Eating too fast and too many calories

I just got back from lunch and at my whole lunch in less than 20 minutes...I inhaled it! And now I am full which is NOT good! How do you slow yourself down? What tips do you have to help me not inhale my food. I don't enjoy eating it is like a chore to me so I am not sure why this happens. This is the first time I have had that uncomfortable feeling in my chest...I don't like it! Also how many calories are good for an RNY'er per day?

My calories limit is 700-900. I'm a year out, but my nut set these limits for ME based on my goal and beginning weight. Talking to your nut would the best way to find out what you should be eating and what your limits are.

To get used to eating slowly, I started at the beginning using a baby spoon. This helped me take small bites. I also ate alone in my room for the first few weeks so that I could concentrate on eating with no distractions. I would take a small bite, chew thoroughly, and put the spoon down completely and wait a minute or so before picking up the spoon again. It just takes practice and time to get used to it. Eating with others and talking or watching TV can make you forget to eat slowly. It happens to me too when I get too distracted during a meal.

Good luck.
Karen

out of curiosity...why so low on calories at one year out?  

Because that is what works for me and I feel completely satisfied with that amount. I wont consider raising the calories until I am through with the weight loss or at least at goal.
Karen

wow...looks like you have lots of willpower, thats great : )  somedays I wish I could feel satisfied with that amount, i guess Im still a pig.. lol

i wish that eating was a chore for me...lol...i do enjoy eating..hence why I ended up 355 pounds, : )  how far out are you from surgery? 

4 months out.

At four months out you should probably be getting something like 800 calories per day.  That can really vary from person to person, though, depending on your activity level and your metabolism.  How many calories have you been getting?  Are you losing well?  Your dietician can probably give you better advice about how many calories to eat than we can here, just because there are so many factors that come into play.

How  to eat slower?  Well, first of all, I normally take about 20 minutes to eat a meal and I don't think I inhale my food.  I eat kinda slow and I chew really well.  So I don't think it's necessarily a big problem if you ate your lunch in less than 20 minutes.  How big was your lunch and how much less than 20 minutes did it take you to eat it?

But ways to eat slower include using a small spoon or fork, putting your spoon or fork down on the table between each bite, and making sure you chew each bite to mush before you swallow.

Kelly

2 years out and still struggle with this - unfortunately it takes time to change 51 years of eating like a little piggy at a troff.
small plate
put down fork in between small bites

Shera. Honey. PLEASE RELAX. You have lost almost half your excess weight in just four months. You are FINE. Please, pretty please, step back, breathe mindfully and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. It's okay.

Do you suffer from this degree of anxiety about other areas of your life, too? If so, you really should consider getting into treatment for it. I am not being sarcastic.