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Keeping Track Of What You Consume: How To Do It Correctly

By Tony Forney


When you go on a diet one of the very first things that you will learn is that it is important to keep an eye on what you eat during the day. Tracking all of the food you eat can help you figure out which foods you will be eating as well as which foods you are not eating enough of. For example, after you keep a food record for a few days you may notice that even though you eat lots of fruit, you almost never eat any vegetables. Having it all written down can help you identify the elements of your diet that need to change as well as how much exercise you need to get to make sure that you burn enough calories to keep your waistline in check.

But what if you write each and every thing down but still are unable to figure out how to shed weight? You can observe your food the right way or the wrong way. There is far more to food journaling than writing a listing of what you eat during the day. You need to record various other very important information. Here are a number of the tips that can help you become much more successful at food tracking.

You ought to be very particular when you write down the things that you are eating. It just isn't enough to just record "salad" on a list. The correct way to do it is usually to record all of the ingredients in the salad as well as the kind of dressing that is used. You should also include the quantities of the foods you eat. "Cereal" will not be sufficient although "one cup Fiber One cereal" is acceptable. Remember the more you consume of something the more calories you take in so it is important that you list quantities so you know exactly how much of everything you're eating and how many calories you need to burn.

Write down exactly what time of day it is when you eat. This allows you to see what times of day you feel the hungriest, when you find yourself likely to reach for a snack and the way to work around those times. After a day or two you may notice that, though you eat lunch at the same time every day, you still feel hungry an hour or so later. You may also be able to recognize when you are eating simply to have something to do. This is very important simply because, once they are recognized, you can find alternative ways to fill those moments than with unhealthy foods.



Record your spirits when you eat. This can help you figure out when you use meals to help soothe emotional issues. This will likely show you whether or not you gravitate in the direction of certain foods based on your mood. Many individuals will reach for junk foods when we are upset, angry or depressed and will be more likely to choose healthier options when we are happy or content. When you look closely at how you eat in the course of your different moods and emotional states, you will be able to keep similar but healthier alternatives around for when you need those snacks--you might also start talking to someone who can help you figure out why you try to cure your moods with food.




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