Do this to stay motivated about shedding weight

Have fun and stay on track

Are you still on track and keeping motivated with your weight loss and healthy eating goals for the year ahead?

If you're not, or you've hit a mini slump, relax!

There is something easy you can do to get yourself motivated and excited about your weight loss journey. Because, really, that's exactly what it is. A journey. And it should be fun, shouldn't it?

So what's this thing that's going to help you get on track then?

It's simply known as...

A healthy diary

This diary is going to become a part of your every day life, so you can really have as much fun with it as you like. You can use a normal A5 diary or buy a hardcover notebook.

Why use a diary to lose weight?

“For one thing, keeping a food diary instantly increases your awareness of what, how much, and why you are eating. This helps you cut down on mindless munching,” says Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, executive director of The Centre for Mindful Eating.

Fletcher isn't talking nonsense. I've been using a diary for the past four months to keep track of what I eat and it's made a huge difference in my life. I've lost kilos that I hadn't been able to lose in years. Plus, it continues to motivate me to keep up with my healthy eating plan and exercise routines. I'd feel completely lost if I walked into the kitchen and didn't see that notebook staring at me first thing in the morning!

How to use your healthy diary

As you get used to writing in a diary every day, you'll find what works best for you. Here are a few tips to help get you started...

Buy a diary or notebook and any pens, highlighters or other stationery you'll want to use. Sometimes a boost of extra colour goes a long way to getting you even more excited and motivated!

1. Split your day into sections: Breakfast, lunch, supper, exercise, etc.

2. Write it down. What you ate for each meal, including snacks, what exercises you did during the day – even if it's only housework (that counts as exercise!), etc.

3. Personalise your diary. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, weigh yourself each morning (or once a week) and write it down.

4. Note your progress. After the first month or two – and every month after that -- note how far you've come in terms of eating better, getting fitter or losing weight.

5. You might be surprised by how much good one little book can do to help keep you motivated! Why not give this a try as part of your new year's weight loss goals?

If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like to read: How to get selfish and burn extra calories

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