Log It to Lose It!

Remember when you were a kid and you kept a diary? Isn't it enlightening to look back on those journals today? They reveal so much about your thoughts, emotions, and fears at the time, which can be so therapeutic! Why not keep a diary again? But now, instead of gushing about your latest crush or venting about your curfew, the goal of your new diary will be to get you through the highs and lows of your journey to a better you!

You can use an online journal or simply grab a notebook and pen to jot down all the progress you made that day — or week — and how it made you feel both physically and emotionally. Rereading your entries later might be all the motivation you need to keep up the good work!

And don't forget about your Food Log! It goes hand in hand with your Journal. A recent study showed that people who tracked what they ate six times a week lost twice as much weight as those who used a food diary once a week or not at all.

Logging your meals not only gives you a reality check (Wow, I ate how many calories at lunch?), it helps you uncover unhealthy patterns. What was your mood when you ate that second piece of chocolate cake? Oh, right — that was an extra-stressful day. What were you doing when you chowed down on that jumbo-sized bag of popcorn? Ah, you were distracted — and distraction often leads to mindless eating. Identifying your triggers will help you avoid them in the future. So be sure to take advantage of your dear diary!