Know if a diary is right for you

[tara]

I know that keeping a food or weight loss diary is helpful for some people and it's a tactic that is often recommended, especially when you're first trying to track what you're eating and your calories, etc. but personally I've found it to be more of a hindrance then an actual help. I find when I keep a diary I get obsessive. Recording what I eat daily makes me get very crazy about calories to the point that it's all I can think about. I don't enjoy food anymore, all I can see are calories and how much fat I might be gaining by eating something.

I've personally stopped keeping track of what I eat. I know that's not what everyone should do, but in my case it's just not worth the grief it causes me. So to all of you who hate keep tracking, I feel your pain!

[Paplo]

I think a diary may be good to start, especially if you're new to tracking what you eat. However, I think once you have a general idea of what to eat, you don't really need to keep a diary, as long as you're happy that way.

I don't think it's a matter of keeping one or not, it's all about what works best for you.

[tara]

I think a diary may be good to start, especially if you're new to tracking what you eat. However, I think once you have a general idea of what to eat, you don't really need to keep a diary, as long as you're happy that way.

I don't think it's a matter of keeping one or not, it's all about what works best for you.

Fair enough :) Can't argue with that. The key thing is to do what works best for you :)