Some medical experts advise that you keep a food diary when you're trying to lose weight. Keeping track of your diet will help you graph calories and identify poor eating habits. Below are great tips on how to use a food diary, and how it could assist you in your own weight-loss efforts.

1. The food diary

Nowadays, a lot of people have mobile devices that work like portable computers. These days you can record your food diary using a mobile device, or perhaps you might choose to have a small note pad. Whatever you decide, ensure it's something easy and practical, so you're not writing down information on random pieces of scrap paper throughout the day.

2. What exactly do you write?

Effectively, a food diary is used to record everything that you stick in your mouth. Whether it's a piece of candy from your co-worked desk, or a hamburger for dinner,Whatever it is, make sure you write it in your food diary. Make sure you record the details - did the hamburger contain tomatoes, Swiss cheese, lettuce, etc.? What type of sauce did you use , and how much? You must also write down down the time you ate the food.

Initially, it you should write down what you're consuming before you make any adjustments to your diet. This way, you have an accurate picture of your eating habits and can make educated modifications which are tailor-made from you're well-documented eating habits.

If you'd prefer, you may also record how you 're feeling on specific days and time in your food diary. This could assist you in identifying habits of worry eating and so on.

Calorie counting and charting is something else that you can include in your food diary. There are many web sites which can help you with identifying the calorie content of assorted foods, including the Food Tracker at mypyramid.gov. (This is one of those instances when working with a mobile device with internet functionality can prove useful for calorie tracking on the run.)

3. Exactly what the diary can teach you

When you evaluate your food diary, some things may come to light. As mentioned above, you may discover you've got a tendency to consume sweet foods when you're feeling stressed, or maybe starchy foods before going to bed. You may also realize that you eat fatty snacks while watching TV or talking on the phone. So-called "unconscious eating" can't be overlooked when it is there in black and white!

As you discover these patterns and eating habits, you can make educated decisions about where you can reduce and/or substitute unhealthy foods for healthy ones. You might also discover that looking for assistance or even therapy becomes simpler when you've got recognized problems or areas where you need assistance.