As noted last month, tracking how many calories you eat is extremely important for weight loss. Research has shown that those who consistently self-monitor what they eat usually lose more weight than those who do not track their food intake. If you are looking to lose weight, you will need to identify the problem areas regarding your dietary intake. Maybe you eat out too frequently, snack too often, or consume large portions of foods.

To read the rest of this month's column, go to http://www.ncpad.org/825/4215/Calorie~Counting.