WebMD Weight Loss Clinic Journal

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about our Journaling process.

Do I have to Journal every day?

Studies show dieters who use a journal every day tend to have the most success. But if journaling just isn’t for you, it’s not required. Just print out your eating plan and follow it!

If the problem is finding time to journal every day, try simply jotting down what you eat on your eating plan printout. Then come to the website every few days and plug your entries into the on-line form.

Many people find that it helps to discuss the thoughts and emotions that so often influence our eating and fitness habits. On the Daily Journaling: Friends Talking board, you can exchange ideas, frustrations, and encouraging words with dieters just like you. And always be sure to talk to your own physician if you have serious concerns.

What do all the boxes and check marks in the Journal mean?

For a full explanation of how your journal works, click on the orange Page Guide button near the top right of your journal page.

Here’s a brief explanation of some of the more common marks you’ll see:

• The green check marks are for foods you have already eaten.
• The red X’s indicate foods that should have been eaten, but weren’t.
• An empty box will appear by a food that can be eaten today. A shaded box is for a food that should be eaten tomorrow or later in the week.

What is the difference between Save and Submit on the Journal?

If you want to be able to revise your entries or add more foods later that day, use the Save button. Once you’re sure you’re finished with the day’s entries, use the Submit button. You’ll get an end-of-day analysis of your entries, along with a tip, and will be able to move on to the next day’s journal.

How can I edit my mistakes once a Journal day has been submitted?

While you can’t go back and edit a daily journal once you’ve submitted it, it’s not important that every day’s entry be exactly accurate.

Remember that the program evaluates your eating habits on a weekly basis. So you can add foods you left off yesterday’s journal to today’s entries. And it makes no difference if, say, you checked off fruit juice for breakfast, but actually had it for an afternoon snack.

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Why doesn’t My Journal give me 7 days a week to choose foods for a particular meal?

At the beginning of the questionnaire, you’re asked how many days per week you eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. (Even if all you usually have for a certain “meal” is a beverage, this counts when you answer how many times a week you have that meal.)

If you indicated that you normally eat breakfast 5 days a week, the plan will only provide you five boxes to check.

What if I made a mistake when filling out the questionnaire? Or what if I change my mind after I’ve completed it?

If you want to revise your meal planner, you can change it at the end of the questionnaire where you see the Evaluation Summary:

• In the orange header for each meal category, you’ll see the times per week you indicated you eat this meal.
• Click on this if you need to change it, and you’ll see a change in the number of boxes you’re given for that meal.

If you’ve already finished the questionnaire, you can make this change by clicking on the Create New Plan link on the Weight Loss Clinic homepage (it’s under My eating plan at the left side of the page).

Why can’t I see My Journal from previous weeks?

Your journal refreshes each week to let you begin a new week of journaling. To see a summary of how you did on your eating plan in previous weeks, along with our weekly analyses, go to the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic homepage and click on the Week in Review link (near the top left of your screen). Since this program is based on your weekly food consumption, each day’s entry is not as important in the long run.

Is personal assistance available to me as I use the plan?

You can get personalized help from experts and support from fellow members through our on-line message boards.

• For general questions about how to use the program or fill out your journal, visit the Community Help Desk.
• Pose specific questions about foods and how they fit into your plan to me, registered dietitian Kathleen Zelman, on the Ask the Dietitian board.
• For tips on making your favorite recipes more diet-friendly, see the Recipe Doctor board, manned by registered dietitian Elaine Magee (who also dispenses healthy snacking tips and sinful-tasting recipes on the Snack Attack! board).
• For fitness advice, check out the Exercise and Fitness board, led by exercise physiologist Rich Weil.
• And if it’s support and encouragement from other dieters you need, you’ll find it on the Daily Journaling: Friends Talking board.
• And don't forget, your doctor also has the resources you need to stay fit and healthy, so keep him or her in on your diet plans!

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