Record or not record, does it really help?

Hi Everyone, I'm having a hard time remembering to record my food in a log. I purchased a notebook to carry in my purse to write down calories, protein, sugar and amounts. However, I either forget to do it or I don't know how much I ate. I measure my food, most of the time, but I don't always eat it all. So what do I record then? I used to use Daily Burn but I have never used it consistently. I like it a lot but sometimes I don't have time to record my meals on it during the day. Does anyone have suggestions? I hear people posting that they record everything and I wonder how they do it?

I have logged food daily for 2 years.  It has helped me enormously.  I still go back and look over old logs to help others.

I eat a lot of the same foods so I put them on 4x6 lined index cards to refer to quickly.  You have to get into the habit of writing things down.  I add totals after lunch and after supper to see what I might need to do in the evening.

I carry my notebook with me everywhere (it fits in my purse).  I have it on my desk at work and by my chair when at home.  I log the food, calories, gm protein, gm carbs and oz of fluid.  I also write down my vitamin times in the upper left corner.  I write recipes or amount of exercise, also.

This is a discipline.  After I get ready in the morning I come downstairs, make my protein latte and sit down to do devotions.  That's when I make my entries into my food log and then put it in my purse or keep it by my chair.  ( I also have "The complete Book of Food Counts" by my chair and look up foods or do it online.

You can do this.  You will be more successful.  Us morbidly obese people kinda selectively forget what we've eaten and rationalize eating more.  This helps me  be accountable.

I record every single bite using my phone and the myfitnesspal app. If I don't eat all I measure out I just guesstimate to the best of my ability. It makes me aware of everything I do and I think where I screw up...and if I am getting in my protein and liquids.

Pre surgery I HATED to keep a food log.......BUT, I want this to be as successful as possible and I am doing things and accepting things differently.  I have a little daily calendar that fits in my purse and like the above person wrote, I take it to work and back.  I want to make sure I get in my protein each day and fluids.......this helps me stay on track and I hope I can keep up like the above person has for two years post surgery (very impressive!).

Good luck to you on your journey!!!

I weigh and measure everything and log every bit of food and fluid I eat.  My food barometer is permenantly broke....and I will do this always!

I use Sparkpeople.com to record my food and they have a great handy app! I quicky add food to my log as I eat throughout the day and if I needed to update or put extra details I do so in the evening.