Keeping a Food and Exercise Journal: Does it Really Help with Weight Loss?

According to an article published on WebMD.com, keeping a food journal can help you to lose weight. Create a food and exercise journal and you could be on your way to dropping the pounds. While it is a great notion to write down every food and drink you consume throughout the day and every exercise you do, is it feasible to stick with it?

While it is possible to stick with it, it may be difficult to do so unless you make a full commitment to it. You could be tempted to cheat and "accidentally" forget to write a cookie down. There is also the possibility that you will be completely devoted to it at first and slowly give it up a little more each day. If you stick with it, be honest, and keep track of everything, it can end up being one of the best things you do for yourself.

You need a certain amount of calories per day to lose weight depending on your current height, weight and age. Keeping track of what I was eating every day helped me to realize that I was not consuming enough calories and that I was severely lacking on protein. You can look at the labels of what you eat all day long, but you cannot get as good of a sense of what you are actually putting into your body until it is all right in front of you.

It is best to find what system works best for you. Some people prefer to use technology to help with keeping track of their food and exercise; others need to write it down immediately on paper so they do not forget. Personally, I use gyminee.com. I can do a search for the foods I eat and the nutrition information is already on there. When I put in an exercise, it will calculate how many calories I have burned. Combined with the slew of other information and help available, it has been a huge asset.

When you keep track of everything, it forces you to be honest with yourself. It can also help bring to light some problem areas you did not know existed, for example, maybe you do not eat enough carbohydrates or calories. Keeping track of your exercise can also be a huge motivator. When you realize how little, or how many, calories you burn during a single exercise, it can give you the push you need to do more of it. Without keeping track, it is very easy to assume that what you are doing is enough. You may also want to take pictures of your body progress and put them in the journal as well. They can be used as a motivator and push you in the right direction.

If you are having a problem losing weight, you should consider keeping a food and exercise journal. Even if you are just trying to maintain your weight, the journal can help keep you on track and help you avoid putting on extra pounds. The food and exercise journal can be what you need to help you manage your goals and lose the weight for good.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20080708/keeping-food-diary-helps-lose-weight

www.gyminee.com