Day 15 ($53.34)

Tonight was the company holiday party, so there was quite a bit of alcohol today. Even though the drinks and pizza were free, I still tally free items into my calculations. Lunch was company provided too, so the only food I paid for was breakfast.

Breakfast: $3.72
-Protein shake (rice milk, 60c; yogurt, 65c; soy protein powder, 110c; blackberries, 97c; banana, 105c)
-Scrambled eggs, 204c
-California vegetables, 25c
Lunch: $1.62
-French fries, 100c
-Coffee, 10c
-Chocolate cake, 624c
Dinner: $48.00
-Frozen pizza, 696c
-Beer (4), 612c
-Vodka-soda(4), 674

Intake: 3,316 calories (C)
Fat - 22.7% (86 grams)
Protein - 11.1% (94 grams)
Carbohydrates - 43.3% (368 grams)
Alcohol - 22.9% (111 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,030 mg
Sugar Intake - 40 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 589 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 27 grams
Fiber Intake - 19 grams

Day 14 ($4.00)

My cheapest post-challenge day! And I also felt well enough to go work out!

Breakfast: $0.91
-Huevos rancheros (tortilla, 135c; eggs, 408c; enchilada sauce, 20c; refried beans, 118c)
Lunch: $0.33
-Spaghetti w/sauce, 270c
Dinner: $0.74
-Veggie quesadilla (whole wheat tortilla, 200c; cheese, 492c; tomatoes, 15c; spinach, 21c)
Snacks: $2.02
-PB&J on white (2), 780c
-Emergen-C, 24c
-Flax Oil, 120c

Intake: 2,212 calories (B)
Fat - 46.0% (113 grams)
Protein - 18.1% (100 grams)
Carbohydrates - 35.9% (199 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,969 mg
Sugar Intake - 43 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 997 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 40 grams
Fiber Intake - 44 grams

Exercise: 703 calories
-Elliptical Trainer, 481c
-Calisthenics, 192c
-Stretching, 30c

Day 13 ($68.24)

Went out again and spent a lot of money (again). I also had a little more raw fish. It was good, but I don't think I'll become a permanent pescatarian any time soon. Back to being a veggie.

Breakfast: $0.91
-Huevos rancheros (tortilla, 135c; eggs, 408c; enchilada sauce, 20c; refried beans, 118c)
Lunch: $0.33
-Spaghetti w/sauce, 270c
Dinner: $67.00
-Edamame, 120c
-Asparagus, 20c
-Tempura veggie roll, 440c
-Avocado roll, 40c
-Yellowfin sashimi, 62c
-Rum cocktails, 192c
-Chocolate cake, 235c

Intake: 2,135 calories (B)
Fat - 37.7% (89 grams)
Protein - 18.2% (97 grams)
Carbohydrates - 34.9% (185 grams)
Alcohol - 9.1% (28 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,660 mg
Sugar Intake - 26 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 1,042 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 20 grams
Intake - 35 grams

Day 12 ($48.53)

I went out to dinner for the first time, and it shows in the cash expenditure as well as the alcohol consumption. Tsk, tsk!

Breakfast: $0.91
-Huevos rancheros (tortilla, 135c; eggs, 408c; enchilada sauce, 20c; refried beans, 118c)
Lunch: $3.12
-Protein shake (rice milk, 60c; yogurt, 65c; soy protein powder, 110c; blackberries, 97c; banana, 105c)
Dinner: $44.50
-Garlic arrosto, 101c
-Fettuccine w/ creamy pesto, 353c
-Malbec, 903c

Intake: 2,410 calories (B)
Fat - 17.1% (46 grams)
Protein - 13.8% (84 grams)
Carbohydrates - 36.6% (222 grams)
Alcohol - 32.5% (113 grams)
Sodium Intake - 2,699 mg
Sugar Intake - 56 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 897 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 15 grams
Fiber Intake - 29 grams

Day 10 ($23.16)

I'm returning to a normal diet, but I still want to be mindful of my nutrition and the cost of my food. My $1,000 months are over. I'm tempted to go out to eat. I was really craving good fish (although I haven't eaten fish since becoming a vegetarian in '07). While I'm listening to my body, I might as well break that little rule just this once.

Breakfast: $5.13
-Breakfast Burrito (tortilla, 146c; salsa, 36c; eggs, 367c; onions, 33c; hash browns, 170c)
-Coffee (4), 10c
-Emergen-C, 24c
-Flax Oil, 120c
Lunch: $0.26
-PB&J on white, 390c
Dinner: $17.77
-Seared Ahi, 240c

Intake: 1,537 calories (C+)
Fat - 43.0% (74 grams)
Protein - 26.0% (100 grams)
Carbohydrates - 31.0% (119 grams)
Sodium Intake - 1,824 mg
Sugar Intake - 34 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 874 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 15 grams
Fiber Intake - 7 grams

Too Dangerous!

I am halting the experiment, because I lost four more pounds in the last two days! I only lost one pound in the first week, but this new development takes me outside safe parameters.

Still, I consider the experiment a success. I gathered a lot of data, and I have a few conclusions:

1. $1.00 is not enough money to buy a nutritious daily volume of food for my body-type.
2. It could buy enough calories (in sugar) or enough vitamins and minerals (in a supplement), but not both.
3. My personal experience indicates that I can survive approximately one week on 1,046 daily calories without adverse health side-effects. It is unclear whether that threshold is physical, mental, or emotional.
4. In my opinion, the current domestic agricultural system is inadequate to ensure nutritious food to Americans in poverty.

I will continue to log my diet as I slowly return to a normal calorie-intake. My stomach does not feel well enough to eat full-sized meals immediately. I may try a similar version of this experiment again. Please make suggestions, but I think it would still be interesting to find out just how many dollars will deliver basic nutrition. I don't think it's safe to begin that experiment right away.

The photo on the left was taken on Day 1, and the photo on the right was taken on Day 10. Five pounds is not a significant change (about 3%), but the fact that most of it happened in 48 hours is startling. I also do not know the composition of my weight-loss, i.e. fat, water, or muscle.

Day 9 ($0.71)

I do not feel well today. I have a headache, and I feel light headed and dizzy. I'm not feeling very hungry, but I'm not sure I'm healthy...

Breakfast: $0.12
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 200c
Lunch: $0.26
-PB&J on white, 390c
Dinner: $0.33
-Spaghetti w/sauce, 270c

Intake: 860 calories (A-)
Fat - 24.6% (24 grams)
Protein - 12.8% (28 grams)
Carbohydrates - 62.6% (137 grams)
Sodium Intake - 1,130 mg
Sugar Intake - 37 grams
Saturated Fat Intake - 3 grams
Fiber Intake - 13 grams

Exercise: 222 calories
-Circuit training, 192c
-Stretching, 30c

Day 8 ($0.95)

My pie chart is a little fatty today, because I discovered peanut butter.

For a little variety, I bought the ingredients for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches today. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I really wanted high quality peanut butter and real fruit jam, but they would have been unaffordable.

It's the first time I've been to the grocery store since before the challenge started, and should have paid better attention. A loaf of store-brand wheat bread costs $0.10 cents more than white for a negligible difference in nutrition. Peanut butter is pretty calorie-dense and has a good bit of protein, but the fat content is surprising (25%DV from two tablespoons).

Breakfast: $0.24
-Scrambled Eggs (2), 204c
Lunch: $0.25
-Hashed browns, 340c
Dinner: $0.14
-Grits w/brown sugar, 53c
Other: $0.32
-PB&J on white, 390c
-Extra spoon of peanut butter, 100c

Intake: 1,087 calories (C+)
Fat - 47.9% (59 grams)
Protein - 12.8% (35 grams)
Carbohydrates - 39.3% (109 grams)
Sodium Intake - 964 mg
Sugar Intake - 30 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 429 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 15 grams
Fiber Intake - 8 grams

Week 1 Health Check

Aside from fatigue, I feel normal.

• Weight: 159 lbs (-1 lb)
  
• BMI: 22.2 (-0.1)
  
• Resting Heart Rate: 68 (-6 bpm)
  
• Blood Pressure: 130/70 (+10 mmHg systolic)
  

Week 1 Recap ($6.82)

I made it a whole week! I really feel terrific. I got a short anaerobic workout in yesterday to combat muscle atrophy without burning too many of my precious calories. I have found that an afternoon nap of one to three hours keeps me from feeling too tired or hungry throughout the day.

My body feels good, and my stomach isn't growling. The times that I feel hungry are consistently times that I am bored. I am used to always having a snack or a beer around the house, and that habit means needless calories (or fat or alcohol).

Still I am not getting enough calories, vitamins, or minerals. The letter-grade I post at the end of each day is an objective grade from About.com's Calorie Count, but it doesn't take into account a lack of calories. I think the site is designed for people trying to lose weight. (Indeed, when I entered a one-pound weight-loss, the site gave me a thumbs-up!)

I recognize that this experiment does not precisely replicate poverty, but the fact remains: food is expensive, and healthy food is a luxury. I can eat all the carbs I want, because of current agricultural subsidization makes some commodities artificially affordable. Feed grains, cotton, wheat, and rice are the top four most subsidized crops. Not one fruit or vegetable is subsidized.

Why? Doesn't the USDA want us to be healthy? Didn't they write the food pyramid? The one that encourages us to buy and eat lots of grains, meat, and dairy? Why are we still encouraged by the government to eat fatty, unhealthy food? Why would anyone want us to be unhealthy? I wonder how deep that rabbit hole goes: politicians, lobbyists, cattlemen, drug manufactures...

Total Intake: 7,326 calories (B+)
Fat - 22.7% (186 grams)
Protein - 13.3% (245 grams)
Carbohydrates - 64.0% (1,181 grams)

Daily Calorie Intake - 1,046 cals
Daily Sodium Intake - 1,304 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 20 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 215 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 9 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 17 grams

Day 7 ($0.98)

I really wanted a protein shake today, but the ingredients cost over $3.00. I made one with half the berries and no protein or yogurt, and it worked fine.

Breakfast: $0.49
-Scrambled Eggs (2), 204c
-Hashed browns, 340c
Lunch: $0.37
-Shake (frozen blueberries, 40c; banana, 105c; rice milk 60c)
Dinner: $0.12
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 200c

Intake: 949 calories (A-)
Fat - 35.2% (38 grams)
Protein - 10.8% (26 grams)
Carbohydrates - 54.0% (132 grams)
Sodium Intake - 454 mg
Sugar Intake - 40 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 429 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 12 grams
Fiber Intake - 12 grams

Exercise: 110 calories
-Shoveling snow, 110

Day 6 ($1.00)

Breakfast: $0.12
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 200c
Lunch: $0.40
-Boxed stuffing, 214c
Dinner: $0.48
-Macaroni and Cheese, 664c

Intake: 1,077 calories (B+)
Fat - 8.1% (10 grams)
Protein - 13.8% (37 grams)
Carbohydrates - 77.0% (208 grams)
Sodium Intake - 874 mg
Sugar Intake - 17 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 2 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 2 grams
Fiber Intake - 13 grams

Exercise: 227
-Circuit Training, 196c
-Stretching, 31c

Day 5 ($0.91)

Today was my day off, so I didn't have to leave the house. Again I found myself tempted to snack, but I have found that filling up on water keeps my mind off eating.

Beyond Day 3's long nap, my body still does not seem to be giving me any signs that I'm not getting enough food. I admit that I'm a bit mystified. I had a big breakfast, so I didn't feel like I needed dinner.

Breakfast: $0.49
-Scrambled Eggs (2), 204c
-Hashed browns, 340c
Lunch: $0.43
-Ramen noodles w/spinach and corn, 478c

Intake: 1,023 calories (B)
Fat - 43.1% (50 grams)
Protein - 12.3% (32 grams)
Carbohydrates - 44.6% (117 grams)
Sodium Intake - 2,268 mg
Sugar Intake - 9 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 429 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 20 grams
Fiber Intake - 11 grams

Day 4 ($1.00)

Yesterday, I lay down for a catnap and awoke three hours later! I didn't feel any abnormal fatigue before or after the nap, but I certainly slept longer than I would expect to. I am still having none of the negative side-effects I expected (weakness, dizziness, headaches). In fact, I am feeling an odd kind of clarity and energy.

I am also not feeling hungry. This is the biggest surprise of all! A normal daily diet for me consists of about 3,000 calories (though I can consume 5,000 without gaining a pound). I really expected to be feeling much more miserable by now. I considered skipping dinner, but I knew I needed the fuel.

The lack of expected misery has made me do a little more research on calorie restriction. Studies on mice (and a few on people) have shown that drastically slashing calorie-intake can increase longevity and vitality. There are adverse side-effects as well, but apparently the diet is sustainable long-term.

In any case, I am certainly not qualified to run a complicated and possibly dangerous medical study on myself. I'm going to work harder to increase my caloric intake.

Breakfast: $0.30
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 200c
-1/2 cake doughnut (I know!), 194c
Lunch: $0.37
-Brown Rice and red beans, 328c
Dinner: $0.33
-Spaghetti w/sauce, 270c

Intake: 993 calories (A-)
Fat - 16.7% (19 grams)
Protein - 12.3% (31 grams)
Carbohydrates - 71.0% (178 grams)
Sodium Intake - 918 mg
Sugar Intake - 29 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 8 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 7 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 22 grams

Day 3 ($0.97)

I am surprised I do not feel worse. I thought I would be weak, tired, and achy by now. I still feel energetic and clear-headed. My fingers and toes are cold, but it's 3°F outside. Perhaps everyone is cold. I should be relieved at how little difficulty I am having, but I still worry that adverse health effects may strike suddenly. I have basically cut my calorie intake by 66%!

I have noticed that my "hunger" is more often a feeling of boredom (or the draw of a habit) than an actual need from my stomach. I am so used to eating whatever I want that it feels weird to watch TV without a snack and a beer.

I also see that I feel just as full after one of my small, carefully measured, meals as I do after a "normal" meal. I derive no more enjoyment from overeating. This is an aha! moment for me.

Breakfast: $0.12
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 200c
Lunch: $0.48
-Macaroni and Cheese, 664c
Dinner: $0.37
-Brown Rice and red beans, 328c

Intake: 1,193 calories (A-)
Fat - 7.0% (9 grams)
Protein - 14.5% (43 grams)
Carbohydrates - 78.5% (232 grams)
Sodium Intake - 31 mg
Sugar Intake - 12 grams
Saturated Fat Intake - 2 grams
Fiber Intake - 23 grams

Day 2 ($0.96)

My calendar says I was supposed to work out today, but my body told me not to. I don't feel weak, but I was a little more sore than I normally would be after yesterday's workout. I feel pretty well today, and my energy-level is good.

I'm still getting weird remarks from people, including a lot of "Wow, I could never do that." Somehow that phrase never sounds like a compliment, and I have heard it a lot. When I first became a vegetarian in 2007, it seemed like everyone I knew said, "I could never do it. I love meat." Frankly, I loved meat too, but I had the willpower to make a change to myself that I thought was important for a few reasons. Admitting you can't do something is the ultimate self-fulfilling prophesy.

I'm not saying you should try the 30D30D diet. I just think we should all work to withhold judgment on the choices of others.

Breakfast: $0.12
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 157c
Lunch: $0.51
-Ramen noodles w/ 2 eggs and corn, 601c
Dinner: $0.33
-Spaghetti w/sauce, 270c

Intake: 1,072 calories (B+)
Fat - 27.6% (33 grams)
Protein - 14.3% (39 grams)
Carbohydrates - 58.0% (157 grams)
Sodium Intake - 2,640 mg
Sugar Intake - 22 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 424 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 12 grams
Fiber Intake - 14 grams

Day 1 ($0.99)

I feel normal today -- full, energetic. I'm a little nervous about the fact that I only got 1,000 calories today, especially since I also worked out. I will need to pay attention to getting more calories more cheaply if I want to maintain my activity level and weight.

I have been a bit surprised by the strong feelings some of my friends and family members have about this project. Some are calling it crazy or stupid. Perhaps I should just do this in silence, but I feel like there is a lot to learn. What good is an unshared lesson?

I have been rereading the blog that inspired me to start this project in the first place. The perspective the original experimenters gained is so compelling to read about, but I imagine much of it must be experienced first-hand. I am excited to see what thoughts, emotions, and ideas come to me while I am trying to stay fed.

Chief among my initial observations which began at the grocery store is that healthy food is expensive food. Fresh produce is a luxury. The humanist in me asks, "Is that just?" Are the rich entitled to healthier diets than the poor?

I am doubly confounded by a catch-22 I had not noticed before: Foods with the highest nutrition have the lowest calorie count. That's good news for the average American who is trying to shed pounds. But to a poor person who is just trying to get enough fuel to get through the day, consuming expensive foods with lots of vitamins and minerals would come at the expense of getting enough calories for the day. By throwing a little spinach into my Ramen, I made lunch my most expensive meal of the day while only gaining 30 calories (which I burn by stretching after working out). I can see how -- to get enough energy and to feel sated -- a person might have to forgo even the least expensive healthy foods!

Breakfast: $0.12
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 157c
Lunch: $0.50
-Ramen noodles w/egg and spinach, 490c
Dinner: $0.37
-Brown Rice and red beans, 328c

Intake: 1,019 calories (A-)
Fat - 24.1% (27 grams)
Protein - 14.3% (37 grams)
Carbohydrates - 61.6% (158 grams)
Sodium Intake - 1,952 mg
Sugar Intake - 11 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 212 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 11 grams
Fiber Intake - 21 grams

Exercise: 821 calories
-Elliptical, 548c
-Calisthenics, 97c
-Stretching, 30c
-Shoveling snow, 146c

Count-down: Last Day ($42.42)

I admit that I am a little nervous. I have definitely been cutting down in a lot of ways for the past few days, but I am nowhere near $1.00 per day. I think I am in for a bit of a shock tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Breakfast: $20.00
-Mocha, 400c
-Huevos Rancheros, 770c
Lunch: $4.62
-Protein shake (rice milk, 60c; yogurt, 65c; soy protein powder, 110c; blackberries, 97c; banana, 105c)
-Broccoli and cheddar soup, 100c
Dinner: $16.00
-Pad see ew with tofu, 390c
Other: $1.80
-Emergen-C, 75c

Intake: 2,060 calories (B)
Fat - 40.9% (96 grams)
Protein - 16.8% (89 grams)
Carbohydrates - 42.3% (224 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,320 mg
Sugar Intake - 87 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 670 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 41 grams
Fiber Intake - 21 grams

Count-down: 1 Day Left ($35.60)

Breakfast: $20.00
-Mocha, 400c
-Huevos Rancheros, 770c
Dinner: $11.00
-Egg Drop Soup, 70c
-Szechuan Tofu (fried tofu, 881c; sauce, 63c; Rice, 205c)
Other: $4.60
-Light Beer (4), 411c

Intake: 2,804 calories (C-)
Fat - 46.2% (149 grams)
Protein - 16.9% (123 grams)
Carbohydrates - 26.3% (191 grams)
Alcohol - 10.6% (44 grams)
Sodium Intake - 2,283 mg
Sugar Intake - 53 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 665 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 49 grams
Fiber Intake - 23 grams

Grocery Shopping

I went shopping for 30D30D supplies today, and it was a really unique experience. I spent only a few moments in the fresh produce section before I realized that everything there was out of my daily budget.

At first, as I bent to read the prices on the bottom shelves of the aisles, I felt self-conscious. This is a very wealthy town, and it seemed like no one else was comparing generic bean brands. Over the next hour, I got used to it. I actually started to feel a little smug as I watched others reach over my head for the same product at two or three times the price of the food I was buying.

When I got home, I cataloged everything in a spreadsheet (like the nerd I am). Here are what I consider the most interesting facts:

1. I bought 47 totally different things. I'm not as worried about boredom or lack of variety now.
2. I spent only $143.63 on 111,420 calories! My recommended daily intake is 2,800, so I bought almost 40 days of food! ...At $3.61/day. This is looking more difficult.
3. The best buys (by cost per calorie) are refried beans, corn tortillas, grits, macaroni and cheese, oats, spaghetti, and (of course) Ramen. Top Ramen costs $0.08 per serving an a mere $0.0004 per calorie!
   
4. The most expensive calories I bought were also probably the most nutritious. Frozen vegetables are cheaper than fresh or canned. At $0.36 per serving and $0.0119 per calorie, though, foods like frozen cauliflower and garden blend vegetables are priced a little too luxuriously to be featured often in the 30D30D diet.
   

Count-down: 2 Days Left ($20.15)

Breakfast: $3.61
-Banana, 105c
-Protein shake (rice milk, 60c; yogurt, 65c; soy protein powder, 110c; blackberries, 97c; banana, 105c)
Lunch: $9.00
-Veggie Burger (2), 220c
-Bun, 165c
Dinner: $1.14
-Quesadilla (2) (tortilla, 360c; cheese, 455c)
Other: $6.40
-Emergen-C, 75c
-Beer (4), 411c

Intake: 2,112 calories (B-)
Fat - 21.8% (52 grams)
Protein - 18.3% (99 grams)
Carbohydrates - 45.6% (246 grams)
Alcohol - 14.3% (44 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,249 mg
Sugar Intake - 65 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 119 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 25 grams
Fiber Intake - 23 grams

Exercise: 590 calories
-Elliptical, 365c
-Circuit Training, 195c
-Stretching, 30c

Count-down: 3 Days Left ($16.07)

Breakfast: $0.22
-Black coffee, 5c
-Oatmeal w/brown sugar, 157c
Lunch: $5.50
-Mashed potatoes w/milk and margarine, 475c
-Steamed broccoli, 130c
Dinner: $2.40
-Tortillas, 540c
-Hummus, 266c
Other: $7.95
-Emergen-C, 24c
-Beer (5), 513c

Intake: 2,108 calories (B-)
Fat - 16.2% (39 grams)
Protein - 9.4% (50 grams)
Carbohydrates - 56.6% (304 grams)
Alcohol - 17.9% (55 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,889 mg
Sugar Intake - 38 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 46 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 11 grams
Fiber Intake - 30 grams

Exercise: 249 calories
-Elliptical, 122c
-Calisthenics, 97c
-Stretching, 30c

Count-down: 4 Days Left ($27.97)

Today was a pretty healthy day until my nightlife got a little fun and I logged about 41 carbs from beer. But hey, soon I won't even be able to "afford" a beer.

Breakfast: $3.12
-Protein shake (rice milk, 60c; yogurt, 65c; soy protein powder, 110c; blackberries, 97c; banana, 105c)
Lunch: $4.30
-Triscuits, 120c
-Biscuit, 128c
-V8, 50c
Dinner: $9.50
-Portobello Sandwich (portobello cap, 44c; ciabatta bun, 165c; Onion, 4c; Provolone, 98c; Hummus, 27c)
-French Fries, 539c
-Ketchup, 15c
Other: $11.05
-Emergen-C, 75c
-Triscuits, 480c
-Beer (7!), 719c

Intake: 3,038 calories (C+)
Fat - 22.0% (77 grams)
Protein - 10.6% (83 grams)
Carbohydrates - 50.2% (393 grams)
Alcohol - 17.2% (77 grams)
Sodium Intake - 3,333 mg
Sugar Intake - 64 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 20 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 16 grams
Fiber Intake - 46 grams

Exercise: 429 calories
-Rowing, 85c
-Circuit Training, 194c
-Elliptical, 121c
-Stretching, 30c

Count-down: 5 Days Left ($17.74)

I want to start logging my habits now to make the transition as smooth as possible. I have already stopped dining out, but I have not yet started buying and eating the cheapest foods available.

Breakfast: $3.74
-Scrambled Egg, 90c
-Hashed browns, 340c
-Protein shake (rice milk, 60c; yogurt, 65c; soy protein powder, 110c; blackberries, 97c; banana, 105c)
Lunch: $2.70
-Triscuits, 120c
-Hummus, 266c
Dinner: $9.5
-Portobello Sandwich (portobello cap, 44c; ciabatta bun, 165c; Onion, 4c; Provolone, 98c; Hummus, 27c)
-French Fries, 539c
-Ketchup, 15c
Other: $1.80
-Emergen-C, 75c

Intake: 2,219 calories (A-)
Fat - 33.5% (85 grams)
Protein - 14.0% (80 grams)
Carbohydrates - 52.5% (299 grams)
Sodium Intake - 2,154 mg
Sugar Intake - 76 grams
Cholesterol Intake - 230 mg
Saturated Fat Intake - 23 grams
Fiber Intake - 35 grams

Exercise: 550 calories
-Elliptical Trainer, 423c
-Calisthenics, 30c
-Stretching, 97c

My Baseline Health

In order to see how the 30D30D diet affects my health, it is important to record my health before the diet. Following are my relevant statistics:

• Height: 5'11"
• Weight: 160 lbs
• BMI: 22.3
• Resting Heart Rate: 74
  
• Blood Pressure: 120/70
• Hematocrit: 52
• Hemoglobin: 17.8
• MPV: 8.5
• Platelet Count: 318
• RBC: 5.76
• WBC: 5.2