91 Immutable Laws of Weight Loss

# 60 - Law of Eating Slowly

When eating, slow down. It takes about 20 minutes to feel full so if you slow your eating you will feel full and not eat as much.

Some tips are to:

Put your knife and fork down after cutting and taking a bite
Chew your food fully and slowly
Pause between bites
Take a minute between each bite, use a stop watch
Take smaller bites
Take a sip of zero calorie beverage between bites
Feel the texture and taste with your tongue
Enjoy the taste of each bite and focus on it
Use your tongue to clear all the food left over from the previous bite before taking the next one
Have a contest to finish last, others don�t have to know
I sometimes do the George Costanza^* when eating a protein bar. I eat it with a knife and fork.
I freeze protein bars to make them harder to eat too quickly
I force myself to drink a glass of water for every protein bar I eat so I can�t eat too many at a time
I time myself eating my meal and try to eat as slow as possible

When eating with others, be the slowest eater. Pay attention to the speed of others and go slower. Make it a contest in your own mind as to who eats the slowest.

If you�re sharing an appetizer, eat slower than others, you�ll eat less and they�ll eat more.

If you go for pizza with someone and they order two slices and you order one, have them cut your slice in half. Then eat one half with your friend�s first slice and the other half with your friend�s second slice.

Eating quickly is what your body wants to do. In the past animals or people would come and want your food.

Eating slowly is a habit you create. The first step is to be aware of it. The second is to try it and the third is to keep repeating until you don�t think about it and do it automatically.

Time your meals and have a contest to exceed your previous time.

* From Seinfeld http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxB-H6f3crY