Food Diary Leads to More Weight Loss

Research done in my neck of the woods showed that dieters lost twice as much weight if they kept a food diary. I found that convincing, as I have been the most successful at eating better and exercising more when I've kept a food diary and exercise log. Just knowing that you'll have to write it down keeps excess food from crossing your lips.

I took my own advice. First, I retrieved my scale from the downstairs office where it had been hibernating since we moved last December. Weighing myself daily is another tactic I use to stay on track, but obviously I've been in rebellion against it all year. I knew I had put on some pounds, and it confirmed it.

I set up my free food and exercise log at Calorie Count, including a Blackberry application so I can search for food stats from my cell phone. Calorie Count has text message and smart phone applications for other phones as well. Say I am at a Wendy's and I wonder whether the chili is the best choice (and it is a good one), I can look up its calorie and nutrition data on my cell phone. It is very handy for those of us who don't want to keep pen and paper available. You can text yourself what you ate, or note it in notes on your smart phone.

I used the Calorie Count online log yesterday and my food choices rated an overall B+ for nutrition. I had a tough first-of-the-month day at work and only got in a 15-minute walk. But I made a lovely cheese enchilada casserole using local farm tomatillos and my own backyard tomatoes and jalapenos, and a small portion of home-baked peach cobbler for dessert. It fit well for a lower-calorie, healthy meal.

If you prefer tracking your food with paper and pencil, I have a printable food and exercise log page as part of our free Walk of Life 10-Week Program.