Taking Your Diet and Health History

Doing a thorough review of your health and diet history has many advantages. This will give you some clues as to what the ideal diet may be for you. Think back over your past and what your diet and health were like at different stages,and make a list of different diet approaches you've tried. Include any special diets, attempts to lose weight, approaches to health and/or eating. Think about how you felt about your body during each of these stages, including the amount and type of physical activity you were engaged in. Ask yourself the following questions:

1) Did I accomplish my objectives? If not, do I have a sense why that was?

2) How did my body feel? What was my energy level? Did I have an increase or decrease in any symptoms such as joint pain, allergies, or gastrointestinal symptoms? Was I hungry on a regular basis?

3) What was my mental state like? Did I find myself obsessed with food? Did I fantasize about what my next meal would be? Was I anxious? Depressed? Euphoric?

4) If weight loss was an objective, what was that experience like? Did I lose weight very quickly? How did I feel about the weight loss? How close to my goal did I get? How long was I able to maintain the weight loss?

5) Most importantly WHY DID I CHOOSE NOT TO STAY with that way of eating? Was I uncomfortable? Hungry? Bored with the diet choices? It is vital to zero in on what didn't work for you, so you can attempt to prevent that experience from repeating itself.

Make a list of characteristics you liked and didn't like about the different approaches you have tried. Look for patterns. This will help guide you in making your first changes.

Laura's Diet History

Copyright © 2003-2004 by Laura Dolson. All rights reserved. Please submit reprint requests to turtleway@skyhighway.com

The material on this page and Web site is for informational and educational purposes only, and should not substitute for medical advice. Anyone having questions about the application of information appearing here to a specific person or situation should obtain advice from a qualified health care professional.