The Flat Belly Diet
The "Write Way" to Lose Weight!

Flat Belly Diet: Chapter IX, The Four-Week Plan: Journal.“Do I Really Need to Keep a Food Journal? I Don’t Have Time and Other Various Excuses.” That’s what I would have called this chapter...if the authors had asked me! The answer is simple,yes, you really should get into the habit of keeping a food journal.

I recently read an article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (August edition), that highlighted the many reasons why keeping a food diary is one of the key factors of success in reaching weight loss goals. Why does it work so well? It begins by taking ownership of what you eat, and an overall awareness of food. (calories, fat, etc.)

If you don’t write down what you eat over the course of the typical day, you will forget what you’ve consumed by the end of the day, and probably overeat. The best advice comes from a well-circulated quote that I’m sure you’ve heard before…

"If You Bite It—Write It!”

Last Summer I began to keeping a food journal, and admittedly, in the beginning it was a bit difficult. I started out by simply writing down what I ate. I didn’t analyze what I ate…I just jotted down what passed through my lips.

As I began to get used to keeping notes about my food consumption, I began to track my calories, fat grams, and the percentage of fat grams out of my total calories consumed. I also began to write down my daily exercise and water intake as well. During the first 2 months of keeping the journal, I lost 16 pounds.

Okay, back to Chapter X...it contains an actual food journal for you to complete during your first 28 days of the Flat Belly Diet. Each day also has a reflection question to boost your confidence.

As with any other behavior you are trying to change, you need to reflect on your progress or in some cases lack of progress. I highly recommend you go back and re-read your journal every few days.

“What Should I Look For?”

I’m glad you asked…begin by looking for trends. Do certain foods, emotions, or situations cause problems for you? Take note of when you start to see changes…good and bad. Make changes as you see that you need to!

Flat Belly Diet (Chapter 9)-->(Chapters 1-3)

~The Mind-Belly Connection & Belly Bloat (Chapters 4-5)
~(Chapters 6-7) Keep Reading About the Flat Belly Diet
~The Four-Week Plan: Recipes (Chapters 8)
~(Chapter 10) Boost Your Metabolism! Exercise!
Does the Flat Belly Diet Really work?