I have become very interested in my protein profile intake since I've started using designer Whey's with my zone pre and post meals around my weight lifting. It's helped me double my max leg lift from 250lbs to 500lbs while increasing my bench press from 135lbs to 175lbs.

What is the protein breakdown of the Wheat Protein that is in most ZoneFast foods. I do see how some are milk proteins and these are great because they contain a good mix of whey and cassien protein likely which ample amounts of BCAA's & Glutamine. However I'd love to know if it's been published what's the Amino Acid breakdown of the Wheat Protein in our ZoneFast 1-2-3.

The wheat protein is basically gluten for structure. The essential amino acids willl be found in the milk protein.

Thank you for replying. In reading the ingredients on most of the packaging, Wheat Protein is always listed as the primary source of the protein in each of the items, with others containing either Whey, Soy, Milk or Egg protein depending on the product, whether it's breads, cookies etc. I've noticed a very sharp increase in my LBM gains since i"ve started eating 50% meals without ZoneFast. Does the wheat gluten then have nutritional value other than hormonal stabilization or creatine delivery?

I've posted here often that I've started some basic body building work to try and fill out my frame with normal muscles. I'm not looking to be the next mr. universe or anything, but some legitimate pectorals as well as traps do make a big different in how shirts and suits fit, presence in a room etc. Interestingly, I'd been working out doing essentially the same exercises for 2 months (the first two months of this journey) and consumed ZoneFast protein as my primary source at every meal of each day. However, in the last month, I've changed that. It started with Whey protein powder at the gym and now i'm usually eating Cottage Cheese or Greek yogurt at nearly every meal as a primary protein source with Whey twice a day before my workout and after. The BCAA's in they whey I know are helping alot. Meanwhile, I've cut back on ZoneFast 1-2-3 some because I'm adapting to more "traditional zone" meals and eating out more with plate method.

The net result of this change has been startling. Within the last 3 weeks, it's like suddenly muscle have popped out everywhere, grown much larger and dense, and honestly my weight loss has really slowed because my muscle gains have shot up. My BF% has dropped, as has my waste, and I'm thinking it really has to do with the additional complete amino acids I'm now eating. My meals still keep me full and my overarching goal has adapted from weight lost to body composition improvement. I'm alot closer to my goal weight and really want to set that goal weight once I've accomplished my LBM Gains, however I believe that the incomplete protein, or insufficient protein amount, that is available in ZoneFast 1-2-3 foods had held that back for a while.

I love ZoneFast, it's helped me lose 35lbs, and I'm not quiting zone fast, but I now believe that it's not enough, all by itself, to support muscle gains and mass building of LBM, if weight loss is no longer the 100% objective. The Wheat Protein content of these foods did not I believe supply enough aminos to create muscle growth, while the Milk protein was doing some, once I'm on more lean conventional proteins or designer whey made for LBM growth, the difference is clear and my wife and her friends have really let me know

Wow, Steven, that is really interesting!  Thanks for sharing your insights!

Steven, that makes total sense because the protein sources you are eating now all contain leucine which slow the degradation of muscle tissue by increasing the synthesis of muscle. You know muscle weighs more than fat hence the slow down in weight loss.

So, that brings up a question, does that mean that the protein used in Zone products is not necessarily the best protein for building LBM? 

I think this is important to know, as I was thinking that the products would be good for my daughter who thinks she should be a vegetarian.  But, as a growing teenager, she also needs a good source of protein that will help her to build LBM, rather than just maintain it. 

Good convo here. Tech, thanks for the affirmation. As I'd thought, the Wheat Protein is an incomplete veggie protein, and serves many purposed such as satiation, digestive energy, etc, but for a person such as myself looking to actually gain 10lbs of muscle or more, it's not perfect. The milk protein and whey protein isolates do complete the amino profiles in these items, which is why eating them retains LBM. However I recognize they're designed with weight loss/maintenance in mind so the lower content of complete aminos results in non-optimal conditions for new growth.

Cran, I'll let Tech answer, but my guestimation, and I'm not a nutritionist so please get 2nd & 3rd opinions, is that the ZoneFast proteins are complete enough to sustain a growing teenager. There is some protein component that is complete in every product, whether it's from Egg, Whey or Soy, and that component will provide the amino's to sustain LBM retention and the measured pace at which teenagers grow. Stunted growth from total absense of any complete animal proteins is probably not the outcome (again, not a doc so don't want to be overstepping here). I would recommend however you investigate Quinoa which does have a complete veggie sourced Amino profile, and can be a great staple for anyone looking to go Vegan. And that's a question to leave on, will she be Vegan or Vegetarian, because most of the ZoneFast products do contain eggs or milk, which make them Vegetarian but not Vegan.

I also thought I should add that my usage of the designer whey and heavier Leucine content protein has the specific purpose to add large amounts of new muscle to fill my frame and recompose my entire body, recreating me entirely. Because of that, I set deadlines, work hard, and while not trying to over do it, expect results fast. I believe that I could have still gotten results had I stayed with ZoneFast forever, but they may have come slower. I've noted most of the athletic performance ppl on this site are endurance type athletes and NOT weight bearing/weight training athletes. I could be wrong, but this may be why that is. Endurance runners etc don't want to add any new weight because it makes their work harder, but they need strong, solid and supported LBM which functions optimally. I can see why ZoneFast is perfect for them. Teenagers fall somewhere in between; their bodies will grow at their natural pace with proper nutrition, and I don't think many people would recommend they engage in the type of augmentation supplementation that I engage in, because I'm fully grown and seeking to recompose, while they're growing originally and should be done at a natural pace with a complete amino profile. Honestly, I don't think I got enough protein when I was a teenager because I lived on carbs, which is why I'm doing this now at 32. If I had ZoneFast, I may have developed a more complete male physique at a much younger age, and as such, could have avoided both this expensive diet and now expensive and taxing supplementation/training I'm engaging in. Getting it right when it's natural is always the best way!

Just a tip, careful with the Quinoa.  Dr. Sears once wrote in a Q&A that it is not Zone friendly, and should be considered unfavorable carbohydrate. It contain about 6 times more carbohydrate than protein.

Another quinoa tip, if you choose to eat it,  rinse it well befor cooking to remove the saponins that coat the seeds.  Saponin is a soapy sort of substance that tastes bitter to the point of being unpalatable.  It can have a laxative effect, and can be slightly toxic for some individuals. 



____________________________________________


sue



Consultant of Zone Labs

Certified Zone Affiliate




Lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to
the Zone diet and Zone fish oil.   ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!




http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/">View my Zone Fast 1-2-3 meal photos here

http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0">View my classic Zone meal photos here

Good stuff, Steven. 

She hasn't decided to be vegetarian for any particular reason except to make a statement.  I really don't see it as as statement against eating animal products, because she is open to dairy and eggs (and fish).  I think she is just doing it to see if she can do it.  Her best friend's older sister is a vegetarian, and I think my daughter thinks of her as a big sister that she never had! 

I personally don't like feeding my kids a lot of soy products.  But, I do feel she needs to get adequate protein.  I would prefer she get it the natural way, too. 

sounds like she can't go wrong with Eggs, Milk and yogurt, so long as she enjoys the lower fat varieties. Each of these are the basic foods that nearly all designer sports nutrition tries to duplicate or refine to improve upon, but the real thing is definitely terrific! ZoneFast would give her an alternative meal option at times. Understanding more of her goal, maybe the Zone dinner meals would be best to start, like Orzo and Pizza Crusts. i really enjoy my pizza's and pile the mushrooms on high above the cheese

Yeah, well she is open to eating eggs and dairy, but she doesn't eat enough of it (to suit my "zonal" thinking, anyway). 

She will eat a bagel for breakfast, and I have been getting the zone bagels for her.  She deals with lunch at school by just skipping the meat (she prefers to do this rather than to pack her own lunch).  Dinner is really the only meal in which I can certainly get some real protein into her. 

Anyway, I know that this thread isn't meant to address my daughter's protein needs, I was just thinking that it was interesting that the protein in the Zone products didn't help your LBM growth needs, but now I understand where you are coming from and that the 2 situations are a bit different in terms of protein needs. 

Cran,Steven answered your question perfectly.

Yeah, I think he hit it right on the nail.

coming back from Milwaukee, I am glad again for ZoneFast. The Radisson really needs to consider egg alternatives and oatmeal in their breakfast b/c without those two, it's impossible to eat well on the road. If your daughter has field trips or travel functions, the ZoneFast snacks and easy take alongs like Cinnamon rolls will also be a good idea because it's easy to keep in a book bag (I take mine in my briefcase) and eat right when the first hunger comes on to remain in the zone and avoid over eating