Food Journaling - a way to awareness and results

Journaling your food provides so much insight into your weight loss efforts, moods, and many other benefits. When you think of food journaling or apps what is your first thought? Most people find it to be annoying, too time consuming, and honestly its a bit scary. It’s vulnerable and you’re seeing what your eating habits really are. Most of which we don’t recognize until they are on paper.

Studies at Kaiser Permanente show that women who journal their food intake nearly double their weight loss efforts.. That’s a 50% greater chance of weight loss than plain old healthy diet and exercise.

Awareness

Your first goal is to gain awareness. Not perfection with meal logs, calorie count, just awareness. Awareness let’s you see your patterns. For instance ask yourself when do you reach for the sugary drinks? What made you skip food all the way until dinner time? Figuring out your patterns gives you invaluable insight.

Patterns

Once you see your patterns true change can begin. Therefore, instead of thinking negatively about your choices be curious about them. Why did you reach for the comfort food? Why didn’t I go workout today? Was I upset about something that happened recently and now I want to self soothe instead of workout? These patterns will also tell you lots about your moods. For example, you may find out that your grumpy mood comes about after eating a certain type of food. Or that you feel more happy after having a lunch filled with colorful fruits and veggies. Leave a space in your journal for deeper thoughts or emotional check in’s throughout the day.

Lasting Change

In conclusion simply journaling will give you a 50% greater chance of weight loss. Pair that with all the insight with curiosity  and you are arming yourself for great change. And if you feel like you need some help to make that change I’m here for ya. Contact me if you’d like a coach to help you take action, get rid of negative thoughts and make lasting change. Much love.