A Dieter's Most Powerful Aid Of all the things you can do or buy to help you lose weight, a food diary is the most powerful, proven aid for dieters.
That's the word from the king. The Calorie King, that is. Dietician Allen Borushek, author of "The Calorie King: Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter," says that people who keep food and exercise diaries not only lose more weight than those who don't write down what they eat and do daily, but also they keep it off. You can make a food diary even more effective by asking a trusted friend or loved one to regularly check it. That way, you have someone else to answer to. Borushek cites seven reasons why a food diary leads to weight loss: 1. It gives you a jolt.
Writing down the food you eat and exercise you do jolts you into realizing how much food you really are consuming and how much exercise you're doing. 2. It helps you identify problem foods.
By writing it down, you can more easily figure out which foods and drinks have excessive calories and fat. 3. It helps identify moods.
When you keep a food diary, you should also jot down where you are when you're eating and drinking. Reviewing this information over several weeks allows you to identify moods, situations and events that may have triggered overeating. 4. It prevents calorie amnesia.
After you successfully lose weight, it's common to suffer from "calorie amnesia," that ailment that causes you to forget what you're eating and suffer rebound weight gain. 5. It creates self-discipline.
You may just think twice about indulging in that afternoon candy bar or late night bowl of ice cream if you have to write it down in your food diary. 6. It motivates you.
If you're keeping a food diary, chances are you will be more motivated to carefully plan your meals and to exercise each day. 7. It's a record.
Your food diary is a great way for your doctor, weight loss counselor or dietician to assess your progress and make recommendations based on real data. --From the Editors at Netscape
| 
Poll
