I just read an article at Science Daily.com (sorry, I don't know how to do links) that said people could learn more self-control by counting how many times they swallow when they're eating. If it works it would be worth the effort. I'm going to give it a try--especially when I'm eating something tempting. If you give it a try, why don't you post your results here. We can do our own little experiment.

Huh... so, certain amounts of certain things have a certain number of times it should be swallowed? Or is the goal to swallow as many times during a meal as possible, to ensure eating slowly?

It didn't go into detail about that. I think counting just keeps you aware of how much you're eating.

I have heard of counting how many times you chew but never how many times you swallow. Sounds difficult to me.

For me it would remove the pleasure of eating.

F.

^
agree

I wouldn't like that, when I eat, I try to savor the moment and focus on the food instead of frivolous things like counting swallows or chewing. My full focus is on the food and the flavors and the aromas. At least I try to have it that way as much as I can.

I tried it when I ate some chips that I hadn't planned to. It does help to keep you aware of how much you're eating. I don't think it's something I would want to do all the time. Eating should be a pleasure, and counting would probably take away some of that pleasure. When I decide to eat something that may not be the wisest of choices, counting could help to keep me from overindulging. However, I know it wouldn't work during a binge--at least for me. I don't think when I'm bingeing, so counting would be out of the question.

Maybe that was the scientists' point? If eating isn't pleasurable for some, they wouldn't compulsively do it? *shrugs*

Maybe it was. But I, for one, don't want to remove the pleasure of eating from my life. I don't espouse the utilitarian "food as fuel" philosophy. I'd like my life to contain both "eat to live" and "live to eat" moments!

F.