Food logging.You may have heard people talking about it, or you may have even tried it yourself with mixed feelings. Food logging can potentially be a tedious process and even a little stressful for some. But, is food logging worth the time? Here is one scenario that happens a lot, and it may have even happened to you!
You start taking fitness classes. You are working out consistently for three to five days a week. For the first few months, you drop a few pounds and are excited with your progress. However, your eating habits stay the same or you start eating more because of how much you are working out. Then, the weight slowly starts to creep up, and you feel sluggish during workouts. Why the sudden change?
No, it doesn't mean that the workouts are not working anymore. It just means that your body is not getting the right balance of macronutrients to fuel you through the work out. If you have ever found yourself in a similar scenario, then food logging is for you!
1. What is the point of logging?
Logging what you eat, as well as portion sizes, is the one guaranteed way to see how food is truly impacting your health.
Weight loss is just one aspect of food logging. By logging your food, your nutrition coach is able to see what exactly is going on outside the office between visits. We are able to give feedback and help you dial in exactly what you need to reach your goals. By using an app that will track calories and macronutrients, you are able to ensure you are getting exactly what you need. Many times we mindlessly grab a snack or don't realize exactly how much sugar or fat is in a particular food. When trying to lose weight, tracking your food will be a part of your plan at some point. Outside of weight loss or body fat loss, food logging allows you to ensure you are meeting the correct macronutrient percentage so that you have the fuel your body needs to build muscle. Regardless of where you are in your journey, food logging is the way to meet your performance and fit goals.
2. What should I be logging?
There are many ways to log food. You can write it down, take pictures, or use an app like MyFitnessPal. MyFitnessPal makes it very easy to log food and track calorie and macronutrient goals. It has a huge bank of home made food, as well as restaurant food.
When you are logging, it is important to take note of what you are eating, the portion size, and what meal of the day it is (breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack). You can even track how much water you are consuming! Then, you can easily make adjustments based on how close or far away you are from your goals. By logging these details, you will notice the difference in how you feel on the days you do log versus the days you do not log.
For some, logging food is the first step in their weight loss journey. For others, it is the next step in their fitness journey. Regardless of what your goals are, food logging will help you get there! You will also feel better in the process.
Don't hope for results, make results happen by food logging.