Does it really help to keep a journal? --H.C.

An eating and exercise journal absolutely, positively does help when you're stuck in a rut. I use one myself. A journal is effective because it helps you determine your patterns. Once you zero in on some of your bad habits -- and perhaps why you have these habits -- they are easier to change. I also find that keeping a journal keeps you honest about what you're eating, and sometimes can deter you from eating too much. Who wants to write down that they've eaten an entire bag of cookies? If your fitness and nutrition plans work for you, you now have a written plan for how you've made it happen. If you don't shape up as you would have liked, you also can find the reasons on the pages of your journal.

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