The National Weight Control Registry was put together in an attempt to show that people can successfully lose weight and keep it off. They have been keeping track of successful losers for many years in hopes of finding out what are their secrets.
Anyone who has lost weight will tell you that losing the weight is easy compared to maintaining the loss. Yet, some people have greater success losing weight than others. What is it that they figured out to make it possible to reach their goals? The National Weight Registry asked their members to share what they found to be the greatest help to them in losing weight. It seems that the majority of the losers kept a food diary. They said that by having to write down what they ate, they were kept connected to the process. It acted somewhat like their conscience, always there reminding them of what they should be doing and reflecting what it is they were doing.
From an MBTI or personality typing perspective, people with a strong Judging preference, a preference that wants organization, enjoys keeping lists, being structured, would find keeping a food diary very motivating. (By the way, if you're not familiar with personality typing, visit my website at http://www.advantagediets.com/ and click on the link "About personality typing.") If part of your type name includes the letter "J", then consider keeping a food diary to lose weight.
That's not to say that Perceivers can't keep food diaries. They can and will, but may not keep to it as long as the Judgers will. With their need for spontaneity and flexibility (What if Sally wants to go out for an unplanned afternoon latte?), too much structure scares them off. So food diaries may not be as appropriate a tool for Perceivers as it is for Judgers.
I hope one day that someone will run a study on the members of the National Weight Registry to see what the types are of the people who have relied on food diaries to lose weight. If you are a researcher and decide to do so, please fill me in on the results. I would be delighted to see if my suspicions are correct.
There is a great tool for Perceivers that is a food diary and is fun. Check out "Drawing the Line on Calories, Carbs, and Fat" on my website. Drawing the Line caters to the characteristics of both Judging and Perceiving. There is structure involved in looking foods up and connecting-the-dots in this system, something Judgers would enjoy. But there is also the element of fun, something Perceivers would want. They love to see at the end of the day what type of picture they've drawn of the foods they've eaten.
Visit www.advantagediets.com for more information on
personality typing.
Copyright 2008 - Advantage Diets
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