How to Keep a Calorie Journal
Using a calorie journal can be successful in helping the people who are serious about losing weight. It's especially useful in helping people realize what they're actually putting into their mouths on a daily basis.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
-
-
1
Visit a free calorie counter website to calculate the number of calories you need to consume each day in order to meet your goal. A lot of people want to lose weight, some want to maintain and some want to gain. Knowing how many calories you should be consuming is half the battle.
-
2
Assign 1 piece of paper for each day's meals and write the day's date at the very top of the page.
-
3
Make 3 columns or rows on the page to help track calories and name them "name of food", "number of servings eaten", and "total number of calories consumed".
-
4
Record the information from step 3 by looking at the nutrition label on your food's packaging.
-
5
Keep the calorie journal in plain view at all times. Keep it on a kitchen counter, end table or nightstand. The more you see it, the more likely you'll remember to record foods that you've eaten.
-
6
Analyze your journal entries at the end of each week. This will allow you to see what you are doing well with and what you need to make improvements on.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always make note of serving sizes and the number of calories associated with each serving. If you have 2 servings, be sure you double the calories from the nutrition label.
If you eat at a restaurant, be sure to check their nutritional information and record it in your calorie journal. Many places have the info available in stores and/or online.
