Recording what you eat can really help with weight management. Recording helps you realize where you may have been eating mindlessly or if there is a food item that has far more calories than you realized. Recording emotions can be just as enlightening; adding a simple word to define you motivation for eating can reveal patters. For example, were you eating because you were hungry or because you were bored?  Identifying these motivators can be very important for changing behavior.

Because eating well and exercise go hand in hand with successful weight management, many people find it very helpful to also jot down how many minutes, and what type, of exercise they managed to get in on that day. This shouldn’t take much time and can really motivate you to move.

One barrier to successful journaling of food, emotion and physical activity is the myth that is takes a long time. It’s actually a very speedy process, especially after the first few days and weeks when you have mastered what a portion looks like.  Whether recording on paper, an online resource, or a smartphone app the most important thing is that you are being consistent. Consistently recording will help you hold yourself accountable for you healthy actions and provide personal motivation for continuing these healthful behaviors.