There are many tools which can help you lose weight. Often exercise and trying to watch your diet is just not enough, most people need some help. Unfortunately, unless you are a celebrity you probably can’t afford a personal trainer or a meal delivery service. If you struggle with weight loss-whether it is five pounds or fifty pounds, keeping a food diary can help you reach your weight loss goal.

The weight loss journey usually begins with the usual-you make a commitment to yourself to cut your calories, eat more salads, and skip dessert. Most people stick to the plan for the first couple of weeks but then real life kicks in. You can’t avoid going out for the occasional dinner with the family or having no choice but to go to a fast food restaurant when you are travelling. What you can do is vow to keep track of what you are consuming and become more aware of what you are putting into your body. We often forget that the chocolate bar we grabbed at lunch and the three martinis we had at happy hour can add up to a pound or so of weight gain. Keeping yourself honest and keeping track of your food works for most people because it makes you aware of your eating patterns and vices. Usually after keeping track of your diet for a few weeks you are able to pick out patterns-maybe you tend to skip breakfast and overeat at lunch, or tend to eat right before you go to bed. A food journal can help keep you on track and lets you adjust your eating patterns to fit your weight loss goals. A food journal is also a great tool to count the exact number of calories you are consuming each day and keeps you honest.

Along with keeping a food journal, tracking your daily exercise and calories burned will be beneficial in your weight loss journey. You can easily get a free online diet or exercise journal to help you get started.