Do you hate doing a food journal? Can’t be bothered with keeping track of every morsel that crosses your lips? Well, I have to tell you.
Keeping a food journal works. Being accountable helps you not only lose weight, but makes you aware of why you eat.
I had always started off with the best intentions when keeping a food journal. After a couple of days, it became a big pain. It was hard for me to keep it up. You may feel the same way. But recently I tried again using my FitBit when a friend of mine encouraged me to try again. And it is working. A managed to lose a few pounds while on vacation! You can do this, too.
Every wight loss coach, nutritionist, and food guru I have talked to stresses the importance of keeping a food journal. It keeps you accountable to what you are putting in your mouth. It’s also very helpful to know in what circumstances you reach for food or overeat. Master coach and weight loss expert, Brooke Castillo, suggests we look at the food journal with compassion and curiosity, to learn more about ourselves when we are eating.
I have 3 ways to make keeping a food journal easier.
- Use a good ole’ pen and paper with a little notebook that will fit in your purse or pocket. Don’t worry about calorie counting. Just write it down. Were you celebrating, bored, tired, mad, lonely? Make a note. That’s important to know..
- Take a picture of what you eat, if you don’t feel like writing it down. Ask the same questions.
- Let an app do it for you on your phone or tablet, such as FitBit and MyFitnessPal. I know it is a bit of a hassle, but if you are on your phone, why not make the note there? Most people eat a lot of the same things most days, so once you get the info in there, you can pull it up easily. Don’t worry about calories. This isn’t about calorie counting. It’s about awareness. Or make the entry on your Notes page.
After keeping track for a week, you will probably start to see a pattern. And you can learn to turn whatever situation you are in to one of strength, determination, and healthier choices. You can do this! But you have to start by being honest with yourself.
Need help with weight loss or making healthier choices to feel better? Contact me and I will be glad to talk with you about it. Or leave a comment below. Would love to hear what works for you.
Jane Springer is a certified Life, Wellness and Style Coach who assists women in taking care of themselves, in body, mind and spirit. She coaches women who want to lose weight, avoid diabetes, and feel great. She also helps them thrive after divorce. She also helps them to clear their closets of old clothes and outdated attitudes, so they can shine and feel confident.