The Notebook

One of the things I'm doing since getting back on track again is trying to simplify things. I always hated the small trackers I used as food diaries, because I never had enough room to write down notes, etc.  My dear friend, Nancy, has been using a plain notebook for the past year and has done well losing weight and tracking her food intake. She kept telling me to get a bigger notebook and use it, but I didn't think I would like having a large book. I justified using the small trackers because they were easier to toss in my purse or work tote. I felt a big notebook would be too cumbersome to carry with me.

While I did carry the small trackers with me at times, I rarely ever used them while away from home. I usually don't have time at work to write things down and would end up waiting until I got home to track my food.

I finally decided to give the big notebook a try, and I love it! The one in the photo above caught my eye at Walmart. They were putting the back-to-school displays out and had so many cute notebooks to choose from. I like pretty things, especially floral prints. It has enough pages in it that I can use it for an entire year of daily tracking. 

I am hooked! I now enjoy writing my food down. I keep track of my thoughts and emotions that trigger eating binges. I can jot down my health flare ups to see if they are related to something I ate. I also track whether I had my daily time of prayer, Bible reading, and Bible study. Having a daily quiet time is crucial to my sanity, and tracking it keeps me accountable to make time for God each day.

I've always considered tracking a burden. I fought against it over the years like it was a horrible plague, but I know it is another one of the keys to weight loss success. Love it or hate it, it's a proven fact that those who keep a food diary lose more weight. I find for me it provides a safe boundary. Being a food addict, I need that. Left on my own to just "watch what I eat" is dangerous and allows way too much freedom to overindulge. 

I'm aware a lot of people use their smart phones or tablets to track, and the old-fashioned way is not for everyone. I'm just thrilled I found a way I love to track. It works for me, and I wish I would have started it sooner. A big part of weight loss is experimenting with things to see what makes it easier for you to stay focused. We are all different. Find whatever works for you and do it!