The Most Effective Weight Loss Technique Ever
Imagine that you found yourself somehow wide awake at 3 AM and staring at the infomercial channel (OK I know it's a stretch, but work with me here.)
A totally believable pitchman tells you about a new weight loss product that, in clinical trials, produced twice as much weight loss in the group that used it. (That's twice as much- as in 200%. Am I making myself clear?)
Before I tell you the price, are you interested?
Of course you are. And steer yourself for the punch line, because the price is....
Free.
In fact, I'm about to reveal that weight loss secret to you in a minute. But first let me whet your appetite even more by describing the clinical trial.
Nearly 1,700 overweight or obese adults at least 25 years old participated in the study and were tracked over the course of 6 months. All of them were encouraged to use the standard weight-loss tools: reducing calories, moderate exercise, you know the drill. (The study was published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.)
They were also told- and get ready now for the secret- to keep a food diary.
Not all of them did.
But the ones that kept a food diary lost literally twice as much weight as those who didn't keep a food diary.
There's the secret. Free of charge. No muss no fuss no operators standing by. Just buy a notebook and write everything down. And I mean everything! It increases consciousness, helps you become mindful of triggers, and helps you identify the problem areas you need to work on. And we have scientific proof that it works.
Just remember: using that one tool (a conscientious food diary) will double the results you'd get without using it.
Think it's worth it?
Labels: food diary, study, weight loss



Correlation does not equal causation. It seems very likely that the correlation in this case is an effect rather than a cause: peopel who have the discipline to succeed in keeping a diary in the first place are also more likely to succeed in keeping to healthy habits such as regular exercise.
The study as described does not make the conclusion valid because the samples were self-selecting.
For the study to support the conclusion, you'd have to then take the people who succeeded in keeping the food diary and then tell half of them to stop doing it. Then, if the non-diary half is less successful than the diary half, you might be onto something.
Thanks for reminding me. From years and years of experience, I know that...I just hate doing it. :)
Peggy
your point is excellent and well-taken.
Most successes with weight loss are multi-factorial, and you are entirely right- that said, it's worth noting that actually DOING something like this increases mindfulness and consciousness which does seem to be related to success. So even if people "mimic" the technique, it's reasonable to assume it will increase their consciousness about what they eat and that that will increase their success.
For what it's worth, the largest ongoing study of successful weight losers- the National Weight Control Registry- observed the exact same thing: diaries were a significant part of the lives of those who lost the most weight and kept it off
warmly
jb
warmly
jb
I believe this! :-)
Such a simple idea, and yet one that could very well finally get me started down the path to a healthier and fit body. I am going to record everything thru 3/31 and send you the pounds and inches lost. I think I'm going to amaze myself with the results!
Thanks!
Carol
good for you!
jb
Thanks Jonny, this tip will come in handy in a nutrition talk I'm giving in a few weeks.
Tim
Jonny,
Just discovered your site from the Health Ranger - really love your site! And this is a great post!
I can attest to food diaries - they really do work!
I lost over 60 pounds effortlessly and have kept it off for over 10 years.
Thanks for sharing!
Love Katrina x
www.FatGirlTrim.com
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