Weight Loss Support Give and get support here!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 08-28-2008, 12:14 PM   #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Wifey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 369

S/C/G: 223/213/199

Height: 5'6"

Default Do you think...

you eat too fast?

My entire life I have always seemed to finish eating before everyone else in my family, which now includes DH.

I've tried the "make sure you chew each bite at least 20-30 times before swallowing" but that just gets annoying.

If you used to eat too fast...how did you slow yourself down in order to really enjoy what you're eating?

TIA ladies!
Wifey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2008, 12:24 PM   #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 4,445

S/C/G: 237/165.8/130

Height: 5'4"

Default

I used to eat too fast, yeah.

Part of it was how I ate - in front of the TV or while in the car or while at my desk.
Part of it was .. I dunno exactly ... greed? But not quite greed. I guess the same reason I'd eat a whole pizza or a whole bag of chips at a sitting. The "fear" that if I didn't eat it now, I might not get more later?
Part of it was programming from my job - when I'm shooting, I often dont' have time to sit down for a meal, so I grab what I can and eat on the run.

Now, I try to make each meal a *meal*. I'm not saying I'm always able to, but when I can I do the following:

I make sure I put food on a plate or a bowl. I don't eat a sandwich while standing over the sink or spoon somthing out of the container while standing in front of the fridge. Part of that is that I measure and weigh everything I eat now, so I weigh out one serving, put it on a plate, and then sit down with the plate and eat.

I try to eat meals at the table as often as I can. That means a placemat. A plate. A knife and fork. A glass of water or wine (or both). A cloth napkin.

A trick you can use other than the chewing each bite a dozen times, is to set your knife and fork DOWN between bites. I take a bite, and set my fork down. Take sip of water or wine. Then pick the fork back up. When you're not holding on to your fork and shoveling food in, it's easier to go slow!

.
PhotoChick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2008, 12:29 PM   #3  
Senior Member
 
alinnell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 10,823

S/C/G: 173/in progress/140ish

Height: 5'8"

Default

Guilty as charged. I'm always the first done. It's bad, especially if there are seconds sitting around! I try to go slower, but dang the food just tastes too good and I want to eat it!

Yeah, putting the fork down between bites is a GREAT idea--wish I could remember that one!
alinnell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2008, 04:18 PM   #4  
carinna
 
carinna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: California
Posts: 539

Default

Only if I've waited too long to eat and I'm starving. Then I feel sick, even if I ate a healthy meal/portion.
carinna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2008, 04:22 PM   #5  
Future Glamazon
 
Apple Cheeks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: California
Posts: 684

S/C/G: 254/198/170

Height: 6'2"

Default

Once upon a time I was the person who inhaled my food and would be finished long before anyone else.

It's odd, but I remember for me that the taste of certain food just drove me crazy. It was like I had some odd food lust, and I just had to eat everything very quickly. I can't really explain it any better. I just had to eat it all now.

Now, the opposite is true. I am normally the last person eating, and I often find myself apologizing for it!

It took some time, but I was able to retrain myself by using methods I'm sure you've heard before:

* I set my fork (or spoon) down between every single bite.

* I chewed at least 20 times for most things.

* While eating, I would take the time to really think about what I was eating-- how it looked, how it felt in my mouth, how it tasted, how did it smell before I took a bite, and so on.

* I made sure I was not eating while distracted: that meant no TV, music, reading, phone conversations, nada. I concentrated on my food and eating it, and that's it.



I no longer follow those little rules, but I don't Hoover my food up anymore, either. If I ever find myself eating too quickly again, then I would return to those strategies. (Doubtful I will, though, since it's been about 10 years now that I've been eating slower.)
Apple Cheeks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 09:12 AM   #6  
Senior Member
 
aphil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,411

S/C/G: 233.9/143/160

Height: 5'7"

Default

The whole chewing 20-30 times in each bite thing-I think that rule really shouldn't be a rule...simply because it might work for steak...but not so well for yogurt or mashed potatoes.

I think the big thing for me, is not so much how many times I chew, but to actually slow down and TASTE the food properly. Something that really helped me with this, was when I first got into wine tasting.

I learned to slow down, to smell it, and notice the small nuances and things in the smell. To notice the feel of the wine (or food) on my tongue. (Is it silky, smooth, harsh, etc. in the mouth?) Slow down a bit and properly enjoy your food or drink to the maximum. You don't have to chew it so much, but keep it in your mouth long enough to get the hints and bit of flavors that come out in it.

If I bought a $30 bottle of wine, or a premium SINGLE truffle from a gourmet chocolatier, and just slammed it down, it literally would be wasting it.

There is a big difference between eating/drinking something, and actually tasting it.

For instance, if you have a Little Debbie "Zebra Cake" snack cake. If you really slow down and taste it, you probably won't ever eat one again. The white coating tastes like WAX, and leaves a waxy film on the palate.

Last edited by aphil; 08-30-2008 at 09:13 AM.
aphil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 09:32 AM   #7  
Little Miss Random
 
sh3l5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: West Midlands, UK
Posts: 1,810

Height: 5 ft 6

Default

i always finish sooner nowadays....
but thats because my portion of food is half the size of everybody elses....
either that or because i always leave some....
sh3l5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 09:56 AM   #8  
Skinny cow in the making!
 
Jadeybaby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: U.K
Posts: 323

S/C/G: 193/149/126

Height: 5'4

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by aphil View Post
There is a big difference between eating/drinking something, and actually tasting it.
That's so true.

I also used to eat fast, but now I find I'm usually the last finished at the table because I actually taste my food and try really enjoy what I am eating.

Last edited by Jadeybaby; 08-30-2008 at 09:57 AM.
Jadeybaby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 10:59 AM   #9  
Ilene the Bean
 
Ilene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,538

Default

My whole family eats too fast, WAY too fast!!

When we're out I try to eat slower but DH and I are still the first ones done, I get embarrassed about it too...
Ilene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 11:31 AM   #10  
Senior Member
 
i am still trying's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 201

S/C/G: 150/see ticker/135

Height: 5'7''

Default

I'm the same as sh315. I usually do finish first but I think it's because my portions are smaller. The issue comes when there is other food around to eat while the others are eating.
i am still trying is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 02:52 PM   #11  
Senior Member
 
Chele615's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,760

S/C/G: 250/173.2/149

Height: 5'6"

Default

I eat way too fast!!! I blame it on the fact that where I work, we get 20 minutes for lunch everyday. And that 20 minutes is not taking into account having to walk back to your classroom and, of course, you run into ten people on the way there...haha. But it's almost like we've been conditioned there to scarf down the food so that we have enough time to eat and do 18 other things. Oh the joy of being a teacher

I have noticed though that when I do deliberately take my time to eat and eat slowly, I feel much more full afterwards. I have been trying to break myself out of the "eating quick" cycle, but it's definitely a hard habit to break since I've been teaching there for 7 years.
Chele615 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2008, 06:45 PM   #12  
Ufi
Persistence
 
Ufi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 790

S/C/G: 220/ticker/140

Height: 5-4

Default

I now tend to eat slower than others around me. When I find myself eating too fast, not really taking the time to enjoy the food (and I do love food!), it's a sign to me that my focus is on something else and I may be eating for a reason other than nourishment and enjoyment. Then, I try to ask myself what I'm trying to get away from with they way I'm eating.

Try thinking of the food as you eat it. Maybe pretend you're a food critic and have to describe the food you're eating.
Ufi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2008, 02:36 AM   #13  
Member
 
meowies's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Posts: 52

S/C/G: 180/129/110

Height: 5'1"

Default

I've always ate so slow I was the last to finish by at least ten minutes, even when I was a kid. Ever since I met and then married my husband, I eat so much faster now! He eats sooo fast, I feel lonenly finishing alone. I'm trying to eat slower again though. Between each bite I try to make sure to put down my fork, so I take time to chew my food enough. It's hard sometimes though.
meowies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2008, 02:42 AM   #14  
Senior Member
 
JulieJ08's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California
Posts: 7,097

S/C/G: 197/135/?

Height: 5'7"

Default

I actually find it really helps me eat slowly to do something else at the same time. Obvously, if it involves my hands, the better. But even just reading helps. I stop to concentrate on the other activity, and take much longer to finish my meals, and I *do* find that makes me fuller on less. Internet surfing works pretty well for me .
JulieJ08 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:12 AM.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.