Most people are familiar with the concept of a journal. A journal is a place where you can log your thoughts, frustrations and hopes in one safe spot without needing to share your innermost feelings and opinions with anyone else in this world. As you are losing weight with the guidance and support of your medical weight loss clinic in East Brunswick a journal can become a valuable asset.
There are all sorts of ways a journal can help with your weight loss goals, from helping you to keep track of your diet to giving you an avenue in which you can get frustrations out of your head and onto paper. But there is one other way that a journal can give you a weight loss boost: a fitness journal can become your own personal trainer, helping you stay organized and push harder as you work to set and reset your own personal records.
Starting a Fitness Journal
A fitness journal doesn’t need to be anything fancy. You can start with a simple notebook and a pen or pencil, or create a folder on your phone that can be easily updated daily. As you push yourself to work harder every day your fitness journal can become your greatest accomplice, helping you stay on track and meet goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of each week.
A fitness journal can be as simple as you want. Unlike other forms of journals, a fitness journal isn’t focused on how you are feeling or what you are thinking—though there are no rules saying you can’t add that information too, should the mood arise. Instead a fitness journal is plain and easy. It is a log of how far you walked, how long you ran or how many exercise classes you attended this week. It is a dedicated place where you can write down your goals and fitness desires and watch yourself progress towards those goals gradually.
Here are a few benefits of keeping a fitness journal:
- It can keep you on track: When you start adding social obligations, career aspirations and health and wellness goals to your schedule the days can start running together. Did you work out three days this week or four? By making a simple note after each workout you will always know if you’ve kept up with your fitness plan, and will have a log that you can share with your medical weight loss doctors as you discuss your progress.
- It can help you reach your goals: Your fitness journal can help you stay accountable to your goals. It might be easy to forget about your fitness goal when you only made a mental note, but once it is in your fitness journal you will be forced to look at it again. Think how great you’ll feel when you meet your goal!
- It can be great for scheduling: When you keep a fitness journal it often becomes easier to add fitness to your schedule. In fact, many people couple their schedule with their fitness journal by making notes about their workout directly on their calendar. If you have a busy schedule this might be a great way to track your fitness and manage your time.
Did you find that keeping a fitness journal helped you with your weight loss efforts? Share your thoughts and experiences in a comment below!