Food and Exercise Diary

There are a lot of tools out there to help with weight loss. If you have a smartphone, there is an app for walking, talking, running, biking, and logging food. As you can imagine, I have tried a few to no avail. Also, there is the old fashioned keeping an Excel spreadsheet, writing on post-ts or keeping a food diary and then an exercise diary.

For me, I have found the tool that works for me is old-fashioned writing it down and seeing it everyday. At first, I tried to keep an Excel spreadsheet, then I got a food and exercise DVD for the computer, thinking I would log in everyday. Well, I work on the computer all day long and the last think I wanted to do was long onto my computer at home, at night.

Although, I follow Tosca Reno's "Eat Clean" diet, her logs were separate books for food and exercise and taking up too much room in my work bag, not to mention were expensive. So, now I have a no name Diet and Exercise Diary that I found at Border's for $3.99. It combines the best of both worlds in one book and I can even take it to the gym to record all my strength training.

It really keeps me honest in that I feel compelled to write down the jelly beans I shared with my daughter in the car after church. Also, I won't give in to potato chip cravings if I know that it is going in the diary. The diary fits nice and snug in my bag and I can see at a glance how I am staying on track. Even if I go off track, I can see trends, as well as, adjustments for diet busting occasions throughout the week.

Planning and writing all my meals down in advance has kept me on track. Let's face it, weight loss after 40 can be a real struggle. One has to be very mindful of eating in moderation and getting plenty or exercise.

That is not to say that I don't have cheesecake or peach cobbler, but it is to say that I can't have it every day, every week nor the entire cake or pan. It is just it takes longer to lose and is oftentimes just a quick fix for something else. So, really think about eating before actually doing it. Are you hungry? Do you have to have the entire bag of chips? Can you be satisfied with an apple? Are you thirsty? Can you walk around the block to take your mind off of eating? This type of mindful thinking will help you overcome temptations and get you to your weight loss goal.

If you have any tips to share or if you have an easier way to track food and exercise, let us know.

Peace and Love,

Sandals

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