I tried doing it by hand, but found I just couldn't' keep up with it because I didn't remember to bring it with me all the time.
Since I work on a computer all day anyway, it's much easier for me to input it into My Daily Plate online.
I also keep a spreadsheet with my daily weigh-ins, my official monthly weigh-ins, my monthly measurements, and any blood work I have done (my own blood glucose measurements, and lab-generated glucose measurements, as well as the odd cholesterol profile). That way I can see at a glance trends in weight, and see that I really AM losing, even when it doesn't feel that way day by day.
I made up my own spreadsheet and print the pages out, 2 pages per week. This allows me space to include my personal objectives (water, exercise, etc.). I keep my pages in a little 25 cent notebook. That way I can go way back to check calorie counts on favorites, see what worked for me previously, look for trends if I'm stalled.
For analyzing my recipes or checking calorie counts and nutritional info I've been using http://nutritiondata.self.com/ It's free, plus it factors in GI loads and how inflammatory the food/recipe is.
I'm self employed, so portability and discretion isn't an issue, so for now the junk-mail-envelope-method is working, lol!
There are so many choices out there. I am going to try a journal by hand. It's funny because my job is working with computers all day long so by the time I am home its very quick....check FB, check phone/email and get some TV shows for download....done. I think I am going to get one of my artist journals going with it this weekend.
I actually write it down in three places, of all things lmao.
I've got a log set up on my computer to record the basics of what I do and eat, that I'll keep as monthly, I bought a fancy journal to handwrite my thoughts and feelings of the day, as well as general progress and my food plan for the next day, and then I've got some special sheets photocopied to make sure I stick to my three hour food plan, and include all of the vegetables/fruit, protein, carbs, fat, and water that I need. Writing all of this down so much is really keeping me focused.
I tried fitday and it was fun for a few days but then i resented the time it took to do it all, so i have a super cutie hard-covered notebook that's small, and has an elastic closure to keep it together once i fill it up - i write down food, feelings, stickers and glue in things from magazines etc. that catch my attention.
I don't know what it is, but I love a nice pen, and nice thick paper and a cute cover LOL it makes me happy!
The old fashioned way - made a spreadsheet and listed food, amount of food, calories etc. and plug in the info. I do it mostly in my head now and it works great!
I am so lowfi! I just use my iphone and its textpad!
I pretty much know the calories in any given food, so I dont have to look it up. Keep a daily record of my food, weight, exercise and every couple weeks my measurements.
I was using sparkpeople.com, but now I'm using my BodyMedia software. So i can see my progress or "potential" progress all in one place. HOWEVER if I have a recipe I need entered I STILL use SparkPeople.com's recipie calculator. <3.
