping means fewer pleasures, and carrying on means…3 min
4"It'd be a waste"For a lot of people this is the belief that does the most work, and it was put there early. You may have heard "Finish what's on your plate" at several…3 min
5"I don't feel full yet"This one is said in good faith. You're halfway down the plate and you check in with your stomach, and it reports nothing much. You don't feel full. So you…3 min
6"It was on my plate"Ask people why they ate the amount they ate, and they'll mostly say it was how hungry they were. It feels that way from the inside. The evidence says…3 min
7"I wasn't really paying attention"Think about where you ate your last five meals and what else you were doing. For many people the honest list is a desk with email open, a sofa with the…2 min
8"Stopping feels like losing something"This chapter is about the pang. You've had enough, there's good food in front of you, and you think about putting your fork down. Something in you…3 min
9"Everyone else is still eating"Some of the biggest extras happen in company. Sunday lunch runs to two hours. The curry arrives for six and there are dishes all over the table. Your aunt…3 min
10"It's been a hard day"You get in late, after a day of being talked at. There's a row you're trying not to think about. Dinner is the first nice thing that's happened since…3 min
11"I'm just greedy"Under all the other beliefs there's often a verdict. You eat too much because of what you are. Other people can leave half a sandwich. You've never left…2 min
12The decisionEverything so far has been about seeing the habit clearly. This chapter is about what to do, and it starts with a rule. I eat what I like, I stop at…4 min
13When the extra comes backIt will come back. Holidays do it, with hotel breakfasts and meals out twice a day. Christmas runs for a fortnight. A stressful month, an illness or a…3 min
14The corner of the lasagne againGo back to the Wednesday in chapter 1, with a few things moved. You've made the same big lasagne, and you've planned two meals from it. The dish stays on…2 min
·NotesThis book gives general information. It isn't medical, dietary or psychological advice, and it's no substitute for a doctor, dietitian or therapist who…5 min

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