| People who have lost weight successfully often | | | | stretching. A marathon athlete might spend a |
| have two tools in their arsenal to help them | | | | great deal of time on improving cardiovascular |
| achieve their goals: a fitness diary and an exercise | | | | fitness and endurance, and less on strength and |
| log. Keeping written records of these two vital | | | | stretching. Many exercise diaries come with a |
| areas in improving health are key to staying | | | | weekly calendar, so you can fill it in on a daily |
| motivated and reaching your health goals. | | | | basis so that you make sure you have included all |
| A fitness log can cover the foods you eat. Online | | | | of your needed workouts, in addition to the |
| food diaries, after you input the type and quantity | | | | appropriate amount of rest so that your muscles |
| of food, will give you back the number of calories | | | | can repair and strengthen. |
| and number of grams of protein, fat and | | | | Visual learners might benefit from exercise logs |
| carbohydrate for each. In this way you can make | | | | that include graphs. Graphs provide a visual |
| adjustments so that you do not overeat, but you | | | | representation of how your fitness is increasing |
| do get enough of the food you need to fuel your | | | | over time. This type of evidence is hugely |
| body properly. A food diary can also help you list | | | | motivating, especially on days when you don't feel |
| your food goals. You might start small by | | | | like doing anything. You can see where you've |
| substituting whole wheat breads and grains for | | | | started, and how far you have come, and that |
| white, and by drinking more water daily. Build on | | | | knowledge will help to get you through tough days |
| these, and you will see gradual improvement, | | | | when you might fall away from your fitness plan. |
| which you have documented in your diary. Your | | | | Some people like to improve their fitness with the |
| motivation will increase as you see that your plan | | | | help of a fitness team. This could include a friend |
| is working. | | | | or neighbor, or a spouse, all of whom would also |
| An exercise diary is the place to document your | | | | like to get into better shape and you all decide to |
| exercise program and goals. Your goals will | | | | work together to reach your individual health |
| determine the type of exercise program you will | | | | goals. Teams of people working together help to |
| want to pursue. Starting a new fitness program is | | | | motivate each other. Having an exercise partner |
| quite different than a fit athlete working on | | | | that comes to your door and expects you to go |
| marathon training. Both, however, benefit from | | | | out for a walk or run helps keep you on track for |
| coming up with a plan for how they will meet | | | | meeting your health goals, which you have written |
| their exercise goals. Someone new to exercise will | | | | down in an exercise diary, along with food goals in |
| want to start slowly, doing short sessions of | | | | a food diary. |
| cardiovascular training, strength training and | | | | |