The single most important instrument for nurturing your spirit is a personal journal. The most successful tool for encouraging your weight loss and exercise program is a diet and fitness journal.
Down through history, women and men have kept journals. It’s a good thing that they did. If not for their steadfastness we would not have any reliable records of the past.
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I think our ancestors found pleasure in recording their day-to-day events and I’m sure it provided a sort of therapy for the hard times that they endured.
If you have ever kept a journal or a diary, you know the joy journaling can bring. I learn so much about myself when I maintain my journal.
Reading entries about challenges I’ve struggled with in the past helps me find solutions to problems I face today. It’s like having my own life story. Best of all, journaling helps me realize how truly blessed my life is.
By being truthful in my writing I become accountable for all of my actions. Once I have assumed this accountability, it’s easier to refrain from deeds that don’t produce desirable results.
There are all sorts of different journals that a person can keep. Anytime a person wants to make changes in their life, a journal can be a great asset that helps you stay focused on your goal.
When a person decides to change their life by getting in shape they sometimes keep a fitness journal. A successful tool for losing weight, gaining weight or getting fit, a diet and fitness journal could double your results. That is, if you use it daily to record everything you eat and drink and write down all of your physical activities and exercises.
For women especially, gaining or losing weight can be a complex matter. We over eat or under eat for various reasons. Identifying our habits, determining why we do certain things, and deciding what action to take can all be recorded in a fitness journal.
Let’s say you want to lose or gain weight. You need to record your present weight and measurements. Remember, your fitness level is not about a number on a scale. You are so much more than that! Your measurements will give you a closer idea of how much weight you gain or lose.
Next you’ll want to begin writing down everything you eat and drink. Many calories can be consumed by what we drink, so be sure to include every juice, tea, coffee or soft drink. You might be amazed when you see it all on paper.
Before you are finished with the day’s entry, record your activity for the day. Did you go for a walk, bike ride, run or work out with weights or calisthenics?
Perhaps you are a body builder and you’re reaching for that next level. Seasoned athletes like you can benefit immensely by keeping a diet and fitness journal. An ongoing journal is the best way to truly challenge your self.
If you’ve tried journaling before and could never keep it up, I’ve got a few tips that will help you succeed.
Form a Habit
Make journal writing a habit by planning a specific time of day when you will write in your journal, such as every morning when your start your day, in the evening before you go to bed, before you have breakfast, or during lunch, you may choose to write everything down at one time, but I find it inspiring to write little notes all throughout the day. Writing consistent journal entries will make future reading more enjoyable.
Make it Easy
Keep everything together so it will be easy to write in your journal. Place it in a convenient location, place it near your purse if you’re taking it to work or place in your bag to carry it to the gym. Be sure to keep pens handy so you won’t have to spend time looking for something to write with.
Keep it Simple
Your fitness journal can be fruity and fancy or just a binder of pages for writing. I find it helpful to have a book that’s easy to carry but not so small that I can’t write in it. Something that I can tuck in my purse or gym bag is the perfect size.
Organize your Thoughts
Get an idea of what you want to write in your journal. Make it as complete as possible. It may seem tedious in the beginning, but the more information you provide the easier it is to know what changes you need to make to reach your desired goal. You’ll be glad you took the time to be concise when you read these entries later.
Be Honest
Remember, this is your life story. The only person who is getting fooled is you. Be honest in your daily entries by writing down everything you eat, drink and all of your activities. This accountability will help you to break habits that are standing in your way and help to highlight the successful things that you are doing so you know what’s working for you.
Vary Your Entries
Make sure you write your feelings and thoughts about the things going on in your life. This will go a long way in determining how your emotions affect your appetite, eating habits and exercise routine.
Read your Thoughts
Make a regular habit of reading your past entries. Perhaps before you begin writing each day you could read an entry from the previous week or month. It will help to inspire your writing by opening your mind to a different day’s experience.
Electing to get fit and healthy by losing or gaining weight and getting your body in shape can do wonders for your life. She who has health has hope and the woman who has hope has everything.
Record your journey of hope, personal change and success. Tell your story, if for no other eyes than your own. It won’t be history but it will be herstory, a Story4her that doesn’t hold back. Begin writing your story today.
Share your journaling spirit with us and our readers by leaving a comment below:
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