Food Diary

[trevene_ann]

I have discovered realistically that writing down what you eat during the day gives you an eye opener as to the amount of calories you consume during. I was amazed. I started keeping a food journal. I write down everything even a gum and calculate the caloric value (wow it adds up) but it helps by keeping me in chec. Something i dont calculate right away and do it later if i'm too busy. Or if i plan my menus in advance i get to spread out my calorie intake ( 1000 for weight loss my dietition told me ) if i cross that amount and i feel i have to eat something then i go for fruit i never limit my fruit intake

[Missy]

I am not sure I understand what you wrote...but you are only allowed to eat 1000 calories???? That seems really low to me. Most health professionals that I have talked to have always said that the bare MINIMUM calories your body needs in a day is 1200...I am eating around 1800 calories a day and I am still losing weight.

I do agree with you that writing down your foods can help. I did that when I first started and my diet is pretty much the same every day and I know what I'm eating, so I don't have to track it anymore. I already know in my head what amounts I am to be eating and which foods...it really helped me when I started though.

Good Luck!

[Trying4Thin]

I am a huge fan of diaries and could list 100 reasons to keep one. But the major ones are they encourage accountability and discourage "Phantom Eating." That is to say eating and not remembering that you ate a particular portion or not. I need to get back to writing in mine again. I recommend 2 journals...1 for food/exercise and 1 for emotions. They will become a very powerful weight loss ally to you.
Do not go under 1200 calories or you will be slowing down your weight loss and metabolic rate. Sooner or later your appetite will return hungrier than ever. Save yourself the heartache. But if you are stuffed then just combine more of your ingredients so you arent always feeling like you are eating. Dont eat to the point of making yourself sick either. It will get harder as you lose weight because your stomach capacity is shrinking right along with your body. I know I couldnt force down what I used to without my stomach exploding. Bottom line...listen to your body.

[Patty_Ann]

When I started my weight loss journey in February I was calculating my calorie intake - I started with allowing myself 1200 calories each day...I slowly brought that up to 1500 - 1700. I continued to lose weight. As you lose weight your calorie intake needs to change as your body is changing. I found that using fitday.com helped me get through my days...I was accountable for what I had eaten and was able to calculate the calories as well as my exercise. Now all I need to do is to get back in here and do it all over again - and start kicking butt! I have been out of the loop for too long and Carrie and I have been talking through emails and I think I am going to make it a point to try to get in here in the mornings before I start my days out.

[Missy]

FitDay is a great site. I have also used SparkPeople in the past. It's really good for figuring everything out for you.

Also if you are unsure about how many calories are in certain foods, my trainer gave me this great site
http://www.nutritiondata.com
you can search for pretty much any food and then pick from the options..

[sandradoo]

Keeping a food journal, I think is one of the keys to success! When you write it down, you think twice about is it really what I need.
Sandradoo