Food Journaling for Effective Weight Loss
Food and exercise journals are one of the most important components of a successful post-bariatric transformation. Simply put, we have found that patients who keep a journal are more likely to achieve their weight loss targets than those who don’t. Understanding what foods we consume on a daily basis and how we metabolize them can be informative, especially when we are unsure about the causes of weight fluctuations. It goes without saying that the post-bariatric diet and exercise program will be healthier than your pre-surgery lifestyle. However, to reach your goals, it is important that we understand our new lifestyle.
A food journal need not be complicated; it can be as simple as using a sheet of paper. Divide it into days of the week and record what you ate and how much at each meal. It is also helpful to jot down the mood you were in before you ate and how you felt afterward. Adding the exercise you perform throughout the day is also important.
Finding Patterns
The idea here is to find a pattern in your lifestyle choices and how each of those choices affects your day-to-day. For example, if you know that eating too much bread during the day makes you tired and unproductive at work, and you’ve written this cause-and-effect in your journal repeatedly, you know that it’s time to scale back. Similarly, if you think a few extra snacks here and there don’t matter, you’ll soon see on paper that they certainly can add up.
Don’t Get Frustrated – Ask for Help
The post-bariatric diet is an ongoing work in progress. There will be times when you may lose or gain weight without exactly knowing the cause. These are times when consulting your bariatric surgeon is essential for understanding why your weight fluctuations are occurring. Keeping a food journal can provide your surgeon with insight into your lifestyle and how it can be modified to help stabilize your weight.
Leverage Tech
For those who enjoy technology, there are many web and smartphone applications that can accurately track your caloric intake and exercise. Utilizing one of these applications can make tracking your progress and weight loss easy and even enjoyable. No matter how you wish to track your habits, ensure you do so honestly and regularly. The result will be informative and will contribute to your weight loss success.
