Are you tracking your progress on your efforts to lose belly fat? Keeping a weight loss food journal is one of the best ways to keep yourself on track to success. Why does this work so well, and how exactly do you keep a weight loss journal?
Below are 4 powerful tips that explain why it’s so important, and why it works like a charm with any weight loss plan:
Weight Loss Food Journal Tip #1 – A Clear View:
A weight loss food journal offers a very clear view of everything you’ve been doing, eating, and drinking since you began your weight loss program to lose belly fat. You can use an actual journal, or simply use a lined notebook.
In the journal, jot down your starting weight, your goal weight, and your bodily measurements (upper arms, bust, waist, hips, thighs, calves). Then write a detailed plan to follow each day. List how long you will exercise, how often, how many calories you will consume each day, and which foods you will eat.
Each day, record everything you eat and drink, how many calories it contains, and keep a running total for the day so you stay within your desired caloric guidelines. Also write down whether you exercised that day, how much and for how long.
Any time you want to look back to see how you’re doing, the information is right there at your fingertips.
Weight Loss Food Journal Tip #2 – Accountability:
Can you see how doing this keeps you accountable? If you know you have to write down every single thing that goes into your mouth, what are the chances that you’ll mindlessly go back to eating mounds of potato chips and bags of cookies? Not likely!
Keeping a food and exercise journal prevents you from trying to trick yourself into believing that you’re sticking with the plan, even if you know you aren’t. It’s hard to dispute the truth if it’s right there in black and white.
Weight Loss Food Journal Tip #3 – Motivation:
As you keep recording your progress in your journal, you’ll start to get very, very motivated! You’ll start to see a clear correlation between eating, exercise, and the numbers on the scale. Keep re-measuring your body every month or so, and you’ll see the inches melting away too, which is even more motivating. Any time you start to feel bored or impatient about your progress, flip back through your journal and feel good that you’re doing so well.
Weight Loss Food Journal Tip #4 – Emotional Outlet:
Finally, you can use a weight loss food journal as an outlet for turbulent emotions. Any time you feel upset and you are tempted to eat something you shouldn’t, grab your journal and start writing. What’s got you upset? How does it make you feel? Keep writing until you’ve purged the negative emotions and you feel better – and you’ll notice that the food cravings have probably faded too.
A weight loss food journal can be your best friend while you’re losing belly fat. Use it as a cheerleader, a motivational tool, a visible record of your progress, and as a comfort when you’re struggling. Start a flat belly food journal today to get sexy flat abs.