Eating Slower

Natalie511
Natalie511 Posts: 75 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello All,
I am having a little problem...well not really it is a big problem...I eat way too fast...I learned this while working at Hardee's and only getting a 15 minute break once a day...so you had to eat quickly if you want to eat and go to the bathroom in the same 15 minutes...anyways now 15 years later I am still eating that way...
I have gotten the lap-band and it is required to eat slowly....or it hurts like hell and you could throw up...neither is good...so I am looking for ideas on how to unlearn this behavior?....anyone got any suggestions?

Thank you....

Replies

  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    oh geesh I eat like this too. Actually my boyfriend and I both do. We spend most of our time waiting for our food at a restraunt and eating is like 3 minutes! We are starting to remind each other to put our fork down in between bites! It helps some but you really gotta think about it.
  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    Chew your food 20x before swallowing and/or set your utensil down between each bite. I tend to be a fast eater as well and I try to take smaller bites of food and pause between each bite.
  • broadsword7
    broadsword7 Posts: 411 Member
    Hiya, have you tried eating without any distractions, such as TV, computer, or any other thing that would make you multitask instead of slowly enjoying your food? That has made a huge difference for me. If you can find a way to sit down and have a meal in total silence, where you can sit at a table, and actually take time to think about what you are eating as you eat it, I think it would help. For instance, for me, if I am eating a bowl of rice, I take the time to think about how the rice was grown and imagine things about it. Where was it grown? How did it start out? Who enabled it to end up as part of my dinner, and how many stops did it make on its way to my home? I bet you would slow down for sure if you could cut down on any distractions. BTW, I also worked in restaurants, and I know how that conditioning works. I am here to tell you, you can reprogram that behavior!
  • MyNameIsNotBob
    MyNameIsNotBob Posts: 565 Member
    I can't do the "chew your food x times" thing... it would totally gross me out and make me gag.

    I will make a conscious effort to put my fork & knife down between bites, finish chewing a bite before I pick up my utensils again, and maybe take a sip of water between each bite. It helps. Hubby & I are both working on this.
  • Jenn070608
    Jenn070608 Posts: 206 Member
    I seen a show on TLC a couple years ago about making yourself chew each bite of food 20 times before swallowing. You had to actually put your fork down while chewing. I think the goal was you would become so board while eating it would make you consume less(LOL). Seriously, take a few sips of water between bites, that may help.
  • TAWoody
    TAWoody Posts: 261 Member
    I was in the Marine Corps for 5 years so we learned to do everything as fast and efficient as possible. :-) I even catch myself walking in an upright tight position every now and then from all the drilling. As for eating, men's health had a few recommendations to help slow down such as not watching TV when you eat. You usually end up eating more food and eating it faster since you're not paying attention to what's going down the hatch. Another hint that I just thought up would be to leave your food in the kitchen and maybe put 1/3 of your meal on your plate at a time. Then eat at the table and go back for more when you're done. I suppose this would force you to only eat a certain amount at a time and would give you a little break as you get more.
  • jhardenbergh
    jhardenbergh Posts: 1,035 Member
    I chew my meat at least 32 times before swallowing. It takes roughly 20-25 minutes per meal. It takes your brain 20 minutes to realize you are full. This allows you to be satisfied and not that tired feeling most people get after eating a big meal.
  • strbryt
    strbryt Posts: 488 Member
    I have a suggestion that sounds kinda crazy I know but I heard of someone trying it and it worked ofr them. Use chop sticks (if you can) it is harder and takes more time to get your food into your mouth and it will also help you to fill up with less food cause it takes longer.
  • MissbusyLizzie
    MissbusyLizzie Posts: 326 Member
    Maybe try eating with your non-dominant hand? :)
  • Amie_46
    Amie_46 Posts: 60
    Maybe try eating with your non-dominant hand? :)

    Oh my goodness! What a great suggestion. I never thought of this... going to try it out tomorrow :) Thank you!
  • Robin66
    Robin66 Posts: 103
    I still have problems with this too, the dietician at my doctors office trys to teach us to take 30 minutes to eat. I've got it stretched out to 20 minutes now, but 30 is just too long. By the time 30 minutes has passed your food is cold. So I keep it at 20, by chewing slowly and longer. I don't count my bites, but I chew it until it's literally puree'd. I also take breaks so my stomach has time to really feel the food that I'm putting in it and tell me I'm full. Good luck with this, I think this is a struggle that many of us have.
  • Natalie511
    Natalie511 Posts: 75 Member
    Thank you Thank you Thank you....this are awesome ideas....you guys rock...I can't chew my food so many times it does make me gag...but not watching TV or the computer is a really good idea....also the chop stick idea...wonderful..you guys rock...lol
  • jjrb230
    jjrb230 Posts: 1
    I believe eating fast is a real problem, not a small problem; our brain needs about 20 minutes to get the signal that we are satisfied; if we eat too fast we tend too overeat because of the simple fact that we are still hungry. We can be full, even bloated and still be hungry.
    Google "eating slowly"
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