Still eating way too fast... Got a good tip to slow down?

maisiba

I've started my weight loss journey last March and it's going pretty well, much better than I actually expected (yay me!). As I assume most people who are massively overweight, I had a lot of bad eating habits - including too much, not particularly healthy and too fast. Knowing that this all has to be a permanent life style change and not just a temporary diet, I'm working on improving in all areas in hopes to keep the weight off after reaching my goal weight.

The one bad eating habit where I've made very little progress so far is that I'm still eating way too fast. While this has no immediate effect on my actual weight loss right now (since I'm staying within my calorie target despite eating too fast), I know this will be a major "risk factor" to overeating longterm, especially once I hit maintenance.

So for 2017 I decided to try and put more effort into slowing down my eating and break the habit of inhaling my food. I've been trying to be more mindful and sometimes I manage but I just relapse still way too often.

I've read a couple of articles on that topic and I'm aware of the standard tips they all have but some of those recommendations seem to be less practical than others (at least to me).

I've wondered what actually worked for people here? Anyone got a good trick they swear on?

seska422

Slowing down has been very helpful to me for weight loss and my relationship with food. It didn't take long after I started logging to notice how much "distracted eating" I had been doing. Paying attention let me enjoy the food more even as I was eating less.

Don't eat while distracted. What you are eating should be your main focus. Enjoy it and savor it. Don't eat in front of the TV or computer if you can help it. If you are talking with others while eating, wait for a good pausing point in the conversation before you take another bite.

Chew thoroughly. Don't put more food on your utensil until you've swallowed what's in your mouth.

Take a sip of water between bites. Have a glass of water there even if you are also drinking something else.

kommodevaran

I eat fast too, but after maintaining my weight for two years eating fast, I've decided to stop thinking about trying to change it. I serve myself what I am going to eat, eat and enjoy it, and finish my meal. There are so many things to worry about, I don't want to spend my precious mental energy on this.

rachel53223

Drinking water in between, making sure you chew x number of times and actually counting them. Eating at the dinning room table with little distraction will help being more mindful.

zyxst

I don't think I eat fast, but I enjoy eating enough that I want to eat quickly because of the yum factor. I did the "drink water between bites" and "put down the fork after each bite" things and they just annoyed me. It felt like someone was hovering around dictating how I should eat since at my age I couldn't possibly know how.

For me, the only issue with eating too fast is a bit of upset tummy or maybe acid reflux.

Maxematics

I know a lot of people say don't eat in front of a computer/TV, but that actually doesn't affect me in a negative way. In fact, while I'm watching things on Hulu, I make it a rule that during commercial breaks, I have to stop eating, get up, and jog in place until the show comes back on. It keeps me moving and slows down my eating pace. Eating undistracted and/or in silence just makes me feel awkward and I finish faster because there is nothing else to do. The only time I still eat fast is while at work because sometimes there is just little time to even get in food, so I eat what I can and move on to other tasks.

dejavuohlala

Me too it's a habit I can't break, I keep attempting start off ok then totally forget, my
Best time was when I had dental work I ate really slow but then it has got faster again.

ninerbuff

Put the utensil down after each bite and chew 20 times before swallowing. Also drinking water while you consume helps to fill you up faster.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ncfitbit

I notice I slow down when I take the effort to plan food I really enjoy and then I savor it! For me there's a big difference between just throwing food on a plate and digging in and taking an extra minute to make it look pretty and then taking a really looking at it and anticipating how delicious it's going to be, like you would if you went to a nice restaurant. I don't think of it as extra work or something I MUST do every time, but when I do it I always feel more satisfied with my meal. Plus, I like to think that the slower I eat the more bang I am getting for my calorie buck.

Fuzzipeg

My idea's been snipped. Indeed, put your fork or what ever you are using, (no good for soup, tiny giggle) chew well as niner said chew 20 times. The extra chewing will have the effect of making the nutrition more readily available. One of our health conscious programmes tested that theory and well chewed food or in a liquidised form is utilised much better. I can't remember the reason but drinking with meals does not suite everyone.

May I congratulate you on staying with it, making changes as you go along. I wish you well as you achieve your goal.

maisiba

Thanks everyone so far.

I've tried the drinking water to meals and chewing more etc but in the past, I wasn't really able to stick with it. It works for a few meals and then I'm back to eating like before.

I think one of the reasons might be that I don't enjoy the food as much if I consciously add all those extra hurdles like putting your fork down or endless chewing, so the temptation to just eat is "as usual" is high with little downside right now.

I guess I'll just have to keep working harder on it.

ElvenToad

I am coming up on my 3 year anniversary of weight loss (have lost 142 pounds). What I started doing pretty early on was simply just taking smaller bites because going from eating massive amounts of food to eating a normal amount of food... it helped me feel like I was getting more food? Anyway, I've mastered this now and I take the tiniest rabbit sized bites ever.. it takes me 15-20 minutes to eat one of my special K trail mix bars (love the things). I get to eat longer this way and taste more. My husband will down one in like 1 minute flat, 5 bites its gone. Nope.. not me. The longer I get to eat and the more I get to chew satisfies me mentally. I try to do the same thing with my meals, harder to do with my sandwich but easier with my Sunchips. I take nibble sized bites out of every single chip for example.. makes them last longer. So that's my tip

Fuzzipeg

Yes, smaler bites would slow you down, I hope you can give it a try. Good luck

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jen_092

I'm an unusually slow eater. I feel very lucky that I just happen to be this way.

A couple of things I do... When dining with others I kinda talk a lot (and don't talk with food in my mouth). I drink a lot of water when eating because my digestion would suffer otherwise. I take tiny bites. Like tiny. And I chew them slowly. I alternate whatever food I have in front of me (not sure if that even matters, but I do notice my boyfriend who eats too fast will eat the entire steak, then all the fries, then all the broccoli, and all of a sudden everything is gone in 5 min!). Hope this helps at least a little!

leanjogreen18

In all seriousness does eating too fast really matter?

I ask because I still eat pretty fast but either eating an average of 1250 calories a day over the last 6 months (used to lower calories) OR eating a protein, carb & fat has FOR ME kept me pretty satisfied while still eating fast.

I'm not saying I don't have days I go over but for the most part I seem to be ok SO FAR:).

everher

leanjogreen18 wrote: »

In all seriousness does eating too fast really matter?

I ask because I still eat pretty fast but either eating an average of 1250 calories a day over the last 6 months (used to lower calories) OR eating a protein, carb & fat has FOR ME kept me pretty satisfied while still eating fast.

I'm not saying I don't have days I go over but for the most part I seem to be ok SO FAR:).

Personally, I don't think it does matter.

I've always been a fast eater. Always will be most likely.

I do make sure I'm chewing my food enough and not inhaling it, drinking water with my food, and I set my fork down occasionally to read something if I'm eating alone or talk with someone if eating with people but other than that I eat at the speed I eat.

Doesn't seem to affect my level of satisfaction and I'm one of those people who likes my food hot too. One thing I can't stand is cold food and I find if I take too long to eat (especially in winter) my food gets cold.

kenyonhaff

Here's a bit of an oddball tip, but it works: Try eating with chopsticks when you can!

For the average person who didn't grow up with them, it takes longer to eat with them. And you have to think more carefully about what you are eating and see it in a slightly different way. This of course won't work with all food and you may look a little odd if you're in public. But it's not a bad exercise to do, and it can be fun.

annette_15

If you really like what you are eating, dont you want the eating experience to last as long as possible? If I'm eating something I love, I take my time with it, actually taste the food, chew it properly before swallowing it. If I'm eating something I dont care for or I'm in a rush I eat it as fast as I can so I can move on with my day lol

elphie754

No such thing as slow eating in our house. We are work in emergency services (EMS and PD). We eat at home the way we eat at work.... fast and usually no full meals. We pick at things throughout the day.

Traveler120

If it's that serious of a problem, try eating from a small plate, like a saucer or side plate so that you have to go to the kitchen for every refill. Having many small helpings could help prolong the meal. And since you're not going to want to get up every 2 minutes, you will automatically eat more slowly.

ConnieT1030

Well i can say I eat slowly, it's just in my DNA, I have always done everything slowly and deliberately, and other people seem to get annoyed by it, but thats how my great grandmother was and that's how I am. I don't have a "speed up" button, and Im told neither did she. I was born to "dawdle" as my parents called it. lol
She lived to 94, so it may not be such a bad thing.
However, it sure didn't stop me from becoming overweight. I do eat distracted too much so I can finish something before I realize it (Im a big one for eating at the computer, ruins my keyboards) =P but in the end just eating too much and too calorie-dense things will add up. You can learn to eat past your full signal no matter how slowly you eat, so that won't necessarily help either.
I'd be more concerned with the calories in things you eat than how fast you eat them, unless you want to be sure you savor it. If anything, just take much smaller bites. I never have eaten large portions at once. Some little cookie or something my husband will eat in 1 or possibly 2 bites I will take 4-5 bites to eat. Just always have.
It does take longer, but it still wont guarantee weight loss.

kbarrett0701

I've lost 155lbs and I still eat fast. Always have.

espressoshotsnheavysquats

Count a certain number of chews per bite. Like meat can be 20-40 sometimes. It forces you to be super conscious of what you're doing.

lauamy96

Can you eat with people? Chit chat a little on the phone? I eat in 5 mins or less if I'm by myself. With someone else, my food will have gone cold or soggy and gross and I haven't had half of it bc I talk too much and forget about the food.

crzycatlady1

I'm the opposite and it drives my husband nuts how long it takes me to eat lol. But, lunch time (my biggest meal), I eat while also plugged into MFP and I'm usually reading/typing on the forums, which then slows down the eating (and sometimes I'm also yelling at the computer screen ). And then supper is usually with family and I'm too busy talking to eat lol.

Maybe incorporate doing something else while you're eating? Read a magazine or website, check your emails, chat with someone etc?

Lounmoun

How fast is fast? Maybe set a timer so you can actually see how much time is elapsing and that might encourage you to slow down. Maybe set a target of 20 minutes and try to stretch your meal out a couple minutes longer each day.

I probably finish a meal when I am alone in 20 minutes. I drink a full glass of water with my meal. I might read something while eating alone.
When I am eating with others it may take longer to finish a meal.

manukahoneybadger

When i remember I try to focus on what's excellent about the foodage- or what could be better,
'bit salty' etc
stops my brain wandering off-piste

Fuzzipeg

I found an idea which stopped me in my tracks. Have something sweet, something small, I think it was half an hour before you intend to eat properly, nothing large but enough to give your taste buds an outing, giving your hormones time to think in the intervening minutes, they have seen more food than they have. I thought this might help hit the spot of slowing you down. Good luck.

aylajane

I am a fast eater as well, and sitting at a table staring at my plate counting bites would drive me out of my mind. I do everything fast and I have to multitask or I will lose my mind. But I had a few issues caused by eating too fast - heartburn, and finishing and wanting more because my brain hadnt quite registered what I ate yet (they say it takes 20 minutes).

So I decided to work with my natural rhythm and habits! This works because I lived alone, ate alone most of the time. I make my plate, put it on the counter... Take a bite then run off to do something else (i.e. start cleaning or organizing something). Every time I had a break I would run over and grab another bite. For example, I would clean my living room... Take a bite, pick up all the loose stuff and put away. As I walked past the counter, grab another bite then go pull out the furniture in prep to vacuum. Grab another bite then vacuum. Grab another bite then dust. etc. My counter was in same room so wasnt out of my way. But this way in 30 minutes to 45 minutes not only did I eat slower overall (each bite might be fast, but the whole meal took awhile) - but my living room got cleaned!

snickerscharlie

As long as whatever you consume in a meal is accounted for and is within your calorie budget, how fast you inhale it really doesn't matter, unless it gives you heartburn or indigestion.

The problem with eating too quickly is that for some people, they've hoovered down their dinner so quickly that their brain simply hasn't had enough time to register the incoming food and turn off the "Holy crap I'm starving!" signal, so they still feel hungry although their plate is empty. That's what drives most people to second helpings and the risk of overeating, simply because they're not sated yet.

As long as you're not going back for unaccounted seconds (or thirds!), eat however you like.

Bon appetite!