Did you keep a food journal while losing weight?

Q.  Donna Asks: Just wondering if you have more info on a website or a book or article about how you ate to lose your weight!  I’ve got your book The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great and have read how you exercised 3 times a day and ate x amount of calories and of course you have shared all the yummy recipes… but I wondered if you kept a food journal while losing weight?  I want to follow what you did because you have truly inspired me and you look fantastic!  Thanks for your advice!

A.  Hey Donna, Great to hear from you, and I’m glad to hear you’ve read The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great. The wonderful (and frustrating) thing about this way of losing weight is that you’re in charge. Rather than letting someone else tell you what to do (and usually fail) this time you’re the boss.

It’s your job to figure out what’s right for you. But first it’s important to ask yourself, “What’s going on in my life that’s causing me to eat more than I should?” You may need a therapist’s help to get to the bottom of it. Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to go to work! Trust me. This is the hardest part of life-style change, because it will likely require… changing your life! You may have to confront a spouse, friend, kid, parent. Once you muster your courage, however, you’ll be asking yourself, “What took me so long!”

Now you’re ready  to ask, “What do I really need to eat to be happy?”

In your new empowered state, you’re finally able to see food as a pleasurable way of taking care of yourself (because  you’re worth it!).  You may find you need a mid-morning snack. You may want a more decadent teatime sweet because you don’t need the pre-dinner glass of wine and nibble. You may prefer a bedtime snack in place of teatime. I find that when I make the rules, I’m less likely to break them.

Once again, it’s important to figure out what’s right for you. We’re all different and what works for one will likely not work for another.

And no, I did not journal-not my style. I did a lot of thinking on my daily runs! But journaling may be perfect for you. Hope this helps. If not, keep asking questions!