AA Batteries and Your Health

Have you ever noticed that whatever diet you are on, it usually works for a little while?

Weight Watchers, Keto, Paleo, Flexitarian, Vegan, Vegetarian, Atkins, High-Carb, Low-Carb, the list is endless.

So why? These are very different approaches to eating after all. How can people have success with all of them?

Of course, as we have talked about before, many of these diets get a few key things right...more vegetables, more whole foods...less processed foods.

But I want to propose another reason. We’ll call it the AA Battery of change.

Diets create an AWARENESS of what we are eating. They also can provide ACCOUNTABILITY to others as to what we are eating.

Today I propose another way to gain awareness and accountability. The humble food log.

I am not a calorie counter. I do however believe a food log can be helpful for us in our nutritional goals.

Hopefully not every day for the rest of our lives, but certainly when we first get started...and perhaps also when we rub up against challenging times.

There are thousands of blogs, apps, websites and methods for keeping a food log. You find what you like. What works for you. Make it realistic, simple, and quick.

Apps I have tried with success:

• Lose It

• MyFitnessPal

Strategies I have tried with success:

• Writing everything I eat on paper for a day, week, etc.

• Recording what I eat on a computer spreadsheet.

There’s no magic to the method. Just write down what you eat..everything...and be honest. Don’t write down the lettuce-wrapped avocado and broccoli sandwich and forget about the Snickers Bar.

Please do not worry about trying to get your calories exact. Don’t measure out every portion perfectly. A general awareness will do.

Now that we have awareness, adding accountability to somebody packs a second punch.

Share your log with someone. Anyone. Share it with a coach. Share it with me. Share it with your spouse, your kids, or a friend. Share it with someone else who cares about their nutrition as much as you do, and have them share theirs with you. Make it public online. It doesn't really matter, as long as you share it.

In fact, that is what I am going to do...starting today. I am going to record what I eat on this Google Sheet and publish it for anyone to see.

If you look at my log later today, you will probably notice some less than optimal nutritional choices. I am currently in perhaps my most challenging nutritional situation I can remember. Poor eating options all around me in my environment...high stress...little sleep...little routine.

I don't have much control. So what am I going to do? The best I can. Control what I can. Let go of the rest. And be ok with that. Everyone has nutritional challenges. You are far from alone.

So, what’s your strategy? How can you add this AA Battery into your nutritional journey?

Let’s become Aware and Accountable, as we become our best nutritional selves...one-minute at a time.