Profile of a Triathlete

After waking for work at 4:30 a.m. and spending much of the next 3 1/2 hours reading articles like this New York Times brief on eating healthfully, I decided to track how much I eat in a normal day.

Note: I decided to do this after I had eaten lunch. Therefore, all the food is food I would've normally eaten; I didn't "watch my calories"; and the exercise is my normal volume. Leah Soro cooked dinner for me, so I only had control over how much I chose to eat (which, besides tasting delicious, felt like quite a lot).

4:30 a.m. snack:

Fig bar (1) = 160 cal

Grapes (bunch) = 75 cal

Coffee w/ creamer (2 cups) = 30 cal

Breakfast:

Scrambled eggs (2) = 140 cal

Whole-grain toast (2 slices) = 200 cal

Blackberry jam (2 tbsp) = 100 cal

Milk, 1% (1 cup) = 100 cal

Lunch:

Sandwich

Chicken (3 oz) = 100 cal

Provologne (1 slice) = 70 cal

Whole-grain bread (2 slices) = 200 cal

Pesto (1 tbsp) = 40 cal

Bell pepper / Spinach (1 cup) = 50 cal

Pretzels w/ mustard (20) = 110 cal

Orange (1) = 65

Post-swim snack:

Trail mix (2 oz) = 150 cal

Post-spin class snack:

Milk, 1% and Ovaltine (1 cup/2 tbsp) = 150 cal

Grapes (bunch) = 60

Dinner:

Chicken breast, wrapped in prosciutto (1) = 200 cal

Asparagus, roasted (5 spears) = 20 cal

Potatoes, roasted (about 1 whole) = 250 cal

Dos XX Amber (1) = 220 cal

Daily total: 2490 calories

Exercise:

Open-water swim (1 hour) = 600 calories

Spin class (45 min) = 350 calories

Based on the website Calorie Count, which was used in conjunction with my body measurements (5'9'', 142 pounds) and activity level, I was actually at a slight calorie deficit for the day. They estimate that I burn 2830 calories each day, counting my basal metabolic rate and exercise.

The good news? I eat a fairly balanced diet, exercise my fair share and have room for nearly 350 calories worth of dessert left over.

The bad news? I don't have any dessert. Anybody wishing to bring cookies to Vol Hall, apt. 1144, is more than welcome. I'll even give you a glass of milk to dunk in.