Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Speed Eater!!!



Recommended Posts

I've always been a fast eater and I've been trying to find ways to slow it down. I found that the only thing that works for me at the moment is to either talk with someone or get on the internet while eating. This way I have to take several breaks between bites. What do you do? Have you ever had a problem with eating too quickly?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have more of an issue with this when I am alone. Since I am single and live alone then yes I have problems with it. Have you done a eating/food choice seminar through your surgeon? I had to go to 3-4 group therapy sessions with a Psychologist. At our first session they had us take one raisen or dried cranberry and chew the living daylights out of it. What I learned from that exercise was that I tasted that one cranberry way more than I would have a handful. I am preband but I try to take a bite chew it and then put my fork back to pick up more food. This forces me to experience each chew. There are times that I have to mentally remind myself to practice "thoughful eating" or I just rush my lunch along. One of my sisters who has always been the thin one often has waiters reach to take her plate becuase everyone else is done; and even though she still has food they figure she must be done too. I think this is something that I subconsiously learned from my mother. She will jokingly say "Where's the other half of my sandwhich did you eat it?" She eats so fast that the food is gone and she did'nt really enjoy it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was a fast eater. I still kind of struggle with it a bit. But once you get stuck and stuck and stuck I guess you end up "learning." Everyone in my family eats so fast! It's amazing. What I do is take a bite, put the fork down, and try to chew the hell out of it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh yes... I'm at a point where I keep getting stuck and it sucks!!!

I chew my jaw off, however it is not enough time in between bites. I have to basically put the fork down and wait a minute before I take the next bite and chew chew chew chew...

It usually takes me +30 minutes to eat lunch or dinner.

Does it get easier? Or do you still struggle with it?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh yes... I'm at a point where I keep getting stuck and it sucks!!!

I chew my jaw off, however it is not enough time in between bites. I have to basically put the fork down and wait a minute before I take the next bite and chew chew chew chew...

It usually takes me +30 minutes to eat lunch or dinner.

Does it get easier? Or do you still struggle with it?

@angrybaby, Im a fast eater too honey, Im half asian, and my whole asian side eats FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol And I do some of the tricks you do, and I take a bite then i get online or get up move around and do something right quick, then ill go back and take another bite so on and so forth. I also do what another person said on here and that is once you get stuck over and over u tend to learn to slow down, but honestly your trick that u do works better for me aswell. When i go out to dinner with my friends im like a snail, b/c im in the process of feeling the food out to see if its gonna be good to me while im in public..b/c believe it or not even with my friends who are naturally slow eaters im 10x's slower at eating a meal then they are, to the point that its get obvious to the waiter, or other people at the table who aren't aware of my band.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To ahb08 EXACTLY!!!

I do better when I eat with somebody else because I enjoy the sound of my own voice, if you know what I mean. I'll end up spending more time talking and less time trying to focus on eating.

I really don't have a problem focusing on food (content wise) as I do speed wise.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have always been a fast eater. My reason is that if my food is hot, I cant stand to eat it if it gets cold, and vice versa with cold food.

This has been a very big struggle for me too. What I do is try to put my fork down between bites, and of course, all the tricks you all are using helps. Talking, getting online, etc. are all good ways to slow it down.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I too am a fast eater. I have been for all my life. I am having trouble breaking the habbit as well as not drinking with my meals or 30min before or after

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I eat entirely too fast as well. I think it all started for me when my kids were little and I had to hurry up and eat before they woke up or needed something. Well, they are teenagers now and for some reason I just continued eating that way. I was banded on July 8th and get my first fill Aug. 19th...right now I haven't had many problems since my band is empty...but, I know I am definitely going to have to slow it down when I get my fill. It is really something I have to concentrate on though. Hopefully, I can change this bad habit! Good luck to you! =)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am having the same problem,,, 7 weeks for me now and I forget to chew, so for me I play a pogo game when I eat at home, I take a bite then play a hand or talk to a co-player, It has helped me alot! I also have a hard time with needing to drink, I dont, but it is hard.:cursing:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×