The Proper Way to Lose Weight

I was always thin and energetic until I reached my early thirties. That's when I, like so many other Americans, developed a weight problem. I thought it was because of my metabolism that, as I got older, I just didn't burn energy like I used to. I also realized that my energy was easily sapped, my moods were often poor, and I was feeling pretty horrible health wise. The truth was, my metabolism was only half the problem. The biggest problem was that my lifestyle had changed dramatically. As I got older, my activity decreased. I was walking less. I spent more time at home in front of the TV, and I was still eating the same amount of food I had been eating when I was active and walking five miles a day. So after several failed diets and attempting to lose weight with 'magic' pills - I came back to reality and realized there was only one way I could lose the weight and keep it off. The old fashioned way - exercise and sensible eating. This, for me, was more about a lifestyle change. The only way to do that was to be fully aware of what I was doing to myself. So to help me change my lifestyle and become more mindful about what I was doing to myself, I bought a health journal.

How to Use a Journal:

A journal will help you keep an accurate account for everything you put into your body from prescriptions and supplements, to what food is being consumed daily. It will also help you record how much exercise you're getting and your general feelings of well-being on a day-to-day basis. Keeping a health journal can make us more conscious about what we eat, how much we exercise, and basically make us aware of foods or habits causing our bodies physical distress.

Other benefits of keeping a journal is you can note how you feel emotionally and health wise on a day-to-day basis, which in turn can help your doctor to know what you've been doing, which may help him or her with your diagnosis and treatment. It can help you identify possible food allergies or medication reactions. It can help your doctor adjust your medications.