Creating a game plan can be overwhelming, especially if you have no idea where you’re starting. Enter, food journaling. Tracking your intake can make you feel more in control of your eating habits, and in turn, motivated to make small changes to your current diet. “Because you’re making small modifications to your current behaviors, as opposed to trying to adhere to a new diet altogether, many find it more sustainable, as well as educational,” says San Diego-based culinary dietitian Nancy Snyder, R.D. In time, you’ll have proof of the legit progress you’re making, which can help you stay motivated over the long haul.
Just make sure you approach the process with an opportunistic mindset for setting goals, not as a forced recalling of “good” and “bad” behavior, says Snyder. That will make you lose sight of the big picture.