Eating too fast.....Road Runner of Eating...

Emmapatterson1729

I had to break the habit of inhaling my food.

I use smaller utensils, take smaller bites, chew thoroughly, and do not allow myself to take next bite until current bite is swallowed completely.

I try to make one meal take at least 15 minutes (15 minute food window).

I had to make conscious changes until they became habit.

LivingtheLeanDream

I am another fast eater, I have this thing about eating fast so my food doesn't get cold! food needs to be piping hot unless its supposed to be cold of course! I suppose with a bit of practice and slowing it down I might learn to do so but it doesn't actually bother me.

cbihatt

I was going to suggest conversation. If you are eating alone, you could try reciting something in your mind between each bite. Something that is mindless, but takes a minute to do. Like, when kids are instructed to sing happy birthday while washing their hands to ensure they do a decent job.

I cringe whenever I see people recommend excessive chewing. I have TMD issues and just the thought of all that chewing makes my jaw hurt. LOL!

icemom011

I'm also a super fast eater. I have been like that my whole life. I think it's stemming from wanting to go back and play as a child, because of having to finish all food before i was allowed to go. That, actually, created a special place for me in the "clean plate club" as well. My kids took same habit and eat just as fast as i do. I've also been overweight my whole life. So i think there's definitely a correlation between those habits. My wife is a slow turtle eater, and have always been skinny. So fast forward to now, I've been aware of this damaging habit and have been trying to break it snd slow down. And i can't seem to do it. I've tried chewing longer, and have no patience for that. Tried chopsticks too, but not everything can be eaten with them, tried doing other things, like reading, watching videos, just forcing myself to slow down and not shove food in my mouth as fast. Idk, for some reason it tastes better and /or i have no patience for this. Not giving up though. I find that having someone next to me who eats slowly is most effective. Because not only we have conversations (which makes them eat even slower, how that's even possible, lol?), but it reminds me that i still will be at the table for a while, so i better have some food left on my plate for that.

middlehaitch

Try having multi courses with a short break between.

Even if it means breaking your meal in two (2nd half kept warm in oven or wherever)

Or at least have an appetizer, that is why they were invented, to stimulate the appetite and signal fullness.

This can be a savoury drink, a small soup, salad, or anything else that is low cal.
10 min later have your meal.

I have always found going out for a multi course meal where there are rests/conversation gaps between courses means I can’t eat as much.

Shame because it is usually expensive, tasty, and I sometimes can’t fit in my fav course, dessert.

In the UK they think I wolf down my food; in Canada they think I eat at a snails pace.

Cheers, h.

Danp

I'm curious as to why?

Why do you want to eat your food slower? What are you expecting to happen from eating slower? What benefits do you think will come from eating slower?

I guess if eating fast give you indigestion or reflux then it might help...

Cahgetsfit

I'm a gobbler too! Especially if i'm hungry! It's like I don't even chew, I just shove the food in my mouth and down my gullet.

I find that the hungrier I get the faster I eat, so I really try to eat more often now - I've become accustomed to eating 4 solid meals a day so that as soon as I start to feel peckish it's already time to eat again.

During my work week I eat 2 meals at my desk, and I have found that that has helped me to slow down because people will come in to talk to me, or the phone will ring, or I'll have to answer an email or something.

If I'm at home I usually read or watch something - but that can be good or bad. Generally makes no real difference to my eating speed I don't think.

It's hard. I try to slow down too every so often, when I am reminded of how you should eat slowly and blah blah blah.

QueenofCaffeine4Life

Danp wrote: »

I'm curious as to why?

Why do you want to eat your food slower? What are you expecting to happen from eating slower? What benefits do you think will come from eating slower?

I guess if eating fast give you indigestion or reflux then it might help...

In answer... because I feel I take in my food at such a pace that I don't even enjoy it. I also eat so fast that, as others have said, I don't feel satisfied when I am done with my portion. I will have eaten my protein bar in a few bites and not even known I have eaten it----if I were not tracking each time I eat.
Its a mindset.

Plus eating fast is not good for the digestive tract. Causes gas and bloating.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS!!

cbstewart88

I have been a fast eater all of my life. I think it stems from when I was a kid - and I just wanted to wolf down my meals so I could go back outside and play. I know it's not the best habit, but I have come to the point in my life where I have to pick my battles, and this just isn't one of them....

Duck_Puddle

QueenofCaffeine4Life wrote: »

Danp wrote: »

I'm curious as to why?

Why do you want to eat your food slower? What are you expecting to happen from eating slower? What benefits do you think will come from eating slower?

I guess if eating fast give you indigestion or reflux then it might help...

In answer... because I feel I take in my food at such a pace that I don't even enjoy it. I also eat so fast that, as others have said, I don't feel satisfied when I am done with my portion. I will have eaten my protein bar in a few bites and not even known I have eaten it----if I were not tracking each time I eat.
Its a mindset.

Plus eating fast is not good for the digestive tract. Causes gas and bloating.

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS!!

Just to back this up-mindful eating (not “intuitive”) was a big part of my binge eating disorder treatment. When I binged. I was entirely disconnected, eating in hiding, not tasting or even really all that aware of what was happening. Even when I wasn’t binging, I still wasn’t really all that involved or in tune with my eating. I was watching Tv, reading, or just thinking about everything else. I couldn’t tell you what anything tasted like or possibly even what I just ate.

Eating mindfully-always-has transformed the way I interact with food and makes being in the moment and in the experience the norm (so the actual process of consuming food during a binge now feels very “off”).

For people who may be prone to binges or zoned out eating, it can be a complete game changer.

I’m not implying OP (or anyone else) has binge issues-I had a lot of the same disconnected experiences when I wasn’t binging. Eating mindfully (most of the tactics listed in this thread to slow down are ways to eat mindfully-being in the moment) can really help that.

Plus all the other stuff she said.

QueenofCaffeine4Life

@Duck_Puddle can you give me your own personal tips? Things that you did to help you?