As somebody who has lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off for almost seven years, I know that success is possible. Overweight all my life,not only did I not believe that reaching and maintaining a goal weight was possible, but I thought I'd probably be one of those people who eventually died as a result of being severely overweight (and at the rate I was going, that was my inevitable future.)

Almost seven years ago, I embarked on a journey to wellness that included writing down everything I ate. Keeping a food journal turned out to be a powerful tool for me. Using a food journal:

 

• Made me accountable for what I was eating (It broke through the denial that "I wasn't eating that much.")
• Enabled me to see trends (For example, when I was eating for emotional reasons)
• Helped curb impulsive eating (It made me stop and think about what I was putting in my mouth.
• Showed me patterns, such as when I was more likely to reach for food when I wasn't hungry

It took me three years but eventually I lost the weight. Even though I've been at a size 6 for several years now, I still write down my food every day. I do it because it works!

I'd love to have a discussion about how using a food diary can help or has helped you in your journey. Since I do have experience, I'm here to offer support and answer questions...~SH, The Oprah Message Boards

SF