Guest guest Posted January 6, 2003 Report Share Posted January 6, 2003 Keeping a Food Diary Keeping a food diary is a good way of helping you to stick to your healthy eating and exercise plan. Its not so easy to " forget " that you've eaten a chocolate biscuit when you've written it down, and your record may even bring to your attention some habits that you didn't even know you had! Two things are important when keeping a food diary. 1. Although its important to keep in mind how many calories you are consuming while losing weight, inorder to stay slim you really need to be looking to address bad habits and making sure that they don't come back. The more information you jot down, the easier it will be to make this happen. So, as well as listing what you eat, try to record the time, how hungry you were and what you were doing. If you can make a note of your mood and how you were feeling at the time, so much the better. Once you have recognised your cues for eating, you're already well on the way towards a slimmer, healthier body! 2. Its just as important to stick to your healthy eating and exercise plan when you're at target as it is while you're getting there. If you allow those old bad habits to slip back, inevitably the pounds will too. Therefore you might find it helpful to continue to keep a record of your daily food intake and activity levels to help you to maintain your figure. So, why not start today? Its best to keep your diary with you at all times so you don't forget to note everything down – and don't forget to focus on the positives as well as the negatives. That 10 minute walk to the shops is as valid as those chips you stole off your friend's plate, so count it in! Good Luck! (taken from Zest Magazine (uk), slimming diary) So have any of you guys kept a food diary before? Last year i lost half a stone while using one and following the Weightwatchers Pure Points Plan (do you have that, or is it just a UK thing?). I found it very helpful, as it makes such a difference, all those little slip ups suddenly seem more inportant when they're written in black and white, and so i managed to stop making them. I felt very proud looking at my day and seeing only healthy food written down. Does any one have any thoughts on using a diary? Any successes or failures using one before? Laura x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2003 Report Share Posted January 6, 2003 I think that keeping a food diary, losing weight and gaining it back, all the time and mental energy spent on a failing effort, etc., all go to show me that I cannot control food. I need to eat foods that I don't have to control. When I'm drinking alcohol, eating sugar, fats and oils, I experience food cravings that I cannot control. Keeping a food diary is one of the best ways to convince myself of this. On the other hand, when I'm eating raw tomatoes, steamed broccoli, boiled squash, for instance, I don't have to worry about eating too much. I never want to eaat these things when I'm not hungry. In fact, I have to be very hungry to eaat these things. This is the secret to my approach to natural weight loss without dieting and without being hungry. I just eat fruits and vegetables, beans and grains and stay away from all the gourmet stuff. How is your diary coming? Ron , " Laura <child_of_the_80s@h...> " <child_of_the_80s@h...> wrote: > Keeping a Food Diary > > Keeping a food diary is a good way of helping you to stick to your > healthy eating and exercise plan. Its not so easy to " forget " that > you've eaten a chocolate biscuit when you've written it down, and > your record may even bring to your attention some habits that you > didn't even know you had! > Two things are important when keeping a food diary. > > 1. Although its important to keep in mind how many calories you > are consuming while losing weight, inorder to stay slim you really > need to be looking to address bad habits and making sure that they > don't come back. The more information you jot down, the easier it > will be to make this happen. So, as well as listing what you eat, > try to record the time, how hungry you were and what you were > doing. If you can make a note of your mood and how you were feeling > at the time, so much the better. Once you have recognised your cues > for eating, you're already well on the way towards a slimmer, > healthier body! > > 2. Its just as important to stick to your healthy eating and > exercise plan when you're at target as it is while you're getting > there. If you allow those old bad habits to slip back, inevitably > the pounds will too. Therefore you might find it helpful to > continue to keep a record of your daily food intake and activity > levels to help you to maintain your figure. > > So, why not start today? Its best to keep your diary with you at > all times so you don't forget to note everything down – and don't > forget to focus on the positives as well as the negatives. That 10 > minute walk to the shops is as valid as those chips you stole off > your friend's plate, so count it in! > > Good Luck! > > (taken from Zest Magazine (uk), slimming diary) > > > So have any of you guys kept a food diary before? Last year i lost > half a stone while using one and following the Weightwatchers Pure > Points Plan (do you have that, or is it just a UK thing?). I found > it very helpful, as it makes such a difference, all those little > slip ups suddenly seem more inportant when they're written in black > and white, and so i managed to stop making them. I felt very proud > looking at my day and seeing only healthy food written down. > > Does any one have any thoughts on using a diary? Any successes or > failures using one before? > > Laura x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2003 Report Share Posted January 7, 2003 My food diary is coming on quite well Ron. Although i haven't eaten the most healthy diet the last couple of days, the diary has helped me to realise where i have gone wrong. I can see that when i was feeling a bit low, instead of talking it through with someone i went and ate some chocolate! Sounds blatantly obvious but i do see it for what it is (comfort eating) more easily when i write it down. , " rlmftw <rlmftw> " <rlmftw> wrote: > I think that keeping a food diary, losing weight and gaining it back, all the time and mental energy spent on a failing effort, etc., all go to show me that I cannot control food. I need to eat foods that I don't have to control. I think that this is a difference between people. Some people, like yourself, cannot control food and some people can. I think the hardest thing for me to admit is that i do have control over what i eat. I am able to stop myself, but sometimes, when its convenient for me, i tell myself i can't. therefore a food diary is very useful for me to prove to myself i have self control. However, at times when i'm having real difficulty, i also try to just eat foods i don't have to control and i think if you have the will power to do that its great. I know i feel pleased with myself - but i still write it down because it makes me feel good about myself and i guess that helps me to feel happier and therefore more healthy! As i work in mental health, it has really made me realise how important being mentally " healthy " is! Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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