Could Writing a Blog Help You Lose Weight?

Traditional ways of keeping diet diaries usually involve tracking calories, recording pounds lost or gained, and noting miles run or lengths swum. But if that all sounds too obsessive - or too much like maths homework -why not consider starting your own weight loss blog?

These are just some of the benefits of writing about your fat-busting efforts online:

1. Community support from other dieters

   The "dieting blogosphere" contains some of the most supportive and friendly people you'll meet online. Whether you need advice, a gentle word, or a motivational virtual kick, you'll find someone able to deliver it. An encouraging comment or a kind email may come at just the right moment to divert your attention from the kids' Easter eggs...

2. Making yourself accountable to others

   Have you noticed how much harder you work at the gym if an instructor or personal trainer is watching? Writing about your weight-loss for a potential audience of millions will be a big motivational boost: the shame of reporting "Today I ate three mars bars and a family-sized bag of chips ... for breakfast" will keep you on the straight-and-narrow.

3. Seeing how far you've come

   Once you've been blogging for a couple of months, look back at your earliest entries. Have you lost five pounds, taken up that sport you were tentatively considering, or bought clothing in a smaller size? Many bloggers post their starting statistics and give regular updates for their readers - and themselves - on their current weight.

4. Helping your readers to lose weight

   The challenge that you've successfully managed to overcome is almost certainly something that others are still struggling with. Writing about it on your blog could them the tips they need on how to cope.

5. Fame and fortune..?

   If you write well and consistently, and have a great story to tell, you just might get lucky and join the elite group bloggers who've won book deals. Several great personal weight loss blogs have made it recently: check out Shauna Reid's Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl blog and book, and Jennette Fulda's Half of Me blog and Half-Assed book.

There are lots of easy and free place to start a blog, such as www.blogger.com, www.livejournal.com and www.wordpress.com - it's no more complicated than typing an email. Why not give it a try?