Food journals are helpful in several situations. If you’re trying to shed a few extra pounds, it can be eye-opening. You’ll be more aware of what you eat and when you eat so you can take steps to prevent it. If you’re constantly having digestive issues or other health issues and the doctors are stumped, a food journal can help. Add extra information to get the results, such as how you feel. You can make your food journal simple with just the food you eat.
You’ll be held accountable for every bite.
Keeping a food journal makes you more aware of mindless eating. If you focus on writing down every bite you take, including the handful of candies from a co-worker’s candy dish or those last few bites of food left in the pan, you’re more aware of the mindless eating you do during the day. It holds you accountable, and that accountability can help you lose weight. One study found that people who journaled for three months lost weight without dieting. Those who didn’t journal didn’t lose weight.
Including other information can help identify triggers that cause overeating.
Some people are emotional eaters, which includes comfort food. It’s a food they turn to that helps them when they’re depressed. It’s unusual for comfort food to be a healthy option. It’s usually sugary, creamy, or high in calories and fat. Anger food is frequently crunchy. Think chips or hard candy. Identifying your mood and the food you eat in your food journal can help you curb emotional eating. Have healthier options so you eat fewer calories and more nutrients.
You can identify food intolerance or allergies with a food diary.
Lactose and gluten intolerance can cause digestive issues. If you have health issues but the doctors are stumped, tracking your food can help. If it only occurs after eating certain foods, you can do an elimination diet to see if that food is the problem. An elimination diet limits food for a few days and slowly adds them back, noting what food causes symptoms to return. Besides food allergies or intolerance, it can help identify other issues. Always take it with you to healthcare appointments to aid in diagnosing health problems.
- Be a health sleuth or the doctor’s best assistant. Track your food intake and your blood pressure, digestive issues, or shortness of breath to see what food may be making it increase or if there’s a pattern.
- Your food journal doesn’t have to be an actual journal, although they’re relatively inexpensive online. You can track your food intake on your phone by texting yourself or using notes.
- Besides recording all the food you eat, remember to record what you drink. If you drink one soft drink daily, it’s about 100 extra calories. If you have a fancy Starbucks coffee, it can be over 500 calories.
- Food journaling can make you more mindful of what you eat. It can help you eat only when hungry and learn when your body needs sustenance. It makes you more aware of the messages your body sends.
For more information, contact us today at Rising Fitness Gym