In addition to taking my body composition information every day, I also keep track of my nutrient intake. Using nutritiondata.com, I am able to analyze everything I eat. This information is useful feedback when used in conjunction with my physical stats to pinpoint problem areas. Since I’m currently trying to lose weight with a ketogenic diet, this also keeps me on track with my carbohydrate intake and calorie levels. Right now, my goal is less than 20 g of carbohydrate a day (excluding fiber) and around 1,000 calories. According to my scale, I only need about 1550 calories a day to maintain my body mass, so though this level sounds very low it really isn’t as drastic as it seems. Personally, I don’t feel deprived at this calorie level, and I hope to continue here until I am very near my goal of 130 pounds.
Keeping track of your intake doesn’t only have to be for those who are on a weight loss diet. Those who are interested in increasing their body mass would also find nutritiondata to be a useful tool, particularly in cases where protein intake is of interest. Nutritiondata doesn’t only keep track of macronutrients- the site also gives detailed information about vitamin, mineral, and amino acid profiles.
For those of you who would like to keep your own food log, you may download the template below:
Week 1 Food Log (click to view original size)
All the data you see above is the nearest approximation I could make regarding intake amounts and nutrient profiles. Some of the items I copied down directly from the nutrition facts on the item, and some of it I found online at nutritiondata.com or another site if the item was not in their database. The meals refer to specific recipes I use that I have put into nutritiondata.com and analyzed by serving size. For more specific information or advice on your own food log, please don’t hesitate to contact me at contactus@diet-data.info.