Our bodies require a minimum number of calories to simply get us through the day. Start by determining the approximate number of calories you need to sustain your current weight. Of course, weight loss requires a balance between decreasing your caloric intake and increasing your exercise (or caloric expenditure) but our focus here is weight management. It is important to fuel our bodies and to get the calories we need to sustain basic function.

Keeping a "journal" of your daily good intake and exercise routines is a great way to keep tabs on your progress. This can be an eye-opening experience but it will pay off. This first step in weight managment is to find out what you are eating and drinking. Armed with this information, you can make better choices and make small changes to maintain where you are at or to even lose weight. Getting into the habit of tracking can be tedious, but it's well worth the effort; and it does get easier! Be honest about what you eat and how much you eat. Be consistent in your note-taking/journaling. Include the "extras" ... condiments, taste-testing, snacks, etc.

Spend this week tracking your food intake and plan out your exercises.