The Secret to Sticking to Your Weight-Loss Plan

You don't need a Biggest Loser-style coach to maintain your weight-loss momentum—you just need a pen and paper. Consistently keeping a food journal can help you avoid regaining the weight you've lost, according to a new study in the journal Obesity.
 
The researchers asked 220 obese women to record what they ate at least three days a week. They were instructed to write down the type of food or drink, how much of it they consumed, how many calories it contained, and what time they ate it. At the end of the year-long study, the most diligent diary keepers—those who jotted down journal entries at least three times a week over the course of several months—were less likely to pack on pounds they'd previously lost. Some even dropped additional weight. 

MORE: 4 Food Journal Mistakes You Might be Making  
 
Why? The act of writing down what you eat can help you stick to your daily calorie goal since you're consistently facing the facts, the scientists say.
 
Interestingly, the level of detail the women included in their food journals didn't matter. That is to say: Just writing down what you eat, no matter how detailed, may help keep you accountable. (Although it's worth noting that this contradicts findings from previous research).

Still, it's reassuring to learn that you may not have to write down every number on every food label. Simply jot down the most critical numbers (maybe that means calories or portion sizes, you decide) as often as you can remember—and you may find that the number on the scale doesn't creep back up as quickly as it has in the past.

MORE: How to Keep the Pounds Off—for Good! 

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