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?

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

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!

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

I have the same problem

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

http://mydietdinnerware.com/

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.

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.

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!