I am in my 30s (not 100). I started calorie counting 7/7/2008 on a different website and switched to this one when I found it on 7/17/2008. I stuck with it until 9/15/2008. After losing 10 pounds, I thought I could continue without the Daily Plate, but I managed to gain the 10 pounds back and decided I had better start using this great tool again before I gain any more weight. I am back on as of 5/23/2009.
In addition to using the Daily Plate to help budget my calories, protein, fat, carbs, etc., My goal is to eat food as close to the source (and natural state) as possible. I am trying to follow "Maximized Living" Max Elite (Advanced Healing) Diet. http://www.maximizedlivinghealthsite.com/public/department124.cfm
This plan is written in great detail in several books by Dr. B.J. Hardick, Kimberly Roberto, and New York times Best-Selling Author Dr. Ben Lerner.
I order many products from from Amazon.com using their "Subscribe and Save" and shop for organic produce, meat, dairy and eggs from the local farmer's market weekly, supplemented occasionally with items from my local grocery stores.
I purchase "free-range" eggs, poultry, beef, milk (non-homogenized; low temperature pasteurized) and cheese from farmers at my local farmers' market. If I could easily get raw milk, I would buy it. Both farmers avoid using antibiotics and hormones on their animals.
When I prepare salmon at home, it is only wild Alaskan (or Pacific) salmon. I don't eat any other seafood. Shellfish has toxins from being bottom feeders and other fish may have too much mercury etc. Also, farm-raised fish don't have the correct balance of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids found in wild fish.
I don't eat anything from a pig (they don't sweat sufficiently, so toxins stay in the meat. They also eat anything).
I try to eat oils as close to the natural form (expeller-pressed, or extra virgin olive oil, unrefined coconut oil, butter from grass-fed cows), to avoid eating rancid oils, transfats, etc. and don't heat oils other than coconut or organic butter.
I try to avoid neuro/excito- toxins like MSG, hydrolyzed proteins, etc. I avoid artificial sweeteners and food colorings. For added sweetness, I stick to stevia and xylotol.
2009-9-21 Decided to really follow the Advance Plan of Maximized Living:
-Increase intake of healthy (see description above)
-Moderate my intake of protein (see description of acceptable above)
-Eliminate grains, sugars and fruits (other than berries, Granny Smith apples, lemons, limes, and avocados)
-Eliminate sweet potatoes, yams, and carrots
-Consume these carbs in small amounts and NOT after lunch: artichokes, leeks, okra, pumpkin, tomatoes, turnip, legumes, black beans, adzuki beans, chick peas (garbanzo), french beans, navy beans, kidney beans, lentils, mung beans, yellow beans, pinto beans, split peas, white beans, lima beans, squash (acorn, butternut, winter)
-Increase the following carbs: arugula, asparagus, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, beet greens, bell peppers, broadbeans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cassava, cauliflower, celery, chayote fruit, chicory, chives, collard greens, coriander, cucumber, dandelion greens, eggplant, endive, fennel, garlic, ginger root, green beans, hearts of palm, jicama (raw), jalapeno peppers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, onions, parsley, radishes, radicchio, snap beans, snow peas, shallots, spinach, spaghetti squash, summer squash, swiss chard, turnip greens, zucchini, and watercrest.
I am also returning to my old weight lifting and cardio habits I had back when I weighed 115 pounds. Looking back, I think my body fat was probably about 18%. I think due to increases in lean body mass, my weight goal needs to be 120 pounds, as I would like to be about 20% body fat.
These are my current goals (other than what is above):
-Stick to the advanced plan (outlined above)
-Weight train daily Monday-Saturday (ab workout counts)
-Do cardio daily Monday-Saturday (may include HIIT)
-Stay below (but close to) or at Daily Plate net calorie suggestion every day
-Eat at least 70 grams of protein Monday-Saturday
-Eat at least 25 grams of fiber Monday-Saturday
-Keep sodium below 2800 mg every day
-Brush my teeth at least twice daily
Goal Weight: 120 pounds (I'm 5'1" tall)
7/7/2008: 170.0 pounds
7/14/2008: 167.5 pounds
7/21/2008: 166.0 pounds
7/28/2008: 165.0 pounds
8/4/2008: 164.5 pounds
8/11/2008: 166.0 pounds (ate too much this week)
8/18/2008: 162.5 pounds (back on track)
8/25/2008: 161.5 pounds
9/8/2008: 163.0 pounds (birthday and storm food last week)
5/23/2009: 169.0 pounds (stopped exercising and budgeting my food).
5/30/2009: 167.5 pounds (had Mexican last night and MSG symptoms this morning)
6/11/2009: 172.0 pounds (Past week away for loved one's funeral)
6/27/2009: 170.0 pounds (gym, clothed 173) Waist 33"
7/4/2009: 168.5 pounds (gym, clothed 172) Waist 32.5"
7/18/2009: 169.5 pounds (gym, clothed 172.5) Waist 32.5" (past week and half away for second loved one's funeral, and grieving the loss of a third loved one whose funeral I was unable to attend)
7/25/2009: 169.0 pounds (gym, clothed 172.0) waist 32"
7/26/2009: After reading more articles and information on this website, I have set my calorie goal to help me lose 1.7 pounds per week (1% of current weight) instead of 2 pounds per week. Maybe I have not been eating enough calories to lose, so this is my next attempt to jumpstart my metabolism.
8/1/2009: 167.5 pounds (gym, clothed 170.0) waist 31.5"
8/8/2009: 167.5 pounds (gym, clothed 171.0) waist 31.5"
8/15/2009: 167.0 pounds (gym, clothed 169.0) waist 31.5"
I found some great videos and have them in my favorites. I would like my muscles to look similar to those of Michelle Trapp and like her video descriptions, so most of the videos I like are the ones that she has created.
8/22/2009: 165.5 pounds (didn't get to the gym)
8/29/2009: 167.0 pounds (time of the month)
9/5/2009: 164.0 pounds
9/19/2009: (166.0 pounds at the gym)
Started really following the Advanced Plan 9/21/09:
9/26/2009: 159.0 pounds (163.0 pounds at the gym)
10/3/2009: 158.0 pounds (162.0 pounds at the gym)
10/10/2009: low battery (161.5 pounds at the gym)
10/17/2009: low battery (160.0 pounds at the gym)
Fell off the wagon, stopped exercising and have been eating too much unhealthy food. 11/22/2010, joined a gym again and will be brining my pre-teen son with me this time.
11/23/2010: 186 pounds at the gym (didn't check calibration)
I found some great links for HIIT information: http://healthhabits.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/hiit-is-your-best-choice-for-burning-off-belly-fat/
http://www.intervaltraining.net/Lose_Belly_Fat_Fast.html
Here are two websites for weight lifting routines with videos:
http://www.exrx.net/Exercise.html
http://bodybuilding.com