What if you could double your weight loss just by changing one habit?
It may seem too good to be true, but making a food journal on the HCG diet and other diet plans can be a powerful tool for weight loss. By tracking down your eating pattern and habits, you can identify which foods-good or bad- you consume on a regular basis make you lose or put on weight.
Several studies have shown that dieters who keep food journals or diaries are more likely to lose weight and keep it off than those who do not. According to a recent study, those who keep a food journal six days a week lost twice as much weight as those with one to two days of food journals.
Why does writing down your dietary habits in a food journal have such an impact?
Keeping a food diary or journal gives you a better understanding of how much, why you are eating, and what you are eating. You become more aware of your food intake. By doing this, you can cut down on mindless eating and snacking.
Keeping a food journal can help you identify areas where you can make changes for more weight loss. Caloric beverages and snacks, for instance, contain a lot of calories that people do not realize, and can easily be cut by limiting calories in these sources. Food journals can reveal patterns of overeating. You may also be able to identify triggers to avoid, such as not eating enough throughout the day and then overindulging at night. Some dieters find that writing down every bite discourages overeating, while others do not want to eat because they do not want to write something down.
You have kept a food diary. Now what?
Once you have completed a week of food journaling, look back. Look for any eating patterns, trends, or habits. You may want to consider the following:
- Do I have a healthy diet?
- Do I eat fruits and vegetables every day? What are the serving sizes? Am I consuming added sugar in foods and beverages? If so, how often?
- How does my mood affect my eating habits? When I’m fatigued or stressed, do I reach for unhealthy snacks?
- Am I usually on the go when I eat?
- Do I eat foods, not HCG diet-friendly?
The benefits of keeping a food journal
- Eliminates mindless eating
Often, you eat without realizing how much you consume because you are distracted by others, or you are very busy. Eating mindlessly can lead to overeating, but keeping a food journal will teach you self-control by allowing you to acknowledge your behaviors. If you have trouble remembering and writing everything down, you can always take a picture or use an app.
- More weight loss
Dieters who kept food journals lost twice as much weight compared with those who do not. By keeping a food journal, you can stay on track with your weight loss goals, and you stay accountable for what you eat.
- Understanding the whys
Why do you choose to eat chocolate over fruits? Why do you eat if you are not hungry? All these questions can be answered by keeping a food journal. Your food journal will help you understand your food choices and if you eat more often when you are angry, bored, or happy.
