For easy weight loss, eat less and exercise more. Many people don’t realize how many calories they consume in a day. Keeping a food diary helps you zero in on the unconsciously consumed calories that pack on the pounds. A detailed list of what you eat jump starts an easy weight loss program. First, it gives a true picture of what and how much you eat. Second, a food diary helps you see your eating patterns. Third, knowing what you eat and when you eat it may help you understand why you eat it.
In order to keep an accurate food diary, educate yourself on portion size. Use visual cues to figure out how much food is on the plate. Understanding how much you are eating is a key to any easy weight loss plan. A three ounce serving of meat is approximately the size of an average person’s palm. A serving of nuts fits into an average cupped hand. A slice of cheese should be about the length and width of your thumb. A regular coffee cup usually holds eight ounces. Medium drinks sold in fast food restaurants generally hold far more than a 12 ounce can. Cutting down on portion sizes often leads to quick and easy weight loss.
The next step in your easy weight loss program is buying a small notebook. Carry it with you all the time for seven days. Write down everything eaten, the portion size and the time of day you ate it. List anything from a stick of gum to a couple of nuts to a full meal. Note beverages, including water. Purchase a calorie counting guide that contains information about the carbohydrates, fats, sodium and sugar in foods. Most restaurants have nutritional information about their products. Ask for a copy of this information. At the end of each day spend a few minutes analyzing the food you ate. You’ll be surprised how easy weight loss becomes once you understand what you’re eating.
A food diary also points out when and even why you eat. Many easy weight loss plans advise consuming several small meals throughout the day. Some suggest eating your biggest meal early in the day. This tool also aids in discovering hidden calories. A lot of people consume hundreds of calories each day without even realizing it. After awhile, what you eat will become second nature and so will easy weight loss.
