Your feelings are data too

Your feelings are data too

Your feelings can be super useful information when on your weight loss journey.It's easy to focus solely on physical changes. But your emotions play a massive role in how successful and sustainable your weight loss journey is.

Tracking your mood can reveal valuable insights, such as recognising that stress often leads to late-night snacking, allowing you to plan healthier coping strategies. Helping you see patterns, overcome challenges and celebrate progress beyond numbers alone.

Why your mood matters on your weight loss journey

Emotions influence the choices you make every day, especially around food and movement. Stress, boredom, sadness or joy can directly affect your eating habits and activity levels. Noticing how you feel before, during and after meals or exercise provides clues about why certain days are easier than others.

Have a quick think and write this down: When did you last make an eating choice because of how you felt emotionally, rather than actual hunger?

Introducing the mood scale

A mood scale is a straightforward way to track how you're feeling each day. It doesn't have to be complicated. A simple 1 to 10 scale works well:

• 1-3: Really low, feeling down or anxious
• 4-6: Neutral or average, just okay
• 7-10: Positive, feeling happy or energetic

You can use this scale once daily, or even multiple times a day to pinpoint emotional shifts more clearly.

How to use your mood scale effectively

Start by checking in with yourself once or twice a day, maybe morning and evening,to note how you feel. Record your mood number alongside brief notes about what's happening in your day. Things like sleep quality, work stress, family interactions or even the weather can provide context.

Try it now: What’s your mood score right now and what might be influencing it?

Spotting your emotional patterns