In the early days, I use to write down foods eaten and number of calories/fat grams in a plain notebook. Now I pretty much know what I'm doing though, and I have a pretty good idea (probably within 100 calories) of where I am at any given point during the day...so I don't need to do that anymore. It's a good idea, at least in the early days, I think though. Whether a person wants to continue, and for how long, pretty much depends on what works and a matter of personal preference/interest in that sort of thing.
Journaling is one of those things that I know I probably should be doing, but the thought of writing everything down doesn't appeal to me. I'm terrible at doing stuff like that. If (or when) I hit a plateau in my weight loss, I'll probably try and start doing some kind of journaling. I'm glad it's working for you, though :-)
I journal, and it helps tremendously. I had a journal on the Atkins site, but that actually caused me more stress than helped, because I would beat myself up about carbs. My dietician gave me a weekly chart to fill out so when I went back to see her for a follow up, she could see how I did. I made one for EVERY week, not just one, because I wanted to see a trend/pattern form. She was thrilled and I still do it, not because i actually need to, but it serves as a visual reminder to pay attention and have it written in ink so I can't make excuses or justify boo-boos. (I always write OOOPS in big letters if I have a major screw up).
Journaling can be a useful tool as long as your obsession level with it doesn't make you insane (like my Atkins journal.)
I started that way (at least writing down foods and calories and fat grams too) but in recent months I haven't the foggiest where the notebook is, and I truly haven't needed it.
I keep a food and exercise journal on an Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet automatically adds up the calories in my food (though I have to know what to enter LOL), and subtracts the calories I burned up during exercise, leaving me with my net calorie intake. I have a graph that shows how my net calorie intake changes over time.
I don't track water intake, or my moods when I choose to eat. With the exception of two weeks back in July, I have done this for every day since late June, 2003.
~~Linda
~~Linda
Journaling can be a useful tool as long as your obsession level with it doesn't make you insane (like my Atkins journal.)
Amy
(Kisses to your furbabies!)
forte
i journal but its not for weightloss :)
I want so badly to be able to journal, I just feel like I'm wasting time doing it.
Fear
I don't track water intake, or my moods when I choose to eat. With the exception of two weeks back in July, I have done this for every day since late June, 2003.