3 reasons why you need a food log

Even the thought of a food log can feel daunting. Writing down everything you eat and then looking over it, feeling back about where you “slipped up.” Yeah — that’s not good for anyone. But — there is power in knowing what you’re putting in your body. It’s all about balance.

1. You don’t know what you don’t know.

If you aren’t seeing the progress you want to see, or you are consistently not feeling your best after you consume foods, it’s time to get to the bottom of it. When it comes to losing weight or shifting your body composition, what you’re eating is the number one determinate for your success. And if you don’t know what you’re eating, it’s hard to know what to change.

This is why a food log is so important. If you’re tracking your meals, you will have a better sense of what needs to stay, what needs go and how you can amplify your progress.

2. You need to establish a baseline

When you’re just starting out you need to get a sense for what your baseline calories are. These are the calories you need to keep your weight where it’s currently at. There are lots of calculators you can use online, but I’ve found that the best tool is a 2 - 3 day food log that tracks what you normally eat. Not what you eat to get ahead of the process, but an honest assessment of your current diet. From there, you can better estimate where to set your deficit or where to drop your calories in order to lose weight. I always tell my clients that there is a lot of trial and adjustment in the process, but you have to start somewhere, and this is a great way to do it.

3. You’ll gain clarity you didn’t know you needed.

Keeping a food log should not feel stressful. It should feel like another tool in your toolkit. Another way to help you lead a healthier lifestyle and move closer to your goals. You may not realize it in the moment, but later being able to look back at where you’ve been and where you’re at as a way to plan for where you want to go is incredibly important.

I know it doesn’t always feel great in the moment, but try it. You don’t have to write down every single thing you eat every day of the year. That’s not the point. It’s about equipping yourself with information and tools to get you closer to where you want to be.

Try it!