While most people’s memory of keeping a diary is probably during their teen years as they documented the trials and tribulations of puberty, it’s proven to be a very useful tool in winning the war against obesity as an adult. That’s why many of the online weight loss programs that have sprung up over the last decade advocate it and offer it as a part of their programs.
A paper published in the August issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine has cemented the importance of journaling. Scientists at several research centers in the U.S. have found that dieters who keep a food diary lose twice as much weight as those who don’t.
It’s not just the act of writing down what you eat. It’s about the fact that you are committing what you eat to memory. Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks about how the journaling experiment worked for him.
Some popular food/diet journal products and services include:
FitDay
Spark People
Weight by Date
Diet Power
Calorie Balance Diet
Another great food diary is NutriMirror.com. It’s great for tracking food and exercise, and there are lots of powerful analytical tools to help you understand the impacts of your diet choices on your weight and nutritional balance. And it’s free.