Writing down what you eat (and when and how and why), as The EatingWell Diet "prescribes" can teach you a lot about what your dietary challenges are. It can also help to point out your surest path to success. Since you've been following the plan, what have you learned about your triggers? What "tricks" have you discovered help keep you on track?

I have found invaluable insight into the way I eat from monitoring my food intake. I now know why all my past attempts at dieting have failed. I simply eat too much. I eat a balanced diet most of the time and exercise regularly. I have been so frustrated the past couple years trying to loose weight and being unsuccessful. Writing down what I eat and counting calories makes me feel like I am in control. I think one of the strangest aspects of this way of "dieting" is I don't feel deprived and I actually enjoy my food even more. I have to pick and choose what I want to allow into my daily calorie intake and this makes certain food items, i.e. tortilla chips or bread before dinner not as appetizing to me as they we're before. I am so happy since I've been doing the Eating Well Diet. I feel like I can succeed and that is great motivation to keep going!! - Ramona

I agree! I've learned a lot about food from keeping a food journal. I couldn't understand why I wasn't losing weight in spite of fairly regular exercise and an active lifestyle. Turns out that even good, healthy food has calories that add up! I've been eating way too much for a long time. I can still fall into my old habits fairly easily, but I have learned to budget for celebrations and other events that take me out of my normal eating pattern like baseball games and cookouts. If I haven't planned ahead and eat more than I should have, then I get myself right back on track the next day. One bad day doesn't take away all the hard work you've put into weight loss. The critical point is that I get myself right back on track and get my eating under control. I still crave the same yummy things like ice cream and dark chocolate, but I've scaled it back so that I have a smaller portion or split a single portion into 2 parts that I can eat at different times in the day. I love walnuts, but those calories add up quickly. Now I scoop out 1/4 cup and divide into 2 containers and have them throughout the day. Lynn

Well- I think I have learned some of the same things that others report- I simply eat more calories than I think. Lynn reports how quickly even good foods add up and I agree 100%. I find that when my schedule is out of control my eating habits follow suit. My work schedule is very tough to deal with at times especially since I work in the food business! I had to be in Pittsburgh this weekend for work- leading into a very busy Monday- eating habits felt horrible. I believe I am adicted to sugar! I never thought of myself as loving sweets but it does seem that I usually fall off the wagon with sweets more than anything.

I like Ramona's comments about being in control with counting the calories and recording them. I too agree but it is hard to plan that far ahead sometimes. I struggle with that.

I completely have no concept of portion control. I think I am doing well with eating and then I have a ridiculous amount of whatever it is because I know it's healthy. I have to measure everything. Journaling has enlightened me very much to see exactly what and how I eat. I am very consistent on the weekdays but when the weekend hits, it gets difficult!

Keeping a food diary for 8 weeks now has become such a habit, that I NEVER forget to record what i eat! This diet was such a challenge for me the first 2 or 3 weeks but now I believe I'll keep my food diary after the 12 weeks is over. (seriously!)