Today I'd like to share with you an exercise that is a vital component in weight-loss and the quest for healthy living in general. This tool is known as the FOOD JOURNAL. Particularly in the beginning, this practice is a top priority for achieving and maintaining healthy habits. I start by sharing this before any of the workout experiences because you can workout until you're red, white, AND blue in the face; if you're not eating healthy and often enough, you just won't see results. The combination of nutrition and exercise is dynamic!
What I suggest to anyone who asks me how to start is this: for 30 days, get a notebook and write down absolutely everything you eat along with what time you eat it. If you are truly honest with yourself, this should be a real wake-up call! Take a good long look at what you eat and how much in the course of a day, a week, a month. I'd bet that most people would be really surprised and, hopefully, motivated to make changes.
For a long, long time while I was doing this, I was required to keep track of how many calories, grams of fat, sodium, and carbs were consumed as well. I was told to surgically attach the journal to myself if need be. The journal was to be my constant companion. Accountability was my first lesson and it has been an invaluable tool that I still use after over 3 years of training. Now I don't ask you to be THAT detailed about it (you can if you want, though), just the what and when should do the trick!
If you can be diligent, you'll get a good sense of self-awareness which will lead to better choices and a strong beginning toward a healthier way of life.
I'm still learning to use all the bells and whistles on this site. Let me see if I can get some pictures up. Meanwhile, I'll be planning and posting plenty more of the many dimensions of this experience (workouts, nutrition, my life before training, a day in the life, etc.) and doing my best to be a positive force for all who need an encouraging word.
Ken White
I like how you describe the combination of nutrition and exercise as "dynamic"! And your own weightloss and transformation reflects this. Thanks for sharing by writing about what worked for you. All we can do is live by example....keep living the life!
ReplyDeleteWell done Ken! There are people out there who want to lose 5-15 pounds, just to look better, but you clearly have not just lost the weight, but also regained your life back.
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