Any tips on chewing slowly?

[B.Annie 290]

Seems like a no brainer, but I'm having difficulty remembering to chew slowly and thoroughly when eating. I am preop and just trying to get into the habit now. I find that food loses its appeal when it's chewed to the point of purée consistency so I have a lifelong habit of taking bigger bites and swallowing it all at once after chewing a few times. I believe it's a texture thing so I'm trying to get my brain beyond the thought of chewing until puréed things like salad, chicken, and anything else that my brain feels is gross to be chewed "too much".

I recognize I have to change around the entire way I eat things from sizes of bites to how to chew and swallow bits at a time.

Anyone have experience with this type of aversion and have any tips?

HW: 328 (02/22/17)

SW: TBD

CW: 292

[Jill_Me 100]

Feeling sick as hell after eating should help you remember to chew slowly. That's what did it for me. Also with the not drinking until after 30 min.

[Kearner 26]

I have a hard time remembering to slow down too..... but as jill_me said - getting sick after helps !
Ive thrown up on 2 different occasions because I ate to fast.
Sometimes I just feel completely normal and. I start eating faster...... it's tough but not wanting to get sick is definitely a great deterrent!

[Irish Girl in NW 20]

Same here. I am on soft foods and although I have not thrown up, I have ate too fast and just felt awful---like someone was kneading my stomach like a making a loaf of bread. I try and take 30 to 45 mins to eat....it's not fun to keep running to the microwave to keep warming my little portion up but better than feeling like a Mac truck ran over my Stomach! It's a learning process for sure!

[kimberb 323]

Try putting down your eating utensil down between bites. This has helped me. It makes me more aware of how I am eating.

[B.Annie 290]

Thanks everyone. It's weird to say, but I look forward to negative consequences when I mess up. I believe it will help me stay on track while I try to perfect this slow eating thing.


HW: 328 (02/22/17)
SW: TBD
CW: 288

Pounds disowned to date: 40

[sleevinpops 303]

This is probably the most difficult to do. I have had (regrettably) been sick twice from eating too fast. While it was not pleasant, it did help me focus on slowing down. Kimberly is right, just put down the utensils in between, and you may focus more on what's in your mouth than the next bite.

[gryffen 176]

We have a saying we use to help us remember to slow down.

20/20/20

Chew for 20 secs
Wait 20 secs before another bite.
Meal should last no more than 20 minutes (too much on plate!)

Sent from my HTC One M9 using BariatricPal mobile app

[MCE1205 47]

After a year post RNY I still eat too fast. I chew food but just eat fast, always have.

[Pistolkisstal 17]

Ugh I'm five weeks out of bypass and idk what it is but this week has been rough on the eating I've thrown up almost every day this week and I feel like I'm taking my time but idk if I'm taking enough time at work and I feel like when I start feeling since I have an anxiety attack and it just makes it worst.

[cb750 5]

Don't count on discomfort to curb your eating. Sooner or later your body will adjust.

Here's what I do:

1. Take a 2 oz bite.
2. Put the fork or food down and do not put anything else in your mouth.
3. Take a long time to chew. Chew it completely. should take like 20-30 seconds.
4. After your mouth is empty do not take another bite until after about 10-20 seconds.
5. Repeat.

After about 5 or so bites shove the food aside for a while and come back to it after reading something or talking with someone or watching TV.

Also while you eat keep asking yourself "why am I eating", "why do I have anxiety" over and over and over. Also enjoy the food. Obese people LOVE to pound down, I did. Pounding down is like 80% of the eating disorder.

Also don't drink while eating.

[lf1227 129]

Don't count on discomfort to curb your eating. Sooner or later your body will adjust.

Here's what I do:

1. Take a 2 oz bite.
2. Put the fork or food down and do not put anything else in your mouth.
3. Take a long time to chew. Chew it completely. should take like 20-30 seconds.
4. After your mouth is empty do not take another bite until after about 10-20 seconds.
5. Repeat.

After about 5 or so bites shove the food aside for a while and come back to it after reading something or talking with someone or watching TV.

Also while you eat keep asking yourself "why am I eating", "why do I have anxiety" over and over and over. Also enjoy the food. Obese people LOVE to pound down, I did. Pounding down is like 80% of the eating disorder.

Also don't drink while eating.

Good points! But I am confused by the 2 oz bite- 2 oz is what my whole meal should weigh lol

[Katriena 70]

Maybe cb750 meant "tiny" and not "2 oz". :-)


RNY 14 April 2017
SW: 295 lb / 134 kg
GW: 187 lb / 85 kg (I'll see when I get there)

[cb750 5]

3 hours ago, lf1227 said:

Good points! But I am confused by the 2 oz bite- 2 oz is what my whole meal should weigh lol

Yeah sorry. Tiny. But not a mouth full. A half fork full.

[Julie norton 2,850]

This is one of my hardest lessons. Even years out. I get hungry and proceed too fast. Sometimes it won't stay down. Then I am even hungrier... work in progress