Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding on How to Journal Your Way to Better Health

Keep Track of Your Success with Tips from Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding

Many people have health-related areas of their life they want to improve. Some would like to lose weight, while others want to incorporate consistent exercise into their routine. When working to make positive changes in your health, you will find some things that work for you and some that don’t. One way to keep track of all the information is to keep a fitness journal. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding recommends this as a tool to stay organized and motivated as you continue your journey.

Choose What’s Best for You

Fitness journals are helpful for achieving health goals.First, decide on what kind of fitness journal you would like to keep. Depending on your taste and style, you can make it as simple or as detailed as you want.

  • Online: choose an app or a fitness tracking webiste. You could even create your own blog if you enjoy writing and want to share your experience with others.
  • Paper: any blank notebook will do, but it should be something you want to write in. Choose a hardcover journal, a scrapbook or something more artistic.
  • Computer: if you enjoy the organization of databases and spreadsheets, use a digital method.

Healthy Eating

A fitness journal is a great place to keep track of the food you eat. Some people find a calendar within a journal works best as a meal tracker. Record what you eat each day, how much and when. This has many benefits:

  • You will make sure you’re eating healthy foods.
  • It will be clear to see how much you’re eating and snacking.
  • You can track how different food makes you feel.

Some people make a section for “tried and true” recipes for go-to healthy meals. This could be quick and easy lunches to make at work, or nutritious snacks to prevent old habits from creeping in. Use a section for meal planning or keep a list of pantry staples — food to always have on hand.

Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding Recommends Tracking Your Exercise

Another way a fitness journal is helpful is by using it to track your exercise. People today lead very busy lives, and exercise is often the first thing to fall off the list. Write down your fitness goals, then break those down to a weekly plan. Some people find the bullet journal method to be very helpful for tracking both fitness goals and habits. Consider tracking these in your fitness journal:

  • Type of exercise you do and duration
  • Intensity (especially if your doctor recommends you monitor heart rate)
  • Distance (if walking, swimming, etc.)
  • How you feel afterwards

Remember when you are making exercise a priority, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are in the gym. There are many alternative forms of exercise that you can “sneak in” throughout your day. Try parking a little farther away from the office or meeting a friend for a walk instead of coffee. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding says the more active you are, the better you will feel.

Using a Fitness Journal for the Big Picture

There’s more to life than food and exercise! You can track your overall moods in a fitness journal, in a log or diary style. Many people find that this is a good way to connect all the aspects of a healthy life. If you have an area that is lacking like amount of sleep, you will be able to see that on paper. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding encourages her patients to examine their sleep habits for healthy living. Fitness journals offer flexibility to monitor any area of your life, such as:

  • Sleep tracking
  • Stress management
  • Meditation or yoga practice
  • Doctor visits and medical information
  • Keeping track of habits, positive and negative
  • Goals for weight loss, fitness or life

By keeping track of all these parts of your life in one place, you will see your goals become reality. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding reminds her readers to be patient with themselves. Positive change happens one step at a time, and we can cultivate good habits no matter what our circumstances. Whether it’s losing weight, reducing stress or running your first 5k you can achieve success. Consult with experts, make a plan and don’t give up.

If you are considering weight loss surgery, consult an expert like Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding by visiting the the NYU Langone Weight Management Program.

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