Keeping Track of What exactly You Eat When Losing Weight

When you begin a diet probably the most often heard pieces of advice is to keep a food journal in which you write down every thing you eat during the day. Tracking all of the meals you eat will help you figure out which foods you will be eating as well as which foods you are not eating enough of. For example, after keeping a food log for a few days, you might see that you are not eating very many vegetables but that you are consuming lots of sugar and bad carbohydrates. Having it all written down will help uou recognize the elements of your diet that need to change as well as how much exercise you need to get to make sure that you burn enough calories to keep your waistline in check.



But imagine if you write every single thing down but still aren't able to figure out how to lose fat? There is a great way and a idle way to track the food you eat. A food journal is more than just a simple list of the foods you eat during a day. You have to account for some other very important information. Here are a number of the tips that can make it easier to become a lot more successful at food tracking.



You need to be very specific when you write down the things that you are eating. It just isn't enough to just record "salad" on a list. The correct way to do it is usually to write down all of the ingredients in the salad as well as the kind of dressing that is used. You should also write down just how much of the foods you are eating. "Cereal" is not as beneficial an entry as "one cup Honey Nut Cheerios." Don't forget that the more of a thing you take in, the more calories you are going to consume so you need to list out the measurements of what you eat so that you will know exactly how many calories you take in and will need to burn.



Write down the time you're feeding on things. This can help you figure out when you feel the most hungry, when you are prone to snack and what you can do about it. After a few days you'll observe that while you might be eating lunch at the same time every day, you are still hungry an hour later. You may also be able to recognize when you are eating in order to have something to do. This is incredibly useful because knowing when you're vulnerable to snacking will help you fill those times with other pursuits that will keep you away from the candy aisle.



What kind of mood are you in when you eat? Write it down! This helps to explain to you whether or not you decide on food as a response to emotional issues. It also assists you to see plainly which foods you are inclined to choose if you are in certain moods. Lots of us will reach instinctively for processed food when we feel upset or angry and we are more likely to select healthy options when we feel happy or content. When you pay attention to how you eat during your different moods and emotional states, you will be able to keep similar but healthier options around for when you need those snacks--you might also start talking to someone who can help you figure out why you try to cure your moods with food.