There was an interesting article about a study on RealAge today. The study showed that those who kept a food journal lost more.
I've been using a food journal for a year now. Not sure how much it's helping me lose, though. Do any of you journal your food (or keep a record in FitDay, which is the same thing, IMHO)? I'd love to hear more about it.
When I first started south beach back in May 07 I kept a food journal that i purchased from a book store and once i joined 3fc in October i stopped doing it and have had no success so i went back on phase 1 Sunday and picked up one of those food journals again so we shall see
I used a journal when I first started also until I felt I had the hang of things. Especially when I went into P2 so I could keep track of what might be my triggers and what had an effect on my weight loss.
I know for a fact when I write all I have eaten. 1. I stay on plan 2. I make better choices. 3. I lose weight it's is so easy to forget you had just a tiny bit of this or that.
I totally believe in using a food journal. I've been doing it since I started back in April. I actually make my own that also keeps track of my sleeping, water intake, exercise. I bubble in how many servings of protein, veggies, fruits, etc....and if I took vitamins that day. It totally helps me to stay on track.
I tracked on Fitday for about 3 months last year. It was just too much work, I've already got my hands full and not enough time, I do not need another complicated task, and that's why I quit doing it in such great detail. But I did feel like I needed some simple way of tracking things, so I made a daily checklist, takes no time at all, but I check off when I have a serving of water, dairy, beans, veggies, fruit, fat, grain, nuts, sweet treats, and a little spot at the bottom to note if I ate something off plan or had a planned treat, etc. For the water, dairy, beans, and veggies, I am tracking to make sure I get enough, and for the fruit, fat, grain, nuts, sweet treats, I track to make sure I don't go over alloted servings.
I've recently been using this journal. My nutritionist recommended it. It's definitely meant for teens, but I only find that obvious when you read the little two-page essay at the beginning of each week. The actual journal is really fantastic--a major focus on positive things (on what you are doing right)--and also a big focus on your goals for each week. You also chart your exercise and whether you met your exercise goals for the week. It's awesome! Not that I care, but the orange part of the cover is a paper wrapper that comes right off, so you actually just end up with a colorful book with "WLC" on the front, which makes it pretty discreet.
I firmly believe that keeping a food journal helps keep me accountable to myself. I am more motivated to stay on track if I know I have to write down my mistakes and actually hold myself responsible.
The same goes for posting here and being accountable to all of you. I am so ashamed when I have to come and post about a recent mistake....
I have the FitDay program on my computer and use it religiously. I even bring it on my laptop on vacation (figured out how to transfer the data file). I know it keeps me accountable because early on I got in the habit of writing absolutely everything that crossed my lips. I also think it's made me healthier because I watch my nutrients now too. I discovered early on that I'm pretty bad about some vitamins and need to watch my intake. Nowadays I even have goals for fat and fiber. It did seem burdensome early on but it's become second nature at this point so I don't even really think about it, I just do it. It's on my list of four things that were must do things for me to be successful.
The Pen is Mightier...
Oh2 (great name!)
