Sunday, April 20, 2014

Swimsuit season is fast approaching, especially for those of us in the South. For individuals who are trying to lose a few pounds and fit into this years version of cute beachwear, a food journal might be a good start. Keeping a record of what one eats is one of the best ways to change eating habits. A daily record might not only help with weight loss but also help one identity excesses or deficiencies of sugar, fat, sodium, fiber, and other nutrients.

Registered dietitians and other health professionals use food records often when working with clients. Besides being a record of what one eats, a food journal can give important clues as to how one manages food during the day.

For example, a journal can answer the following questions.

  • Does one enjoy a meal at a table or eat when driving, watching TV, or at a desk while answering email?
  • Are healthy meals or calorie-laden snacks the usual fare?
  • Are meals often skipped and replaced with a granola bar and a can of pop or cup of coffee and a candy bar?
  • How often does one eat fast food?
  • Are fruits and vegetables eaten on a daily basis?

Besides noting what eating challenges you might have, a food journal can also help build confidence and motivate you to do better. Calorie Count has an interesting entry about keeping a success journal to help with weight loss progress. Besides keeping track of what you eat, indicate what you do during the day that can help you succeed.

Keep notations of actions such as eating fruit when offered cookies, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking during your lunch break, getting up early to exercise, or taking a 10 minute meditation break. Reviewing such activities helps one take note of positive steps towards a goal and trains the brain to find the good choices being made.

Beth Kitchin, a local registered dietitian and assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) offers helpful advice for keeping food records. And, she offers a printable food record to get you started.

Whether you are interested in weight loss or just trying to change eating habits for the better, give food journaling a try.

For more information on healthy food choices, visit UAB EatRight for helpful videos and nutrition tips.

Photo Credit: Brandon Sigma/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The articles written by Andrea Wenger, Birmingham Diets Examiner, are for informational purposes only and are not to be used in the place of medical advice. A fat loss overview can help you establish a clear summarize of what you need to focus on to complete your fat loss goal if you're a beginner; or serve as a reminder for the ones who are at an intermediate or more improve phase of their weight loss strategy. Following are seven steps that can serve as methods for your special weight loss program. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same thing. Many weight loss applications have misled people into considering that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss plans only work by causing a person's body to lose more muscle flesh and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. Please contact a licensed physician or other medical professional before changing any health care routine or before starting any diet, fitness, or exercise program. Although every effort has been made to include the most current information, new information is released daily and may cause some recommendations to change.


  • About.com Weight Loss

    weightloss.about.com

    Need easy weight loss tips? Skip the fads, get research-based advice: how to lose weight, healthy eating, motivation, recipes, exercise tips and more.


  • Buddyslim - Free Weight Loss Support - Free Diet Journals and ...

    www.buddyslim.com

    FREE Online Weight Loss Program Gets Results. Weight Loss Blog, Diet Journal, Calorie Counter, Food Journal, Diet Recipes, Exercise Log, Support Forum, Free Weight ...


  • Food journal for weight loss and weight control

    www.nutrimirror.com

    Lose weight and get fit with a food journal. Balanced nutrition is the key to better health.


  • FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

    www.fitday.comLog In How Many Calories Create Free Account

    FREE DIET AND WEIGHT LOSS JOURNAL Create a Goal, Track Food, Log Activity & See Progress! Trusted by over 6 million users. CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT


  • Effects of Dietary Composition on Energy Expenditure During Weight ...

    jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1199154

    Cara B. Ebbeling, PhD; Janis F. Swain, MS, RD; Henry A. Feldman, PhD; William W. Wong, PhD ...


  • JAMA Network JAMA Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight ...

    jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=200094

    Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Heart Disease Risk Reduction: A Randomized Trial FREE


  • Calorie Counter, Calorie Tracker & Food Journal MyPlate on ...

    www.livestrong.com/thedailyplateMyPlate Login

    Calorie Counter, Calorie Tracker & Food Journal. Track your calories in a customized food diary. You can count calories, review your diet & exercise history, get ...


  • Weight Loss & Diet Plans - Find healthy diet plans and helpful ...

    www.webmd.com WebMD Home

    From healthy diet plans to helpful weight loss tools, here you'll find the latest diet news and information

0 comments:

Post a Comment