I know you guys were starting to doubt my ability to eat slowly at all. Don't feel bad - I don't blame you, as most test methods in this experiment have been unsuccessful. Just when I was starting to lose all hope, my final method in the eating slowly experiment, the 20-minutes method came along and slowed me down.
Results.
Well, what can I say? I'm a scientist and I like numbers. I immediately was drawn to the exactness of this method. Time 20 minutes, eat slowly enough. I think I knew from the beginning that I could do this method and do it well.
Despite the fact that timing your meals in front of others can be a slightly awkward thing to do, this method made me completely aware of my eating pace and was...successful. For the first couple of weeks I literally started my stop watch and the beginning of every meal and continuously checked my pace as I ate. The goal was usually to be about halfway through my meal at the 10-minute mark. Many meals lasted slightly less than 20 minutes and some meals lasted longer, but overall this method completely re-vamped my eating pace. Realizing that I can't carry around a stop watch forever, I switched to checking the wall clock at the beginning of each meal and gauged my eating that way.
If I finished my meal too early, which was inevitable for some smaller meals or certain meal types, I still made myself sit with my empty plate until my timer went off before heading back to the kitchen for considering seconds. Sometimes this pause revealed to me that I was still hungry and I was able to gauge and satisfy this need without acting like a ravaging kitchen-invading beast. And sometimes this revealed that I was completely satisfied. Both realizations are life changing.
This method, I think, could be my eating slowly saving grace.
If I finished my meal too early, which was inevitable for some smaller meals or certain meal types, I still made myself sit with my empty plate until my timer went off before heading back to the kitchen for considering seconds. Sometimes this pause revealed to me that I was still hungry and I was able to gauge and satisfy this need without acting like a ravaging kitchen-invading beast. And sometimes this revealed that I was completely satisfied. Both realizations are life changing.
This method, I think, could be my eating slowly saving grace.
Have you tried timing your meals? Comment on this post and/or e-mail me (mylessseriouslife@gmail.com) with your thoughts on the subject. This wraps up the last method in this experiment! Look for one final experiment 'discussion and conclusions' post in the coming weeks!
I have never tried timing them, but this is a cool idea! I think it would really make me stop and enjoy what I am eating!
ReplyDeleteit really does the trick. seems a bit burdensome at first, but once you get in the habit - it is no big deal!
DeleteI keep trying to eat slower but I fail so bad. I am getting better but I usually have to have the tv or something on to eat slower.
ReplyDeletei am notoriously bad too! i am not one to sit in silence with my meals - so if the tv helps you do it i'm all for that strategy!
DeleteWaiting a longer period before seconds definitely does help - I'm great at hoovering a full plate of food down, grabbing more, then regretting it later - this seems like it would really help curb that.
ReplyDeleteyes, i hate when i cross 'the line'. i have no qualms with going back for seconds, if i need them. but when they take me to a place of stuffed that is not good!
DeleteCongrats on finding the "right" method for yourself! It's actually my method of choice, too, along with smaller plates and small spoons (when eating breakfast/dessert).
ReplyDeleteFor my most calorie dense meal of the day (which is my evening Chocolate Banana Oat Bran with almond butter) I aim for 25-30 minutes (because apparently I'm weird and need longer to feel full). Reading the newspaper and doing a sudoku while eating has helped me a lot. When I'm really hungry or eating with others, though, I tend to eat much faster.
yes. if i wait until i'm starving i will scarf 9 times out of 10!
DeleteInteresting! I keep trying to eat slower and it's just not happening. Not that I've been taking it very seriously, mind you. I like that you may have found something that works for you!
ReplyDeletehaha! yeah apparently it is something that is really difficult to do! i'm learning this...
DeleteI'm so glad you had success with this one - this is the one I have found the best as well. It's easier to pace yourself when you have company, but when I eat alone I find it's actually better (bad for mindful eating though!) to watch TV or something while I'm eating so I can pace myself with adverts etc. Lol. Terrible for mindful eating, but good for keeping myself on target until it becomes a habit!
ReplyDeleteyes, i agree with this. i often eat and watch tv and eat and blog. it definitely enables you to slow down!
DeleteGreat idea!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's so great! It's good that even if it didn't take you 20 min to eat you still sat at your plate- I bet you found you didn't need to go back for seconds nearly as often! I feel like I should try this one...
ReplyDeleteyes! definitely true! and so many less over-stuffed occasions!
DeleteI've never tried it, so I'm not sure if I eat slow/fast, but I know that sometimes I eat and am hungry while I'm eating but SOOOO too full after. This is a good idea!
ReplyDeleteyippee for finding the best option for you! I think its great you did these trials!
ReplyDelete