Three Steps To Weight Loss

If you feel frustrated in your attempts to lose weight, a new study suggests three steps to improve your results. The research, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, recommends:

• Keep a food journal detailing everything you eat.
• Don’t skip meals.
• Don’t eat out for lunch.

When you keep your food journal, the researchers also advise:

• Be honest and record everything you eat.
• Be accurate, measure portions, read labels.
• Be complete, include details such as how the food was prepared and the addition of any toppings or condiments.
• Be consistent and always carry your food diary with you or use a diet-tracking app on your smart phone.

“While the study provided a printed booklet for the women to record their food and beverage consumption, a food journal doesn’t have to be anything fancy,” researcher Anne McTiernan says. “Any notebook or pad of paper that is easily carried or an online program that can be accessed any time through a smart phone or tablet should work fine.”