12 Tips of Christmas: #12 Write It Down



More about acupuncture for weight loss in the future.  In the meantime, this is FUNNY!

 Studies have shown that when you are trying to make improvements to your lifestyle and diet, writing down your intake and exercise can help you to stay on track.  Maybe it's the accountability, maybe it's the awareness, either way, there is something powerful about seeing in writing what is going on in your diet and physical activity.

It's hard to know where to start, if you truly do not know where you are to begin with.  I suggest if you are looking for some healthy changes in the New Year, start with where you are RIGHT NOW.  Maybe you will notice a pattern that needs some tweeking, or maybe you need to start from scratch.

You can keep track of your intake and exercise in a small notepad that fits in your purse or pocket, OR you can try one of these uber-helpful websites that have been Eighty Twenty approved:

Livestrong

(yes, there's also an app for that)

My Fitness Pal

(and yes, there's also an app for that)

Spark People

(Apple app, not Blackberry that I can find)

There are many many many others.  These are just a few that I have pre-screened for you.  They are FREE (websites, not apps- except for My Fitness Pal- both are free).  I have found that the biggest difference is the amount of "stuff" that you want to record, etc.  Spark People has the most, My Fitness Pal is the most basic, and Livestrong is somewhere in the middle.

Whether you want to make a minor or MAJOR change, keeping track will help you to stay focused on your goal! 

None of these websites have paid me to mention them.  Use at your own discretion.