The diet culture can be an intimidating one to get into. With strict regimens and restrictions, there are many stereotypes associated with dieting. But dieting does not need to be considered an overwhelming experience. The goal of dieting is just to keep you fit and healthy. Once you realize that, the process becomes so much easier.
One of the things that many will advise you to do while you are dieting is to keep track of what you are eating. And this is not a mental tracking that you will have to do. You would have to keep a food diary or food journal. Simply explained, a food diary or journal is made for the single purpose of keeping track of what you are eating every day.
If you do it regularly, you will become more and more aware of your food habits, which will help you follow a more focused diet. Here are some tips on food journaling:
How to Keep a Food Diary?
There is no strict way to log whatever you are eating every day. The purpose of this food journal is to make you more educated about your eating habits. There is some information you will have to include in your log every day without fail. These are the following:
- List the quantity: The whole point of keeping a food diary is to make sure you know how much you are eating. You can measure the volume of your food in cups or can mention the weight.
- List the type: Be specific about the exact kind of food you are eating. Include the type of dressing, sauces, and spices you are eating to know precisely what you are eating.
- List the time: Normal diaries have time stamps for each day, and you can take advantage of those to mention what you are eating and at what time. This will help you track the frequency of your meals.
- Mention the water intake: Hydration is as beneficial to you as maintaining a healthy diet is. Be sure that you are mentioning the amount of water you are drinking each day so that you know how far you need to go to increase the water intake.
You can also get more specific with the information and include if you were alone or with someone as you ate. For better recalling, you can mention the room you were in and the mood you were in a while having that meal. This will help you understand what propels you to consume food. Also, list the activities you do while eating. Any of these factors may be responsible for impacting your food and water intake.
Dieting with a food diary will make you more conscious of your choices and how much you are eating, and whether you need to have that much food intake. Dieting will also require you to have healthier food habits. Some of the minimal things that you can begin with are as follows:
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Be Realistic
Dieting is not magic. You will not immediately lose or gain weight once you begin following a prescribed diet. Understand that your body will take time to get accustomed to the new routine, and give yourself time when it feels challenging to stick to the regimen prescribed to you. Pressuring yourself is not going to take you anywhere. You might go too overboard with dieting, which can prove detrimental to your health. Set a goal that you know you can achieve so that your morale is boosted with each achievement.
2. Healthy Snacking
One of the things that will be hard to let go of is the habit of snacking. Whether you are watching TV or reading a book, having a snack at hand makes it more interesting. But it also makes it difficult to know how much you’ve eaten by the end of the ordeal. If you are dieting, then it is time to switch to healthier snacking alternatives.
Even when you are stepping out of the house, have some healthy snacks at hand. If you have a better option, you are less likely to stray and go for some junk food. Whether these are freshly cut fruits or juice, you can conveniently store them in pouches at www.logos-pack.com and stay committed to the idea of being healthy by taking small but important steps.
3. Find Reasons to stay Motivated
Think about the goal you want to achieve. Think about the reason why you began this diet. Keep in mind that these few healthy alternatives would make your life easier in the long run and would help you stay fit. You can even make a list of these reasons to keep with you in case you need a reminder later.
4. Do Not Neglect Exercising
Changing your diet is a step in the healthier direction. If you want better results and want to stay fit, you should also take up exercising. If you were exercising before dieting, keep it up even after you begin dieting. Your physical exertion will help with the changes made in your body from the inside through the food you are now eating.
5. Take Care when Eating Out
If you are maintaining a strict diet, it might be difficult for you to go out the first few times. Eating out would mean that you are exposed to food that is not quality controlled or calorie-controlled by you and hence can prove to be overwhelming. If you are worried about consuming too many calories, you can be prepared by looking up the menu of the place you are going to or drinking water before going out so that you feel full and your food intake is reduced. You can also pack some of your own food while going out and Logos offers flexible packaging options.
The Takeaway
Dieting is a challenging but equally rewarding experience. If you want to stay healthy and fit, dieting to achieve the ideal body weight is a good step. Maintaining a food journal will help you keep track of your eating habits and prevent you from excessive eating. Be regular about maintaining the journal to reinforce good eating habits.
