Record Your Meals To lose weight

Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated because you think you eat well and exercise regularly, but you just can not seem to lose weight? If so, a food journal is a great tool to help you reach your weight loss goals. This will help to determine any patterns in your eating habits, it will force you to be responsible for what you eat, and this will help you to see where you are consuming your "hidden" calories.

The first thing I always say when you start to take food journal is to write down EVERY bite they put in their mouths. When most people think back throughout the day, and what you had to eat, go straight to their diet. It's amazing, though, that all those calories you consumed between meals add up. You may think that is one small piece of chocolate does not, so you do not have to write, but that is one small piece of chocolate every afternoon can add up to enough calories during one week. Many mothers of young children tend to finish what their children leave on their plates, and chicken nugget here and three bites and macaroni and cheese has really add up! Be sure to write down right after you eat so you do not forget.

It is also important to be very specific when recording to eat. For example, do not just write "Turkey sandwich for lunch. Instead, write "4 ounces turkey breast and 1 slice Swiss cheese on whole wheat, mustard, tomato and lettuce." Mayonnaise on your sandwich, butter on your baked potatoes and cream in your coffee May be contributing empty calories and fat in your diet that are easy to cut. I say that the coffee, do not forget to write down what you drink. Your mid-morning mocha latte or your glass of wine with dinner contain calories, too!

Another thing to include in your food journal each time you eat a meal or snack. Then, when you turn your notes, you can determine if you have any "time of troubles." If you tend to eat junk every day around 4:00, then you should start with a healthy snack each day prior to that time, before you get too hungry and grab everything in sight. Or, if you find that you get every night munchies while watching TV, you probably ate from boredom. When we know that the problem for you, it's easier to distract yourself.

Keeping food journal, you can make responsible for what you eat. I know that I'm much less likely to have a big piece of cheesecake, you know I have to write! It will also be much easier for you to determine which eating patterns and where you can cut calories that can make all the difference in your weight loss!