DOCUMENTING YOUR DIET: HOW AND WHY TO KEEP A FOOD DIARY

DOCUMENTING YOUR DIET:

HOW AND WHY TO KEEP A FOOD DIARY





Americans expect results, and they expect them fast. Perhaps that's why fad diets and home gyms that promise miracle weight loss are so popular. With all the hype surrounding food diaries, they might seem as though they're just another fad. So the question remains, does recording your food intake actually help you lose weight?

Those who kept a food diary five days a week lost twice the weight of those who didn't, and, most importantly, they kept it off.

What is a food diary?

A food diary, or food journal, is similar to a regular diary or journal. Instead of writing down everything a food diary, or food journal, is similar to a regular diary or journal. Instead of writing down everything you did that day, the entry consists of what you ate during the day. The most effective diaries are the most comprehensive. An effective entry would include the food or drink consumed, the time it was eaten, the amount eaten, calories, and grams of fat. Even simply writing down the foods you eat in a day and your daily activity can improve your weight loss that day, the entry consists of what you ate during the day.



5 Reasons Why Food Diaries Work



1.Awareness. In your first week of keeping your diary you may have an "Ah-Ha!" moment. You may be surprised by the amount you eat and the quantity of calories. This moment may help you swing your diet into gear.

2. Monitoring. Your food diary allows you to keep track of calories and fat intake, two crucial elements of your diet. By monitoring how much goes into your body, you may be more compelled to keep these numbers low.

3. Focuses. Physically recording what you eat will focus your food choices. If you ate well all day, you may not want to taint your record by adding cheesecake to the list. It will help you make sure your diet is balanced and can curb any desire to binge. Again, this aspect relates back to the accountability aspect of the diary.

4. Progress. A great moment in the food journaling process is seeing how far you've come. A successful food diary will have entries each day that look better than the days, weeks, or months before it.

5. Reinforcement. Keeping a food diary reinforces your commitment to a healthy diet and lifestyle. Every time you make an entry, you make a promise to yourself to keep on with your healthy intent.