Losing weight the healthy way can be a very frustrating and time-consuming goal to achieve. Sometimes we lose track of what we eat on a day-to-day basis – the daily life activities we engage in during the day make it hard for us to recall what we’ve eaten. And that’s where a food journal comes in. Keeping a food diary is an effective method to monitor your calorie intake, and you’ll find it helpful whether you’re trying to shed a few pounds or simply maintain a healthier diet.

Not only does a food diary help with your weight loss scheme, it also accelerates the process. A recent study has shown that people who kept a food diary over the course of six months lost 50% more weight than those who didn’t. Still not convinced? Here are four more reasons to start a food journal today.

You get a reality check on your calorie intake

This is one of the most overlooked benefits of keeping a food diary. You probably think you can calculate your daily calorie consumption without the need to keep a journal. But do you remember what you eat everyday? Do you know the exact number of calories contained in your foods? What about those between-meal snacks? The truth is, even experts can be tricked by hefty portion sizes and calories in foods that are not in the diet plan. Play it safe by dropping the guesswork and start recording what you eat throughout the day.

You stop munching between meals

A food diary has all the information you need for mindful eating. Writing one helps you to keep track of what you eat, or will eat, everyday. You’ll start making smarter choices without realizing, such as swapping a premium latte with whipped cream for a regular cup of coffee. And since it’s so easy to overlook small bites between meals, food journals act as a great reminder. When it comes to controlling what you eat, every portion matters – a bag of potato chips alone contains several hundred calories.

You discover where you went wrong

You may think you eat a lot of unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables. But look back at the food diary and you may be surprised that you were eating these foods only once or twice a week. That’s another benefit of keeping a food journal: you can always check your meals and find out where your dietary detours occur. It allows you to get back on track quickly before improper eating habits take their toll on your body.

You can truly portion your food

People who keep a food diary tend to measure their food intake more accurately than those who don’t keep one, who often have a more general idea of the level of consumption. For instance, without keeping a food diary you may believe you are eating a “medium” bowl of cereal every morning, but in fact it turns out to be a very large portion after proper measurement. You can take your weight loss schemes to another level, and get the most accurate assessment, by understanding your food portions.

Losing weight can be a daunting task, and more often than not you’ll need all the help you can get. Keeping a food journal is a great method to help you achieve your weight-loss goals faster than ever before.

If you want advice on how to develop a super-effective diet plan, get in touch today and we can help.