Keeping a food journal

re08scue

The following is an article I found online. Nothing new here; just confirmation that we're all on the right track by keeping a record of what we eat. MFP has been a very valuable tool for me: I'm 1.5 lbs away from goal. woohoo!!


It is the biggest pain in the butt for most personal trainers because clients that don't do this usually don't see the results they desire. I am referring to the dreaded food journal. It is No. 1 on my list of priorities for every client who is serious about getting results.

Those who just want to exercise and work hard a few times per week but won't do this simply do not see major changes in their body fat levels.

What is it about keeping a food journal that makes it so important?

Let's start with the fact that most research on the topic of weight loss will tell you keeping a food journal is critical. This is not just me speaking from experience.

Keeping a food journal forces you to pay attention to everything you eat. Ideally, the journal should also list how much and at what time you ate your meals and snacks.

I have had hundreds of people come to me to lose weight and tell me with a straight face that their diet is not the problem, that all they need to do is exercise. I usually tell them they need to wake up and be honest with themselves. Once they have taken their heads out of the sand, the conversation will turn to starting a food journal.

Writing down what you are eating creates an awareness of what you are actually doing. Most people grossly underestimate the calories they take in on a daily basis.

The discipline of keeping a journal also gives you a reference point for improvement. This can be reviewed and an action plan for improvement can be developed along with the opportunity for someone else to educate you on what you can change.

If someone knows that they will be held accountable by writing down what they eat, they are less likely to make a bad food choice. This is really evident when someone else is reviewing their journal on a regular basis.

I have worked with clients who went months without keeping a food journal and without losing weight. Often the first week they keep a journal they drop two to five pounds. It just flat out works!

If you don't like writing things down there are tons of apps out there for smartphones and online resources. One of my clients even takes pictures of all food before eating it.

As usual, if you are looking for an easy, comfortable way to be healthy it's not out there. This stuff takes discipline, but anyone can do it. If you are ready to make the change, start a food journal. If you are not ready, then don't come crying to me because your clothes don't fit or your doctor just put you on cholesterol medication.

Mike Bates is a certified personal trainer and teaches kinesiology at the University of Windsor.

© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

afigueroa_pr

I attribute my success on tracking everything I eat! It really is a great tool!

tigertchr23

:happy:

agthorn

Those who just want to exercise and work hard a few times per week but won't do this simply do not see major changes in their body fat levels.

SO TRUE. I just posted my progress in my blog area after 6 months on MFP. My "before" picture is actually a picture from last June right before I did a sprint triathlon. I was running, biking, and swimming several times a week and definitely fitter than I had been previously, but I still looked the same because I ate like crap and didn't keep a food log. I only saw results visually once I started tracking my calories (and lifting weights).