Food journals

Xan921 · July 2011

Do any of you keep a food journal? I've recently started keeping track of my calories and not letting myself go over a certain amount. I've only been writing the calories down for each meal so I know how many I have left, but I think I may start writing the food I eat down too.

If you do keep one, how long have you been doing it? Do you do it for weight loss or just so you have a better idea of exactly what you're putting into your body?

hz80408 · July 2011

I don't have one that I keep up to date now. I occassionly track my calories eaten and burnt on Daily Plate (similar to sparkpeople). I input the actual food I ate and it calculates the calories. So essentially, it tracks both food itself and caloric intake.

However, last year, I used my tax refund to get a personal trainer prior to the wedding. I didn't track calories, but I did write down everything I ate from March to October. I just made an Excel spreadsheet. Across the top I had: Breakfast, Morning Snack, Lunch, Afternoon Snack, Dinner, Dessert/Evening Snack, and Exercise columns. Then going down I had the date. So I could just type in everyday what I ate. However, I use Excel on a daily basis for work, so it seems like the most natural program for me to use and to remember to look at daily.

Essentially it wasn't to track calories; but really to acknowledge what I was eating and how much of it. It helped me to really keep track of portion-control, which is huge!

But, post-wedding I stopped because I felt like it was becoming obsessive for me. Like I wouldn't eat an extra cookie or whatever because I didn't want to have to write it down. Which, definitely can be good, but I didn't want to fall into trouble either with eating too little and it becoming an issue. (Although honestly, I don't think I could ever starve myself! Lol)

becca474 · July 2011

I use myfitnesspal.com to track my calories and food. I like it because it has an android app (I think it has iphone too) and its super easy and quick to do. Speaking of which I need to go finish up my tracking for yesterday.

Dyork · July 2011

I always try and keep track of what I eat, but it usually doesn't last long. DH always tells me not to bother counting calories. His reasoning behind it is if I work out or run/jog 4-5 times a week I'll lose weight without having to diet. And so far he's right. Of course the more I work out, the healthier I tend to eat.

If you don't plan on working out, then I suppose counting calories would be really helpful. But I'd rather go for a 5mi hike, and have some ice cream, then diet.

StaceB2010 · July 2011

I don't keep track of the calories, but i do try to keep track of what I've eaten for the day, If I had something i know isn't 'good' for me i'll try not to eat anymore junk-food for the rest of the day/ next day, we tend to try to eat pretty healthy around our house.

hz80408 · July 2011

Dyork:

I always try and keep track of what I eat, but it usually doesn't last long. DH always tells me not to bother counting calories. His reasoning behind it is if I work out or run/jog 4-5 times a week I'll lose weight without having to diet. And so far he's right. Of course the more I work out, the healthier I tend to eat.

If you don't plan on working out, then I suppose counting calories would be really helpful. But I'd rather go for a 5mi hike, and have some ice cream, then diet.

This is so true for me also. According to my heart rate monitor (set up for me specifically), and granted that I'm running a lot, on a given run I'll burn anywere from 400 calories to 1,500 on a run.

Last night I ran 6mi and burned 735 calores; so I sure as he!! had some ice cream for dessert when I was hungry an hour after dinner.

driftingangel26 · July 2011

I don't keep track of my calories but I do keep track of what I have been eating every week. Like Hannah I write everything I eat on an excel spreadsheet. I have been doing it for a week so far. For me I guess the great thing about keeping track is looking back at all the crap I ate, and sometimes it give me a little more motivation to get my A$$ to the gym. lol So glad that the 300 calories i just burned equal the 1 french fry i just ate. I really need to get better at the eating healthy thing. haha

hz80408 · July 2011

driftingangel26:

So glad that the 300 calories i just burned equal the 1 french fry i just ate.

Lol, true. I do like knowing calories count of things prior to eating because you can think like that.

Like okay; this 1-150 cookie would be 10 minutes on a bike or whatever

christieep · July 2011

I have done this in the past and it really helps. I did a rough calorie count with it too. There are some online tools for this (free!).

Food journals

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