The Value of a Food Diary

When we first see you in the office and at each subsequent visit we give you a food diary to record your foods. Why is this? The food diary is the most powerful proven aid for weight management. People who keep a food and exercise diary not only lose more weight, they also tend to keep it off.  Recommitting to recording your foods is a great habit to get into, or to resume. Here are some of the reasons to record your foods:• Recording your eating and exercise habits jolts you into realizing just what you do eat and drink each day, and also whether you exercise sufficiently.• A food diary helps you identify problem foods and drinks with excessive calories.• Helps you identify moods, situations and events that lead to excessive eating of unwanted foods. You can then plan to overcome or avoid them.• Prevents "calorie amnesia,” the forgetfulness of foods that you may be eating. Recording keeps you on the right track.• Helps you develop greater self discipline. You will think twice about over-indulging if you have to record it. It keeps you honest!• Motivates you to carefully plan your meals and exercise each day.• At times, serves as a check system for your counsellor to assess your progress and make recommendations.Keeping a diary is a MUST for successful weight control!