I have found that if you really want to make progress on something you need to track it. First off, the tracking simply helps you know how close you are to your goal. The greater benefit is that it keeps you focused and alters your behavior.
Last year I set a goal to bicycle 50 miles each week. I use a Garmin GPS to record the distance and other data for each of my rides and I sync the information to web each week. Seeing a string of weeks with mileage over 50 was a point of pride. There were days that I didn't feel like riding, but I wanted to keep the streak going. The idea of having to look at an under-performing data point forever keep me on track.
Currently I am tracking my daily calorie intake. My clothes started feeling a little tight a couple months ago and now I am actively trying to drop a few pounds. The act of noting the calories every time you something really makes you think about what you are doing. How many calories are in this Super Burrito with tortilla chips? How many calories should I really be eating everyday? How does this meal fit in with my overall plan for the day? It is also another opportunity to create a streak of successful data point that you want to maintain. You hold back on ordering pizza because you don't want to see that spike in your graph.
Last year I set a goal to bicycle 50 miles each week. I use a Garmin GPS to record the distance and other data for each of my rides and I sync the information to web each week. Seeing a string of weeks with mileage over 50 was a point of pride. There were days that I didn't feel like riding, but I wanted to keep the streak going. The idea of having to look at an under-performing data point forever keep me on track.
Currently I am tracking my daily calorie intake. My clothes started feeling a little tight a couple months ago and now I am actively trying to drop a few pounds. The act of noting the calories every time you something really makes you think about what you are doing. How many calories are in this Super Burrito with tortilla chips? How many calories should I really be eating everyday? How does this meal fit in with my overall plan for the day? It is also another opportunity to create a streak of successful data point that you want to maintain. You hold back on ordering pizza because you don't want to see that spike in your graph.