--- title: Food Journaling and Weight Loss description: Food journaling is the first step in being accountable to yourself on your wellness journey. When you want to make lifestyle changes you need to know your weaknesses and the Zone Food and Exercise Journal will help you find out exactly what you are eating and when. It will help you track your sleep hours, daily water consumption, daily exercise or rest day and much much more. Give it a try and make some positive changes in your life. image: https://blog.zoneliving.com/hubfs/Lifestyle%20Tips/0918-FoodJournal-Blog-2.jpg --- ##### Shop By Category - [ Best Seller ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/best-sellers) - [ Omega-3s ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/omega-3-fish-oil) - [ Polyphenols ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/polyphenols) - [ Zone Foods ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/zone-foods) - [ Blood Tests ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/blood-tests) - [ Supplements ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/supplements) - [ Books ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/books) - [ Skin Care ](https://zoneliving.com/collections/skin-care-1) - [ Metabolic Engineering ](https://zoneliving.com/collections/metabolic-engineering) - Best Seller [ Shop All ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/all) ##### Shop By Zone Food - [ Zone Muffins ](https://zoneliving.com/collections/zone-muffins) - [ Zone Pasta ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/zone-pasta) - [ Zone Shakes ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/zone-shakes) - [ Zone Bars ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/zone-nutrition-bars) - [ Olive Oil ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/olive-oil) [ Shop All ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/collections/all) [![easy-to-make](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hubfs/Global_2023/easy-to-make.webp) ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/blogs/recipes) Easy-to-make recipes just for you. [ Browse Our Recipes ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/blogs/recipes) [![insulin-resistance](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hubfs/Global_2023/insulin-resistance.webp) ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/insulin-resistance-quiz) What's your insulin resistance? [ Take The Quiz ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/insulin-resistance-quiz) ##### Zone Tools - [ Insulin Resistance Quiz ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/insulin-resistance-quiz) - [ Protein / Body Fat Calculator ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/zone-body-fat-calculator) - [ Blogs ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/zone-blogs) - [ Zone Food Blocks ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/food-blocks) - [ Recipes ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/blogs/recipes) - [ Ebooks ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/free-zone-diet-e-books) - [ Omega Purity Reports ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/omega-fish-oil) - [ Polyphenol Purity Report ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/polyphenol-purity-reports) [![zone-body-fat-calculator-nav](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hubfs/Global_2023/zone-body-fat-calculator-nav.webp) ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/zone-body-fat-calculator) The Zone Body Fat Calculator [ Calculate Now ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/zone-body-fat-calculator) [![zone-food-block-guide](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hubfs/Global_2023/zone-food-block-guide.webp) ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/food-blocks) The Zone Food Block Guide [ Learn More ](https://zoneliving.myshopify.com/pages/food-blocks) ![Zone-Diet-Blog-Banner-drsears](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hubfs/Zone-Diet-Blog-Banner-drsears.png "Zone-Diet-Blog-Banner-drsears") # Lifestyle Tips Breaking down the latest research on Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Written By: Dr. Barry Sears, Ph. D | Creator of the Zone Diet # [Food Journaling and Weight Loss](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/food-journaling-and-weight-loss) - ** - [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.zoneliving.com%2Flifestyletips%2Ffood-journaling-and-weight-loss) - [**](https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.zoneliving.com%2Flifestyletips%2Ffood-journaling-and-weight-loss) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/food-journaling-and-weight-loss) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.zoneliving.com%2Flifestyletips%2Ffood-journaling-and-weight-loss) Written by Mary Perry, MS, RD, LDN on September 12, 2018 You might be surprised to learn that one of your biggest assets when it comes to weight loss or weight maintenance is as simple as having a pen and paper. When getting started on a weight loss routine or trying to get through a weight loss plateau keeping a record of everything you eat or drink over the course of the day can be a huge piece of your success. Studies have shown that people who keep food journals can lose twice as much weight as those who don’t (1). Food journals are also helpful to improve food choices and identify deficiencies, food triggers or potential allergens in your diet. **How to Start Food Journaling**: - **Find What Works Best For You: **There are numerous ways to track, but the key is finding something that works for you. If it’s not easy you won’t stick with it. Sometimes a pen and paper is the best way to jot things down as you go, plus its portable so you can keep on hand. There are also plenty of apps you can access too for easy tracking. - **Record Everything: **No matter how big or small write-it down. It’s the little things that add up like beverages, condiments, eating leftovers when cleaning up from dinner or the candy on your co-workers desk. - **Track after Your Meal: **Try and record everything you eat as close to meal time as possible. If you wait until the end of the day you’ll be likely to forget what you had or estimate incorrectly so write as you go. - **Be Accurate: **Having a food scale or measuring cups and spoons may be helpful to ensure your portions sizes are accurate. We often over estimate our portions so this is a good place to start. This is especially helpful if you feel as though you've been doing everything right and the scale doesn't seem to budge. You don’t have to keep this up long just until you get comfortable that you are estimating correctly. If you aren’t home to weigh things out, use the nutrition facts panel as a guide or many restaurants have their calorie information posted online. Getting acquainted with these portions sizes can help too. ![Dr. Sears Zone Portion Guide](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lifestyle%20Tips/0918-FoodJournal-Blog-1.jpg?width=850&name=0918-FoodJournal-Blog-1.jpg) - **Write How You Feel and Time of Day: **When we are tired, irritable, emotional or stressed that is when we are more likely to throw the towel in on healthy eating. When tracking your intake make a note of how you feel. This can be a note about what made you eat (tired, boredom, stress) or how the meal itself made you feel (tired, fatigued, energetic). This gives you the insight to know what your triggers are and how to better navigate them moving forward. - **If You Cheat, Track It: **If you’ve completely overindulged, it’s ok, just write-it down. There is no guilt here, just get back on track at your next meal. You gain the most insight when you log your cheat meals as it allows you to track how frequently the indulgences occur. Logging also increases the likelihood that your next meal will be healthier, rather than forming a new pattern of poor choices. [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4011822/daffa570-1055-4766-af51-e09d66a17e47.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4011822/daffa570-1055-4766-af51-e09d66a17e47) Keeping a food journal keeps you accountable for your food choices. If you have to write down a poor food choice, you’ll be less apt to put it in your mouth. Whether you’re just starting on your weight loss journey, trying to maintain your current weight or want to identify food cravings, journaling is great way to identify patterns, cravings and how your emotional triggers influence your food choices. **References**: 1. Hollis JF, Gullion CM, Stevens VJ, Brantley PJ, Appel LJ, Ard JD, Champagne CM, Dalcin A, Erlinger TP, Funk K, Laferriere D, Lin PH, Loria CM, Samuel-Hodge C, Vollmer WM, Svetkey LP; Weight Loss Maintenance Trial Research Group. Weight loss during the intensive intervention phase of the weight-loss maintenance trial. Am J Prev Med. 2008 Aug;35(2):118-26. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.04.013.  [Weight Loss ](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/weight-loss), [Zone Diet ](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/zone-diet), [Quick Tips ](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/quick-tips) ### Popular stories [Fats Explained-What Is Fat And Why Do We Need It?](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/fats-explained-cooking-oils-not-sure-which-fats-lifestyle-tips) Jul 16, 2018 [What Are Carbohydrates?](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/what-are-carbohydrates) May 22, 2018 [High Protein Vegetables](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/high-protein-vegetables) Mar 14, 2018 ### Posts by Tags - [Zone Diet (72)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/zone-diet) - [Quick Tips (47)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/quick-tips) - [Nutrition (43)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/nutrition) - [Zone Foods (36)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/zone-foods) - [Weight Loss (31)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/weight-loss) - [Polyphenols (24)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/polyphenols) - [Recipes (21)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/recipes) - [Healthy Aging (16)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/healthy-aging) - [Omega-3 Fish Oil (12)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/omega-3-fish-oil) - [Athletic Performance (10)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/athletic-performance) - [Evidence-Based Wellness (9)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/evidence-based-wellness) - [Childhood Nutrition (7)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/childhood-nutrition) - [Holidays (5)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/holidays) - [Food & Nutrition (4)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/food-nutrition) - [Diet Tips (2)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/diet-tips) - [Protein (2)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/protein) - [Cocoa Polyphenols (1)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/cocoa-polyphenols) - [Heart Health (1)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/heart-health) - [Inflammation (1)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/inflammation) - [Metabolism (1)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/metabolism) - [Zone Living (1)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/zone-living) - [Zone food (1)](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/tag/zone-food) [See all](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/food-journaling-and-weight-loss#) ### Let Us Know What You Thought about this Post. Put your Comment Below. ### You may also like: [Weight Loss](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/weight-loss) ## [Healthy Habits for Weight Loss](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/healthy-habits-for-weight-loss) Turning the page on a new week, new month or new year brings hope, a sense of new beginnings and a fresh start. No matte... [Read More for Post](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/healthy-habits-for-weight-loss) [Weight Loss](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/weight-loss) [Zone Diet](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/zone-diet) [Recipes](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/recipes) ## [8 Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/8-healthy-salad-dressing-recipes-0) There’s nothing better on a fresh salad than a flavorful dressing. Homemade dressings enhance any dish you add them to a... [Read More for Post](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/8-healthy-salad-dressing-recipes-0) [Weight Loss](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/weight-loss) [Holidays](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/holidays) [Zone Diet](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/zone-diet) [Nutrition](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/nutrition) [Quick Tips](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/topic/quick-tips) ## [6 Things That Lead To Fluctuating Scales During The Holiday](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/6-things-that-lead-to-fluctuating-scales-during-the-holiday) With the holiday season in full gear some of us may abandon the scale all together or wonder why there are big fluctuati... [Read More for Post](https://blog.zoneliving.com/lifestyletips/6-things-that-lead-to-fluctuating-scales-during-the-holiday) ![](https://blog.zoneliving.com/hs-fs/hubfs/99%20Template%20Pack/newsletter_bg.jpeg?width=2000&name=newsletter_bg.jpeg) ## Get all News Updates to your inbox. Easy email reminders who count on the weekly recap. ### Subscribe to Email Updates