Information from ChooseMyPlate.gov
In addition to helping you feel and look better, reaching a healthier body weight is good for your overall health and wellbeing. If you are overweight or obese, you have a greater risk of developing many diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer.
The Secret to Success is Making Changes and Sticking With Them
- First — Find out what you eat and drink. This is the key step in managing your weight.
- Next — Get a personalized Daily Food Plan — just for you — to help guide your food choices.
- Then — Make better choices. Everyone is different. Compare what you eat and drink to what you should eat and drink. The ideas and tips in this section can help you make better choices, which can have a lasting impact on your body weight over time.
Did You Know?
- The #1 source of calories in the American diet is desserts — like cakes and cookies?
- Americans get more calories from sugary drinks than any other beverage choice?
Identifying what you are eating and drinking now will help you see where you can make better choices in the future. If you want to make changes to improve the way you eat and your body weight, the first step is to identify what you do now. This includes becoming more aware of:
- What and how much you eat and drink
- How physically active you are
- Your body weight
People who are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off, track their intake regularly. Tracking physical activity and body weight can also help you reach your weight goals.
Get Started Identifying What You Eat and Drink
Write down what and how much you eat and drink. Find a way that works for you. Use a journal, log your intake on your calendar, keep track on your phone, or use an online tool like the SuperTracker.
Start by identifying what you’ve already eaten today. Be sure to include how much as well as what you ate. Don’t forget to include drinks, sauces, spreads, and sides. It all counts.
In addition, write down the physical activities you do, and how long you spend doing each one. Log each activity that you do for at least 10 minutes at a time. Every bit adds up. Use the SuperTracker, a journal, or mark a calendar.
Once you’ve identified what you are doing now, keep it up! Tracking what and how much you eat and drink, your body weight, and your physical activity can help you manage your body weight over the long term.
Look for additional information about weight management in next month’s issue. For more information, visit www.choosemyplate.gov
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