Keeping Track of Weight Loss

Tools to Help Check the Progress of Staying Fit

Feb 26, 2009 Wei Yin Wong

Those trying to lose weight can use fitness journals, bathroom scales, calorie-counting devices and body tape measures to track their progress.

If weight is a big issue and trying to keep it off has been a bigger challenge, some additional weight loss tools may be helpful. After all, a study by the Centers for Disease Control has shown that people who lose weight and successfully keep it off use some kind of system to track their weight loss progress. Here are some weight loss tools to consider.

Fitness Journals

It doesn’t have to be a fancy journal. Even a simple diary or calendar can be used to log in the servings of foods eaten and the number of workout sessions done in a week. However, there are more sophisticated options available.

Try the ColorCode Mode™ Journal, a fitness and diet journal in which users color in their positive fitness actions for each day. It’s fun and helps remind users to stay on track and finally succeed.

Online fitness journals are available too. Many are easy to use and it takes only a few minutes a day to maintain. An online fitness journal usually tracks a user’s exercises, diet and weight loss.

Online registration is required.

Bathroom Scales

Several studies have found that daily weighing helps with both weight loss and weight gain prevention. In a study from the University of Minnesota, over 3000 adult participants took part in a two-year weight loss or weight gain prevention trial. The results showed that higher frequency of weighing was consistent with greater weight loss or less weight gain.

Another study published in the October 2006 issue of New England Journal of Medicine showed that dieters who weighed themselves daily were more likely to lose weight in the long term than those who did not. So don’t underestimate the power of the humble bathroom scale!

Calorie-counting Devices

If calorie-counting is too much of a chore, try some of the calorie-counting devices that can be easily strapped on the arm like the Bodybugg, which tracks the calories consumed and burnt. The progress can later be downloaded on to the computer. Other tools such as calorie-counting watches and handheld calorie-counting devices are also available. However, some of these can be pricey.

Body Tape Measures

Monitoring the waist measurement is a good way to track weight loss too. Often, at the beginning of a weight loss and fitness regime, the waist is the first spot where results are apparent. Look for a body tape measure with locking feature that assures a snug measurement, easy-to-read result and higher accuracy.

Those seriously trying to lose weight will enjoy better results if they also have certain tools to help track their weight loss progress as well as motivate them. Fitness journals, bathroom scales, calorie-counting devices and body tape measures have all been shown to help in both weight loss and weight gain prevention.

Those who find this article useful may also like to read Losing Weight Permanently, Portion Control Made Easy and Eating Less.

The copyright of the article Keeping Track of Weight Loss in Weight Loss is owned by Wei Yin Wong. Permission to republish Keeping Track of Weight Loss in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A Bathroom Scale can be a Weight Loss Tool