Importance of keeping daily food and activities journal.

Importance of keeping food journal.

I try to count my protein and calories every day.  In a middle or close to the end of the day (unless I have time to write down as I eat) I write down what I had and co count how much I had and how much more I can have.  Why is that important for me?  So I do not get too much as too little in a day.

I am now trying to mostly level my weight, and learn how to maintain, so my goal for each day is 80-100 protein and 1100-1400 cal. (depends on what I do that day)

My last week I was very busy, running around, meeting with people, traveling etc.  I was eating in between when and if I had the time. 

And I noticed funny things.  There was one day where at 6.p.m. I did not think I ate enough throughout the day, It felt that I did not eat at all, but after I added all the small meals that I had – I ended up with 80 gr of protein, and 1100 calories. My mind was not recording my food.  Now another day (same week) it felt like I ate all the time, only to discover at 6 pm that I only had 50 gr of protein, and 700 calories for that day.   I had to add a rich protein shake and a meal.   That when I realize how  deceiving our mind it can be.  Counting at least your protein, journaling your food for the day it may help you not only reach your goal, but maintain it. 

You're right.  There was a study done not too long ago that came out and the results were that those that logged their food lost more weight than those people that didn't.

I've not be a fan of food journaling.  It has reminded me of my Weigh****chers and dieting career.  I purchased the downloaded computer version of FitDay and LOVE it.  It is a completely different experience for me now.  It is the combination of doing it on the computer, I like the reports you can generate to see what you've done for the day, week, month and year to date.  It is great.

Thanks to the FitDay PC version on my laptop, I'm now a food and exercise logger and enjoy it.

Cathy

Is that something you download or buy?

Thank you for sharing this message with everyone. I can't agree more. I never used to journal until about three weeks ago I started having dizzy spells and couldn't understand why. At first I thought maybe I was coming down with some kind of illness. I even took a pregnancy test...I never once ever thought I would get to a point of not eating enough. I started journaling my food intake and was shocked that by the end of a day I was only getting in around 600 calories. I had stopped watching my protein intake and had lost interest in food in many ways. Funny thing though...I never lost a pound. My body thought it was starving. I am now making sure I get in all my calories (I am finding this hard to do), but I have really added the protein and all my health issues are resolved.

Leslie,
I know what you mean.  i was so afraid to start eating more, than there were days that I did not have enough.  That is why app 6 p.m I try to do daily balance.  It is early enough for me to add more food / protein shakes, and late enough that if I ate enough - I can just follow-up with a small snack.

The mind can be so deceiving, and there are days that I have to struggle to eat enough... just not into that, while other days - have to really control so I do not eat too much.

I do not use software.  Just a journal - and I try to get my protein # accurately but calories - approximation.  (It is hard to decide how much cal is in home made 1/2 cup of soup - so I add meat calories + 30/50 cal for veggies).  I usually end up with total calories that is approximation.  Though I try to measure most of my food, and still work with nutrition info on product and supplies.  I know that my #'s are +/- 10% accuracy. 

Have fun.  Eat enough... it is a fine art for me....
Halina

I agree!  I never used to log my intake except for when I was active in weigh****chers, I thought it was a pain, and did not see any payoff.... Then my grandpa started doing it and lost over 75lbs in 10 months and has kept it off for a couple years already.  That is when I started logging it again.  Although, I only use scratch paper, I am looking into joining fitday, I have heard a lot of good tings about it.

Thanks for the reminder!  If my 75 year old grandpa can do it so can I :)

I totally agree. At first I religiously logged on dailyplate. Then...I got a little too comfortable...slacked off and noticed I was having a stall issue. I once again have renewed my aquaintance with dailyplate...it sooooo makes me accountable