Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Reader Question: I'm trying to lose weight and a friend suggested I keep a food diary. Will that really help?

Your friend is right! In fact, a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who keep food diaries lose twice as much weight as those who don't. It doesn't matter whether you record what you eat in your daily planner or just write it on a sticky note; the point is to pay more attention to what you're putting in your mouth. Remember to be specific about what you ate, how much, and, if possible, include an estimate of how many calories are in each item. I recommend writing foods down immediately after eating them (if you wait until the end of the day you're more likely to forget). I also think it's a good idea to take note of when and how much you exercise—it'll keep you motivated.

More From Woman's Day



What do you think?