The Benefits of Calorie Restriction

For the past 15 years, Paul and his wife, Meredith, have been following a calorie restriction diet. Paul consumes about 1,900 calories a day, while Meredith limits herself to 1,600 to 1,700.

While some calorie restrictors prefer to eat five small meals a day, Paul and Meredith say it feels more natural for them to eat a big breakfast, small lunch and no dinner. "We have probably a breakfast that's bigger than most football players eat," Paul says. "It just depends on how you want to do it."

Meredith says they usually start the day with grains, fruit, vegetables and, as a treat, a sweet potato. "All of this adds up to a really good-sized meal," she says. "It gives us a good base for our energy needs for the day."

A restrictive diet hasn't slowed down Paul and Meredith. In fact, Paul says he has more energy and vitality than he did decades ago. "I'm 60 years old now. I have more energy than I had when I was 20 years old. I never dreamed it to be like this at 60," he says. "You can work better. You can play better. You feel like being kinder to people. Everything is just completely different."