Hopefully you have picked up what you need to begin your fitness journal, as we are now going to start putting it together. We are going to start it off with meals.
What you eat makes a huge difference in your ability to lose weight and your general health. The funny thing about this is that we can feel pretty sure that we are healthy eaters until we start to write down what we are actually eating.
Your fitness journal should include a section where you write down everything you have eaten for the day. This includes the amount of water you have had and other drinks you might have consumed.
The point is to get a better understanding of your eating habits. You might start to notice patterns.
For instance, I know that I usually start off the day eating pretty well. By the afternoon however, I begin to make unhealthy choices. Seeing this helps me to recognize not only my problem areas but gives me the opportunity to make changes.
What you put into your meal section is entirely up to you. At the very least it should include what you have actually eaten that day. But you can take it a step further and also list the calories consumed.
You could even use the meal section as a way to plan out what you will eat. When we mindlessly reach for things, we tend to choose those unhealthy items. However, if you decide to plan out your meals (including your snacks) you might find it easier to eat better.
Later in this series when I get to the section in your Fitness Journal that includes your mood, you may also start to notice a pattern connecting that to which foods you are eating. But at this point, what you should begin doing is at least keep track of what you are eating each day.
Related Articles:
Creating a Fitness Journal – Part 1
The Benefits of a Food Journal
Choosing the Right Eating Plan
Change Your Eating Habits One Meal at a Time
Photo by xandert in morgueFile