Has anyone ever kept a food diary ever? What are your thoughts on it?

We've all been to the doctor at some point and they always tell us to write in a food diary to track your eating habits. I never thought it was a big deal and never wrote in it until yesterday. I have gained 10 pounds in the last 4 months, and I don't understand why I've gained weight. I haven't changed my diet, and I still do the same workouts as I did before. <br><br>I sat down and wrote all my calories and macros for the day, and I realized I was blowing my daily calorie goal. For context, I have to be at 1500 calories due to my genetics, and my height/weight. I calculated my afternoon snack, and it was 800 calories. That's half my daily calorie budget. I go to the gym 4-5 times a week and I still have to only eat 1500 calories. <br><br>Looking back on it, my afternoon snack consisted of peanut butter, crackers, fruit, and granola. When I added it up, it was almost 800 calories. This is just from my afternoon snack alone. I didn't even include my breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I just bought some fat-free popcorn that's 120 calories a serving. Having an afternoon snack consisting of 120 calories sounds much better than 800 calories just from 1 snack. <br><br>I've been gaining weight for the past 4 months, and my afternoon snack explains it all. I will continue writing in my food diary to continue being more mindful of what I eat and my calorie budget. <br><br>Has anyone ever kept a food diary before? What were your thoughts on it? Should I continue writing in my food diary?