Week TWO!

This week the challenge is to keep a food journal! Below are some good ideas on how to keep one and be successful at it!

• Get a Portable Journal. Find something that fits in your purse or just use your computer if you are on it all day for work.
• Write As You Go. Write each item down as you go, if you wait until the end of the day it is hard to be accurate with all the snacks or treats you eat throughout the day.
• Focus on Portions. Don't just write down what you eat, measure and record the portions you are eating as well.
• Don't Cheat. Even if you are eating bad that day don't leave out the ice cream or the chips just because you feel ashamed. You can follow trends and patterns in your eating and prepare for the next time.
• Note Circumstances. When did I have my cheat moment and go off and eat unhealthy things. Make a quick note in your journal of the circumstances. Did you over snack in the afternoon because work was stressful. Am I not eating filling foods? Having those tips in your journal will help when you are looking back and give you tips about how emotional states change your eating habits.
• Don't Forget Drinks. Watch to see if you are drinking enough water. People get confused all the time and think they are hungry when really they are just thirst.
• Review Your Entries. A food journal doesn't help much if we never use the information. Dedicate a time during the week sometimes to go over your food journal, recognize trends and make new goals for the week.

A food journal is kind of like a budget. If you know what you want to save for or spend money on you are able to stay on budget. The same principle applies with food.