Help! Eating Too Fast!

[LynRN 294]

This seems silly to me, but I'm struggling to space my meals over 20 minutes. I'm a nurse and am used to eating quickly. Anybody have any tips to help me pace myself? I'm 3 months out and was doing better in the beginning, but now that I'm eating real (good) food, it's harder. Old habits die hard. Thoughts?

[Kiap82 239]

I am having the same problem!!! I eat in like 8 minutes.

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

No magic trick to this one. I found If I sit back in my chair, more leisurly, I eat a little slower. I make myself put my fork down.

It is a habit, pure and simple, we need to re-train ourselves. Good luck, don't give up!

[missjenny 43]

I also had this problem.I found setting a timer helped.

[LIL RED 62]

I have the same problem

[marfar7 1,533]

I learned to eat fast in Army basic training. If u didn't eat in 5 minutes, u didn't eat. Spent 3 1/2 yrs vomiting about 50% of my meals (post lapband) because I ate too fast. Since being sleeved (almost 8 mths) I still eat fast. My husband is always in a hurry so I tend to want to keep up with him. I plan on working on eating slower. Some habits are hard to break...

Good luck

[pinksjo1 137]

Try counting (in your head) your chews...30 per bite helps slow you down and you really get to taste the food. Now that I do this, I know I have never really enjoyed what I was eating because I never chewed it. Good luck!

[webbRN78 72]

I had the same problem. There is an app you can download called "eat slower" or something along those lines. It really helped me in the beginning.

[Carlotta1 401]

I like the idea of a timer that was posted above. . I too eat fast. With the timer we can learn what eating 20 minutes really is like.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

I second the recommendation for the Eat Slower app. I set mine to chime every 45 seconds and then I am allowed a bite. So simple in concept but it is very effective.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

I put my fork down and fold my arms and chew and chew....1/2 way through I put my fork down and leave it there for a couple of minutes. I try to listen to my sleeve to see if it is doing okay with what I have already eaten..Sometimes I push the food away after that because I don't want anymore.....sometimes I eat a few bites more with the fork putting down thing and the arms folded thing..It works for me!

[michelle68 46]

I am thinking about trying these...or something like it.

http://mydietdinnerware.com/

[RebeccaRN 27]

I bought the tiny utensils that are known as tasting spoons and forks from Amazon. They force you to take smaller bites because they only hold a small amount.

[andreamy7 55]

I struggle with this as well. I try to count or play games, like if a show is on in the bacgeound I won't eat next bite.until a certain actor speaks. Or, I will ask my dining companion a question and not take a bite until they are finished answering. I aldo sometimes wait until the scene is over or they switch the subject...silly, but I eat in front of the TV alot. I do alot better when less stressed as I am a fukl nlown stress eater.

[macman 603]

This is a challenge for me. I do use the smaller forks and spoons as well as small plates. The "eating slower " app has been a big help to me!