i've read that challenge blog, it's so interesting. those of you that haven't it's a really amazing way to keep track of your food intake and like kim said, keep your mother at bay

Speaking of moms, mine totally made my day today. I was bitching that my wedding dress is still a little snug and she waved her hand at me and said "You don't need to diet, let's just get a new dress."

I have to wear my precious dress but that was just the most perfect thing anyone could have said at that moment. :)

My daughter used a food journel for a while and she said it kept her from eating alot of things that she might otherwise have chosen....just because she didn't want to look like she made bad choices. I have never tried it but sounds like it might help. Thanks, Kim.

Punchy, I want to hug your mom.

Just a little defense of mothers. We love you. We know you've outgrown much of what we can do for you, and can teach you. Since we've been in charge of feeding you for so long, it's a last vestige of feeling useful to you, when we worry about what you eat.

If your mom doesn't think you're in danger of dying from malnutrition, she should butt out. Sorry Ginn and any other nosy mother, but having someone checking on you is a sure way to feel crazy about food. Especially if she's checking to see why you're still fat.

Just saying.

Jen, I was thinking in terms of worrying if our children are eating enough.

I'm so sorry you've gone through "checking to see why you're still fat." That should never happen. It's cruel and unwarranted.

Journaling is a good thing, because you can figure out an accurate picture of what you are eating, and how much. The human brain usually doesn't do that, even with the best of intentions. And the "mental" picture of what/how much you ate that is NOT written down is more biased towards what you want to believe about your eating habits.

Let's face it, people lie--to themselves, and to others. If they didn't David Duke would have never come close to winning an elective office, and polls on him often predicted. One amusing study showed the obesity levels were found to be higher when people were actually weighed and measured by researchers, rather than asked over the phone. Men tended to overestimate their height, and women underestimate their weight.

I'm one of those people who find it very dangerous to keep a food journal because I get obsessive and it ends up running a large part of my life. So I have quit, but I did for a while to get an idea of what I was actually putting in my body and it was helpful, but I feel better now that I've stopped and I'm still doing pretty well at making good choices!

What a great idea to journal through pictures! Thanks Kim, I might try this sometime.