Anthony 
Posts:25
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| 04/30/2008 6:45 PM |
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So, I am always refining the zone, not that I'm complaining just something I have notice. Anyways to my question. I was browsing another forum that a lot of visitors also zone diet and they confused the heck out of me for fat blocks. I read something about only counting monosaturated? I have no idea I thought I was on the right track but some one guide me in my fat counting conquest.
Thanks for all your help!
-Tony |
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Janice
Posts:19
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| 04/30/2008 7:55 PM |
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| I'm basically a newbie to the zone also, but I know that under the list of favorable fats in Dr. Sears books, two of which I've read more than once now, one macadamiaia nut is considered one block of fat and in just one nut consists of 16 grams of monosaturated fat, in fact, this nut is all and only mono fat. What I've understood is that monosaturated fat has no affect on one's insulin level. So I think you do count it! Am I wrong? |
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alex
Posts:346
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| 05/01/2008 10:26 AM |
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| um, 16 grams of fat in one nut? maaybe in one serving of mac nuts... |
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Anthony
Posts:25
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| 05/01/2008 11:30 AM |
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| Yeah I understand the basics, I'm just hoping some one can give me a crash course to make sure im heading on the right track. |
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janet
Posts:133
Zoner
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| 05/01/2008 11:53 AM |
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| 1 mac nut= 1fat block. just looked it up. |
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alex
Posts:346
Zoner
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| 05/01/2008 3:05 PM |
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one gram of fat is one gram of fat, there arent any fats you disregard, at least as far as i know. You want three grams of total grams of fat per block in your whole meal. The fat in your meal should come from your lowfat protein source and the rest from actual fat. 1.5 idealy should come fomr the lowfar protein, and 1.5 from the fat source.
Lets say you wanted a 3 block meal- then you would need a total of 9 grams of fat in the whole meal. By total i mean the fat added up from all of your foods. my meat only has about 1 gram of fat per 3 protein blocks so i add extra almonds to every meal. Dont worry so much about the type of fat-just consistently eat good fat sources (almonds, macadamian nuts, avacoado's etc...) |
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Janice
Posts:19
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| 05/01/2008 3:08 PM |
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| Thanks for correcting me, Alex. There are 16 grams of monousaturated fat in a SERVING of Macadamias, which equals 1/4 cup or about 9 nuts. The container I am reading from also says there 3.5 grams of saturated fat in a serving (9 nuts) so I was incorrect too about these nuts being only mono fat (but they are mostly). So if I can even use my calculator correctly, there would just be about 1.8 grams of mono fat in 1 nut which does make up 1 F. I'll be more careful before I speak up next time! Sorry. :( |
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Anthony
Posts:25
Aspiring
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| 05/02/2008 4:16 PM |
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| Thanks for both of your support! all clear now. |
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Stephanie
Posts:36
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| 05/05/2008 12:21 PM |
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[quote]Posted By alex on 05/01/2008 3:05 PM
one gram of fat is one gram of fat, there arent any fats you disregard, at least as far as i know. You want three grams of total grams of fat per block in your whole meal. The fat in your meal should come from your lowfat protein source and the rest from actual fat. 1.5 idealy should come fomr the lowfar protein, and 1.5 from the fat source.
[/quote]
I don;t think this is acurate according to the "Enter The Zone" book I am reading. According to the passage I just read you should restrict or eliminate entirely the fat sources containing high levels of arachidonic fat; egg yolks, organ meats, fatty red meat... This kind of fat has an effect on bad eicosanoids. Saturated fat has an insulin boosting affect. Therefore it makes sense to restrict those as well. Most fats should come from mono unsaturated; olives, olive oil, macadamia nuts..
[quote]
Lets say you wanted a 3 block meal- then you would need a total of 9 grams of fat in the whole meal. By total i mean the fat added up from all of your foods. my meat only has about 1 gram of fat per 3 protein blocks so i add extra almonds to every meal. Dont worry so much about the type of fat-just consistently eat good fat sources (almonds, macadamian nuts, avacoado's etc...)
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Hmm. Maybe I am just misunderstanding you. What is the difference between eating good fat and being concerned for the fat source? Thanks for the clarification.
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alex
Posts:346
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| 05/05/2008 2:00 PM |
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| yeah, you did misunderstand, i wasnt really talking about the kind of fat as much as the amount of fat. I was trying to explain the concept of "how much" fat you need to add to meals. I do realize the importance of only taking in the right fats. When i said one gram of fat is one gram of fat i didnt mean they are all equal in nutrtional value, i meant that there arent any fats you wouldnt count toward your total meals, no matter where they came from. |
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Stephanie
Posts:36
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| 05/05/2008 2:23 PM |
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| Right on. Thanks for the clarification. |
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Anthony
Posts:25
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| 05/05/2008 7:24 PM |
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| So if I understand correctly, a three block meal should consist of the assumed fat of the meat and the fat blocks therefore I should not use the fat from the meat for the fat blocks as well. Is that running along those lines? So if the protein source is relatively low in fat in theory I should be adding addition fat blocks? |
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alex
Posts:346
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| 05/06/2008 10:28 AM |
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| yeah. Lets say instead of traditional low fat meat, you used fat free cottage cheese for a 3 block meal. In any three block meal you need 9 grams of fat and becuase you arent getting any of the 9 grams from your protein source like you would w a low fat meat choice...all of the 9 grams of fat need to come from someplace else.(NOTE: I suggest not getting any fat free items, not only do the companies put odd chemicals in them to make them taste better, its alot easier to add up the fat blocks if most of your protein sources did have the 1.5g of fat per block like there suppsed to. |
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Matt
Posts:248
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| 05/06/2008 1:02 PM |
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Alex good call on the non fat products.
On the a gram of fat is a gram of fat comment. I agree in the aspect of counting fat blocks. In the aspect of staying in the zone you only want good fat.
I use light mayo sometimes on a wrap. I also have some less than lean protein like a piece of steak once in a while. I won't add more good fat to those meals.
You count whatever fat you eat but you should strive to eat only good fat.
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alex
Posts:346
Zoner
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| 05/06/2008 6:16 PM |
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| yeah, the only fat i eat are almonds and the fat in lowfat protein srouces |
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Sue 
Posts:3923
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| 05/21/2008 4:24 PM |
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Hi,
Here's some additional info. Technically, any fat will work in regard to being the "control rod", as Dr. Sears has referred to it, for slowing the entry of carbs into the blood stream to keep you in the Zone. When you're in a situation where there is no monounsaturated fat available, in regard to maintaining insulin control so you'll stay in the Zone it's a better to go with whatever fat you have at hand to acheive Zone balance, than to skip the fat on the basis that it's not monounsaturated. The reason monounsaturated fat is used for the optimal Zone balance is that it also promotes cardiovascular health (mono. fats won't lower HDL nor raise LDL) and it's not going to increase the production of bad eicosanoids which would elevate inflammation. |
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sue
lost 100 lbs 13 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
for more photos, scroll over this photo and click when the link appears
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Matt
Posts:248
Zoner
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| 05/22/2008 1:27 PM |
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Thanks Sue, I thought I was doing it right by counting the fat whether it was mono or not. I strive for the optimal zone balance but there are times when it just isn't 100% practical.
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Sue
Posts:3923
Zoner
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| 05/22/2008 1:49 PM |
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Matt, you are doing right by counting all the fat. My comment was not in regard to anything you'd posted, simply additional info about fat in the Zone. (I guess I'm not understanding what you just posted)
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sue
lost 100 lbs 13 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
for more photos, scroll over this photo and click when the link appears
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Matt
Posts:248
Zoner
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| 05/23/2008 2:53 PM |
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I was commenting to the fact that some times you may have some things that aren't 100% Zone. Like having a fattier meat than normal. I won't add fat to my meal in this case. It isn't zone perfect because you are not consuming the good fat with your meal. By keeping it balanced you stay closer to the Zone than you would if you just ignore the bad fat and add in some additional fat that you would normally have with a lean protein source. Some times the only protein source I may have is the toppings from a pizza. I scoop off the cheese and toppings and eat those without touching the crust then have some fruit if available.
Being flexible for me has been key. We are humans put in varying situations that we can't control the food that is available. Making the right choices and trying to adapt to the situation are critical to me.
Have a great weekend and please remember those that have given us the freedoms that we enjoy and take for granted on a daily basis.
SEMPER FI |
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Sue
Posts:3923
Zoner
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| 05/24/2008 5:46 PM |
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Thanks, ok, now I get where you were going with your previous comments. Flexibility, I agree. It's what's helped me be so successful with the Zone.
You must be ex-marine. (?) My nephew's career Army, is in Iraq. I , too, hope everyone keeps in mind the sacrifices our armed forces are making for us every day.
My weekend has been fun so far. Our oldest daughter used us as a stopping point on her way to the Cape (Cape Cod) last night. It's always fun to see her. Today was spent with my son and his girlfriend going shopping and out to lunch (and I think they're buying me a new red Kitchen Aid imersion blender for my birthday, LOL!). Tomorrow's going to be some downtime, unless we decide to go to the beach (Long Island Sound; I live in CT). Monday is a bit bizarre, a bridal shower at 11:00 am (on Memorial Day??? and I hear 50 people will be there) and then an afternoon barbecue at the neighbor's. Have a good weekend Matt! |
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sue
lost 100 lbs 13 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!
for more photos, scroll over this photo and click when the link appears
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