Have you heard the saying, “If you can measure it, you can manage it?”

While simple, it applies to any area of your life. If you can measure something, you’re able to make progress.

If you want to grow a business you need to track pitches, sales, conversion, etc. And if you want to lose weight you need to measure your workouts and caloric intake.

But if you’ve ever tried to lose weight you know that it’s not always easy.  Bad habits are hard to break. But science has now proven that doing one thing will greatly impact your ability to lose weight and keep it off.

So what’s the habit?

Food Journal Study

In 2008, a Kaiser Permanente study of nearly 1,700 participants showed that keeping a food diary can literally double a persons weight loss! The study found that people who actually logged all of their meals in a food diary lost twice as much weight as those who kept no records at all.

And finding a program that works is needed because so many people in the United States and worldwide are struggling with finding a plan that works. As co-author of the study, Dr. Victor Stevens said, “More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. If we all lost just nine pounds, like the majority of people in this study, did, our nation would see vast decreases in hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.”

He also found that if people can lose as little as five pounds they can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure by 20 percent!

What the Food Journal Study Found

According to the author of the study, Jack Hollis, Ph.D. said, “Those who kept daily food records lost twice as much weight as those who kept no records. It seems that the simple act of writing down what you eat encourages people to consume fewer calories.”

How a Food Journal Helps You Lose Weight

Keeping a food diary doesn’t have to be a formal journal that you carry around with you all day. Although that can work if you need to use one. But just the act of scribbling down what you eat on a sticky note, sending yourself emails tallying each meal, or shooting yourself a text message will work as well.

The results come from reflecting on what you eat on a regular basis. It’s about becoming aware of your eating habits so you become aware of what you’re eating on a consistent basis. 

Logging your food in a journal makes it easy to avoid temptation throughout the day. Food journaling in conjunction with these four habits will help you lose weight and keep it off for good. 

4 Ways to Accelerate Rapid Weight Loss

1. Find an Accountability Partner

Find someone with similar weight loss goals so you can find a partner to exercise with and send updates on your food diary.

2. Daily Exercise

While tracking your calories is key, daily exercise is also vital to losing weight. Whether it’s jogging, working out, yoga, pilates, or other activities. All of them will help accelerate fat loss and increase your metabolism.

3. Intermittent Fasting

There have been countless studies in the past decade showing the power of intermittent fasting (IF) to help people lose weight and keep it off.  

4. Meditation

How can meditation help lose weight? By helping you stay relaxed throughout the day. High-stress levels make it easy to binge on salty and fatty foods.

Plus, meditation can help keep you calm and keep cortisol levels low.

Food Journal Your Way to Success

Start using a food journal, email or text message reminder to hold yourself accountable. The simple act of becoming aware of your daily food intake will help you double your weight loss.

Add in some of the other four methods to become healthier and happier. Remember, you can’t live an extraordinary life you’re constantly worried about your health!