How Real, Honest Journaling Helped Me Lose 40 Pounds  

After 10 years of dieting and binge eating, I was at an all-time low. My self-esteem was terrible, my life felt like it was constantly on hold until I lost the weight, and I thought that I would never be able to feel "normal" around food.

Through all the ups and downs of dieting, I became disconnected with who I really was and constantly denied myself what I wanted. Whether it was food or engaging in different life experiences, I held myself back from enjoying the things I wanted to. 

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As a result, my days were dull, my spirit felt dead, and my relationship with myself was terrible. I mean, if someone else was constantly denying me what I wanted, I probably wouldn't like them very much, either. I wanted to feel alive again, and deep down I knew that wasn't something I needed to lose 40 pounds to do.

Why I Started Journaling

One day, I decided I needed to wake the hell up. I began journaling as a way to daydream and get excited about life again. This seemed like the best way to explore the things that make me happiest—which I had completely ignored during my years of yo-yo dieting. For example, in the past, I'd followed a diet instead of checking in to see what I wanted to eat, and I came up with a workout plan designed to burn the most calories instead of figuring out what kind of exercise I actually liked. Basically, I bought into the idea that I couldn’t do the things I wanted until I'd lost three dress sizes.

What I Wrote About

In order to find joy in my life that didn't revolve around dieting or overindulging, I used my journal to ask myself, "What is it that will make you happy right now?" Here are a few of the prompts that helped me dig into that question:

In what ways am I really aligned with my soul and my true self?

What in my life feels off, heavy, or draining?

When was a time that I listened to an intuitive pull from my soul—even if it didn’t make practical sense—and it turned out amazing?

What do I want to do more of in my life?

What do I want to do less of in my life?

What are three activities that truly make me happy? How often do I do these?

What is one thing I need more than anything?

When did I feel most alive? What was I doing? Who was I with?

In my ideal life, this is what I’d be wearing, what I’d be doing in my free time, what I’d be doing for work, what time I would wake up, what my home would look like?

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After I really thought about my answers, I wrote them down and decided to take action. I booked a trip to France with my friends, I started wearing clothes that actually made me feel comfortable, I allowed myself to eat foods I loved (hello, egg and cheese sandwiches!), I traded in my gym membership for going on long walks in the park, I started a food blog, I invested in making my apartment beautiful and completely my style, and I found new hobbies. I even started working up the confidence to date again. I was super-busy but also incredibly happy.

How Writing Helped Me Lose Weight

By journaling about the things I really enjoy, focusing on my responses, and making them a reality, I felt so much happier. That meant I didn't need to turn to food to experience joy anymore. As a result, over the next couple of years, I lost 40 pounds—almost effortlessly (really!).

If you’re struggling with your weight and dieting, I want you to know that it’s usually not about the food. It’s often about the fact that you're not taking care of yourself and you're filling those voids with foods that give you pleasure. To conquer that issue, try tackling the journaling prompts I used to get started figuring out what your needs actually are. Spoiler alert: it's probably not a bag of chips. When you write your responses, you should feel happiness or light up a bit at the thought of the things your soul craves. When you feel that, you'll know that you’ve hit gold. That’s the real you speaking, and it’s time to listen.

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Jamie Mendell is a holistic health coach who specializes in helping women lose weight without dieting. To find out more about her philosophy, check out her website. And if you’re looking for deeper ways to take care of yourself so food isn’t your go-to, check out her new Supreme Self-Care program.

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