No-Diet Tip 1: Log It

A “diet diary” tip to lose weight.

Starting and sustaining positive dietary changes is a complex, nuanced, process. Uncovering what is happening beneath the surface is normally warranted when you attempt a major lifestyle diet change. A diet diary can help in this process of losing weight and keeping it off.

The facts are friendly when you use them to build awareness and support your no-diet plan. To gather facts, create a diet diary. A pocket notebook will do. As you work to make changes in your eating habits, record what is happening. Use this process measure to log your progress as well as target areas for change.

Work from observation and you can better see where you are progressing and where you have work to do. For example, how often do you practice portion control? What do you tell yourself when you exercise restraint? How often do you go back for second and third helpings? What do you tell yourself when you go back for extra helpings? Are there high risk times when you are likely to over-consume? Are they stress related? Is this due to complacency?

The diet diary exercise has at least two added benefits. (1) As you observe yourself, you may intuitively compare where you are in your progress to where you'd like to be. This comparative measure can change the situation. You are more likely to do what gets you a higher measure of proficiency. (2) Use information from your diet diary to complete exercises that you'll find in future no-diet blogs.