A great tool for dieting is keeping a personal food diary. Whether you are just starting out on a diet, or struggling to stay on one, incorporating a food diary into your plan is a great way to keep yourself on track. There is something about looking at your food intake in indisputable writing that helps you curb your bad food habits. Keeping a food diary will show you exactly how much you are eating, as well as documenting the types of food that make up the majority of your diet. Some people find it helpful to keep a food diary for a week or so before starting a diet to enable them to more accurately target problem areas. Understanding your weaknesses and preparing yourself to combat diet issues is a great step in maintaining a healthy relationship with food.
Starting a Food Diary
There are no hard and fast rules about how to keep a food diary. The important thing to remember is to write down everything that you eat. Ostensibly, no one but you is going to see what is written in your food diary, so omitting snacks or other food items will mean that you are only lying to yourself. If you are serious about losing weight, it is critical that you understand exactly how your caloric intake measures up to the amount of calories you burn during exercise. Drinks and water should also be included. Simply knowing that you are committed to writing down every bit of food you eat is a great way to curb cravings and stick to your plan.
Advanced Food Diary Options
Once you get into the hang of keeping a food journal, you might want to consider expanding the information that you track. Along with food intake, tracking daily exercise is a great way to compare how much you eat to how many calories you are burning. It is also helpful to note the number of calories and nutritional information for the food you write down. Developing a healthy diet has as much to do with what you eat as how much you consume. Once you have a good understanding of the amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates you are eating, it will be easier to plan a more balanced diet that helps you to lose weight and stay in shape.
Online Food Diary
Another option for keeping a food diary is to keep track of it all online. There are many weight loss sites that offer free registration and many offer food diary options with a free account. This is also a great way to keep track of what your eating throughout the day if you are on your computer frequently.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Rose of sharon tree. yellow powdery film on bush ...
By: Allie | 18-09-2008
rose of sharon tree. yellow powdery film on bush. Is this a fungas, if so, what do I do?
Do you lose weight faster on medifast or atkins?
By: zachysmom | 18-09-2008
do you lose weight faster on medifast or atkins?
Any ideas??
By: Kim | 17-09-2008
I want to lose about 10-15 pounds. What diet pill can I take that will also be able to give me energy too. I for sure need to have the energy as much as i would like to lose the few lbs. Any suggestions?
Printable Carb Counter
By: Paul | 16-09-2008
Is there a printable list of the carb content of foods? I have an old "dog-eared" one from an Atkins Diet book I bought 6 years ago, but it's seen better days! I can't read the one I've got.
Confused
By: petlover | 16-09-2008
Why would a guy ask you to move in, than tell you he wants you out because he would rather break up with you, before he has affair. Is it because the grass looks greener. He says he still love me. I don't get it
Hcg weight loss
By: JJ | 14-09-2008
I'm looking for an hcg weight loss doctor in eastern michigan (the thumb).
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Fitness Articles
Knee Pain Relief : Finding the Best Basketball Knee Brace
By: Daniel Sims | 06/10/2008
Whatever you do, do not go and purchase a basketball knee brace before you read this article. You may already know your knee needs support while you are playing basketball, but you may wonder which basketball knee brace is best for you. Read this article. Simple questions are asked of you, not bogus knee brace hype, to help you make the best decision for yourself.
Best Ways to Build Muscle Fast
By: vinced08 | 06/10/2008
Best Ways to Build Muscle Fast. Many people are trying to learn how to get their bodies looking better and start searching for the best ways to build muscle fast.
Diet Trends - the Diets to Watch Out for in 2009
By: Simon Lovell | 06/10/2008
Which diets will be exciting Oprah in 2009? Find out here.
How to Overcome Drug Addiction
By: Patrick Meninga | 06/10/2008
The key to overcoming drug addiction, as evidenced by 7 plus years of experience in sobriety and working in the substance abuse treatment industry.
Different Types of Fitness Equipment Spokane Wa Has to Offer
By: Zach Hunt | 05/10/2008
Have you ever thought about the fitness equipment our city has to offer? We live in a beautiful area that has so many fitness opportunities. You could go with the more traditional fitness opportunities, or you could shake it up a little. I have found fitness equipment all over our beautiful city.
How to Build a Home Gym and Why
By: Jim Rosenau | 04/10/2008
Why build a home gym and not just go to a health club. There are benefits to building your own home gym. Fitness equipment now days caters to home fitness and besides your family might love you for it.
Top Five Tips for Choosing a Flat Fee Mls Real Estate Broker
By: Robert | 04/10/2008
There are a lot of real estate brokers to choose from. Knowing which one is going to be the best choice for you can be tough - which is why we wanted to bring you the top 3 tips for picking out the right real estate agent to meet the requirements of you and your family.
Food Addiction: are You Overeating to Self-medicate?
By: Carol Solomon | 04/10/2008
Overeating is an attempt to go numb. As one of my clients says "it's easier to stuff my feelings than to feel them." You don't want to think about how much you have to do, how many responsibilities you have . . . or how much pressure and uncertainty you are dealing with. It's just easier to eat. Read this article to find out how to change this overeating pattern.
More from Wendy Wood
Are You A Pilates Beginner?
By: Wendy Wood | 20/05/2007 | Fitness
Pilates is a specific exercise regime designed to build all over body strength and control. Consisting mainly of abdominal and lower back exercises, the Pilates workout is a very popular low impact style of exercise. Like Yoga, Pilates emphasizes both spiritual and physical improvement. Also similar to Yoga, Pilates exercises comprise a ritual of breath control and stretching.
Learning the Facts About Low Carb Diets
By: Wendy Wood | 13/05/2007 | Fitness
Various low carb based diets continue to appear on the best seller lists and the food industry has responded by offering many carbohydrate reduced products to meet the demand for low carb food options. So, do low carbohydrate diets really work?
You Can Work Out While You Work
By: Wendy Wood | 06/05/2007 | Fitness
The demands of work and family do not seem to leave much time for taking care of yourself, and many women bemoan the fact that they do not have time for a workout. The good news is that establishing a regular fitness routine can help to boost your energy and can motivate your overall productivity and self confidence.
Healthy Eating for the Whole Family
By: Wendy Wood | 29/04/2007 | Health
Traditionally, dieting has been centered on adopting a specialized meal plan until such time as the needed weight is lost. Modern views of dieting tend to focus more on adopting a new way of viewing food and changing our lifestyle to reflect a healthy, balanced and satisfying way of eating.
Fitness Finesse for New Mothers Post Natal Exercises
By: Wendy Wood | 22/04/2007 | Fitness
While many new moms want to emulate celebrities and return to their pre-pregnancy figures as quickly as possible, it is important to remember that pregnancy and birth take an enormous toll on your body.
Healthy Snacks for Those Dieting
By: Wendy Wood | 15/04/2007 | Fitness
Many dieters find that they have no trouble planning and eating sensible meals, but they falter when it comes to snacking.
Avoiding All of the Fad Diets
By: Wendy Wood | 01/04/2007 | Fitness
Every year it seems as if there is a new diet on the market that is guaranteed to help you lose weight more quickly and easily than ever before. Studies have shown that women who rapidly lose and regain weight on a consistent basis are setting themselves up for heart problems in the future.
Do You Understand Your Body Type?
By: Wendy Wood | 25/03/2007 | Fitness
There are various classifications and body shapes that have been identified, as well as different approaches to losing weight for each type. Your overall body shape and type is determined by your genetic makeup.
Sports and Fitness 
