The Fit Professor: Research Confirms That Doing This Can Double Your Weight Loss Results

Friday, May 20, 2016

Research Confirms That Doing This Can Double Your Weight Loss Results

Research confirms, when it comes to weight loss, keeping a food journal will double your weight loss results. In a 2008 study conducted by Kaiser Permanente, of the 1700 participants, those who were dedicated to keeping a food diary lost double the amount of weight than those participants who did not fully adhere to tracking their food or did not record their food intake at all (American Journal of Preventative Medicine). In a similar study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, similar observations were made by researchers that individuals who maintained a food dairy lost more weight than those who didn't. Regardless of what type of eating plan you may follow, if you are serious about getting results, you should be recording all of the calories you consume on a daily basis. Keeping a record of food and beverages will keep you accountable to your healthy eating regiment. In addition, a food diary is an incredibly useful tool for accessing areas in your diet that could be improved to yield greater results. How you approach maintaining a food diary is simply a matter of preference. Some may want to keep a tangible journal, while others may prefer the convenience of using a food diary app on their phone. Personally, I use the fitness app My Fitness Pal, a user friendly app that allows you to track your food and exercise. This app has a food database of over 4 million food items and a database of most exercise or physical activities. Furthermore, it has many beneficial tools for those on a weight loss journey, such as the ability to analyze macros (protein, carbs, and fats), nutrient breakdowns, and ways to track your progress. When it comes to maintaining a food diary, it is important to be honest and record everything you consume in accurate portion sizes and to be consistent in keeping your journal complete. So if you are not already doing so, consider beginning what research has confirmed is effective for greater weight loss results and maintain a food journal!