In the preceding paragraphs the records of general physical activity, as indicated by pedometer readings and other data, made as objective as conditions would permit, have been presented and analyzed. The men who were subjects in the experiment naturally had subjective impressions of their own readiness, ability, and performance in physical exercise. The members of Squad A had an extended period over which to observe themselves and each other. They were intelligent men and all unusually interested in physical exercise and bodily well-being. Seven of them were taking the physical director's course in the college. Their observations during and following the experiment, stated in essentially their own words, are as follows:

Bro

November 10: "Enjoy physical work more than last year, no 'logy' feeling, more 'pep'1 than last year." December 19: "I am walking more than usual lately." February 2: "There have been times in the experiment when I have felt weak in the knees, and seemed to get out of breath easily. The last ten days I have felt better than during the days just following the Christmas vacation." May 21: "The weakness in the knees in the experimental period was particularly noticed in stair-climbing. I found that I used the stair-rail more than usual when climbing stairs. I am sure the diet could not be recommended for soldiers. I have several times said that I should hate to see our soldiers put on that regime. Under the conditions of an athletic contest, two teams may go through substantially the same motions and the same team plays, but one team does it with more snap and gets there quicker; that team is going to win the game. It was just that added snap that the men on the reduced diet lacked, and which would be the essential thing that a soldier must have in order to succeed".

1Colloquial abbreviation for "pepper," indicating vim or snap.

Can

November 10: "Requires more effort to climb stairs, to go out for a walk, and similar activity. One has to use more will power to accomplish the same things. One tires more easily. On one occasion, I felt exhausted after playing soccer in which I walked about 16 miles in all." November 24: "Heavy gymnasium work yesterday and got very tired." January 12: "Since vacation I have felt the same as at the beginning of the experiment, generally tired, with feelings of weakness." January 26: "One day I may feel good, the next have a great lack of 'pep'." February 2: "To-nigbt I feel pretty 'rotten' as a result of yesterday's endurance test." February 8: "There is no weakness now and I have much more 'pep'. I have not been lying down at noon time as I did during the experiment to save myself." May 22: "In general, lack of endurance was manifested in athletics in my case. Think I could not have kept up the low diet much longer. I believe that if the military were on the same regime, the efficiency of the individual soldier would be decreased." During the experiment he adopted the method of hurrying up and down stairs to get it over with on account of the uncomfortable feelings in the knees and thighs.

Kon

November 10: "The staying power has not been very great; have noticed absence of 'pep'. Feel weak in the afternoon when running with football." February 8: "Have done but very little physical work since close of experiment and therefore can not make a good comparison; feel stronger".

Gar

November 10: "Physical power very much less than that before low diet, less endurance; tire easier if I walk any distance; weakness in legs felt when I go upstairs; very tired after teaching 6 gymnasium classes on alternate days at the high school." December 8: "Feel good physically." January 12: "Felt weaker this morning than at any time while on the squad." February 8: "No improvement in physical work noted as yet; I have not done any gymnasium bar work so far. The first day or so after the experiment I was very sleepy".

Gul

November 10: "Felt normal until the last two or three days, when I experienced weakness, and lack of 'pep'. Somewhat more tired after the boys' club work at night than before, but overcrowded with work." November 24: "A little tiredness in legs develops in the evening, otherwise all right. Worked at writing all last night." December 19: 3j hours sleep last night; usually take 4 1/2 to 5 hours sleep. I do not have time for more." January 12: "Feel a little faint. It commences to be pretty much of a drain; notice it physically more than before vacation." January 19: "Subject, fasting, completely chinned himself 12 or 13 times in the laboratory." January 26: "Felt good all the week." February 8: " Physical work is below par. Could not do certain exercises in gymnasium. Think it is because I am eating so much".

Mon

November 10: "Feel weak from hunger; no weakness in the walking upstairs; weakness when running or in football; haven't the 'pep' that I had before, but would not hesitate to scrap with a friend." November 24: "Not so much 'pep' as before the reduced diet." December 8: "Weakness is not localized in the legs, but is general." January 12: The experimenter said, "Well, you feel bully to-night, don't you?" Reply "No! not bully by a long ways. I am weak, weaker than before vacation, or I notice it more. I returned to college at my prescribed weight." February 8: "There is no weakness now. I can do my physical work better".

May

November 10: "Doing the same amount of work as usual, but have felt more tired after it." November 24: "Perfectly normal, only that in going upstairs, legs are decidedly weak." December 8: "Feel normal in every way." January 12: "I have no 'pep' at all; can hardly drag around; felt all right just after I came back from vacation." At no time during the first part of the experiment did he feel the weakness so much as in the reduction period following vacation. February 2: "In general, there was considerable weakness during those periods when the weight was actively being reduced. At other times there was not nearly as much difficulty." February 8: "No feeling of weakness now. In gymnasium work the past few days, I felt 'logy' and sleepy from overeating. Now, when lying or standing, I notice the difference in breathing; seem to breathe deeper, and not so many short breaths as when on diet." May 21: "Notice definite difference between physical condition now and when I was on diet. To-day I was swimming in the lake; after the swim I ran up the hill, a rise of 50 or 60 feet, and then on up to the top floor in the dormitory, which meant climbing three flights of stairs. Upon reaching the top floor, I was of course out of breath, but I had none of the feelings of weakness which I previously reported as characteristic of the diet period. At times during the experiment in going upstairs I felt like putting my hands on my knees and pushing with each step to help myself up, particularly when I went slowly. When on the experiment if the diet squad men had hard gymnasium work, such as iron dumb-bells and iron wands, before the exercises were over, they began to slow up and felt fatigued. They simply could not push out the weights, and would skip a few counts. After the period of uncontrolled diet, the conditions were very different. Men were able to do these things without feeling the same fatigue as before. The change was also marked in my case in swimming. I think men on a diet such as we had would not make very good soldiers. They certainly would not feel like going 'over the top'".