I'm a new college student who has been Zoning for about five months. During the five months I have been in the zone I managed to slim down from 185 to 140 and lowered my bodyfat from 22% to 12%. I am an avid Crossfitter, my activity level is very high and I do cheat about once a week. On the Zone I am looking to continue improving my athletic performance,stay in good health with a sound mind and body and all while controlling my insulin levels. My question is about my food block consumption, for a very long time I was a 5,5,2,5,2 eater and then I switched about three months ago to 5,5,1,5,1. I used the calculator to figure out my block comsumption and it tells me to strive for a 4,4,2,4,2 pattern. I believe that I have reached my target area and want to maintain while still continuing my performance improvement. Can any experienced Zoners tell me what I should be eating with my very high activity level and how I can maintain my target weight. Please help! Thanks?

Hi Jake -- I can't answer your question (although I'm sure you'll get an answer from more experienced Zoners than me ... ) but wanted to say congrats -- great job!! Your stats are awesome and inspiring .

Laurie

Hi Jake,

Congrats!

Typically, to stay in the Zone you'd follow the Zone calculator suggestion and provide for  any additional energy needs by adding extra monounsaturated fat to your meals.  But Dr Sears also recommends that teens in the Zone, because they are still growing, use one activity level higher than ther actual for the calculation to provide enough protein for growth.  In your case, assuming you are in you later teens, use 1 activity level higher than your actual and go with that calculator block recommendation, adding extra monounsaturated fat if needed for energy.

Keep up the good job!


____________________________________________


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

Thanks for all your help. I'm still a little confused on wether I should be at 5,5,1,5,1 then.

You're at 17 blocks total for the day.
It does NOT really matter how you break up those 17 blocks during the day.
It could be 5,5,2,4,1 etc. 
.
The guidelines to consider:
Males should not eat more than 5 blocks at any one meal, which you do.
Eat Breakfast within 1 hour of getting up in the morning.
Eat a balanced meal/snack before working out.
No longer than 4-6 hours before next meal/snack
Eat a balanced snack from 1 to 2 hours before retiring for the evening.
.
What Sue is saying is to use the calculator to determine your total blocks for the day
BUT use one activity level up from where you are at.
So if you are at moderate activity enter one level higher in the calculator to get your reading for the total number of blocks for the day.

I  would agree with John, you can do 5-5-1-5-1 or 4-4-2-4-2, or whatever suits your needs.  You could also do 3-3-3-3-3-2, if you wanted to really spread it out.  The idea is to eat in a way to moderate insulin levels.  A concern with 5-block meals is that some people may not be able to handle 5 blocks at a time, and therefore 4-block meals are just easier to manage. 

Congrats on your progress! 

On a side note, I see UWSP on your shirts in the picture... is that Stevens Point, WI?  I am a Wisconsinite, and live a bit over an hour from there. 

You're welcome Jake.  Assuming your new calculator result block recommendation  is 17 blocks daily (after increasing your activity to one level above your actual activity), then 5-5-1-5-1 is one option.  As the other members have posted, you can split your daily block requirement other ways too, as long as you spread it throughout the entire day and follow Zone timing and balancing rules.  You should not go longer than 5-6 hours without eating a Zone balanced meal or snack.

Thank you all for your help and I am so greatful! My question is how much monounsaturated fat is too much when adding excess to help with energy concerns. I also workout in the morning and have never eaten anything before hand. So according to everyone's advice I could divide it as 1,4,5,1,5,1?

Hi Jake,

You're welcome.  It's important for hormonal control to eat at least a 1 block Zone snack prior to the morning workout.  You'll know you've had too much monounsaturated fat if you still have excess stored fat to lose but your weight loss stops, or if you begin to gain stored fat.  Otherwise you'll be fine.  Dietary fat has no direct impact on insulin.  A little extra monounsaturated fat (specific amount determined by one's individual energy needs) will actually enhance your insulin control and will not be enough to make a person gain stored body fat.  Professional athletes in the Zone frequently consume more than 50% of their daily caloric intake from monounsaturated fat.  Yes, your block breakdown looks fine.