Hi, I was just wondering if someone could help me understand the formula a little better. I dont want to have to follow specific zone recipes the rest of my life. I want to be able to make my own foods without strictly following recipes. If someone could help me. I think I might be over thinking things but when I go into details about how much fat to use, how many carbs and all that I seem to get confused and lost. Someone please get back to me thanks.

Ok, so doing some more reading... If i understand correctly.. when making a zone friendly meal its suppose to be 3 blocks for women correct? so I put together 3 oz lean protein and then i choose a vegetable and fruit and a small fat?

Yes, you would choose three blocks of protein, three blocks of carbohydrate, and three blocks of fat, For an easier way of putting together a Zone meal try Zone At-a-Glance, S follows. Put lean protein, the size and thickness of the palm of your hand, on your plate, fill the rest of the plate with colorful on-starchy vegetables, and then add a dash of monounsaturated fat. It's much easier and you end up with the same meal on your plate as you would when using blocks.

Here is a link to the ZONE Food Block Guide:
.
http://www.zonediet.com/portals/0/r..._guide.pdf

Jena, for pinpoint accuracy on portion sizes, and to get used to what a zone meal looks like, I think the block method works very well. Use the link that John gave you, it will help you to pick out favorable food selections and the appropriate portion sizes.

I like using the Block system rather than Zone-at-a-glance, because it keeps my portion sizes "true". Otherwise, my eyes tend to over-or-underestimate what a true portion size is. I don't worry about being exact, but being close is important--and you will find yourself on the short end of having enough carbs, if you end up eating a lot of salad or other low-density carbs.

I went to the body fat calculator to figure out how many blocks of carbs proteins and fats i need. Apparently my magic number is 13 of each. My question is, how do I break that up? I feel like Im over thinking this. Its suppose to be 12 blocks of each for the day right not per meal?

I meant 13 blocks of each for the day to the previous question

You aren't over-thinking. Yes, 13 blocks of each over the course of the day. A common way to divide it up is to have 3 meals of 3 blocks, and 2 snacks of 2 blocks. Or, spread it out however it works for you.

So each meal could be 3 protein/3 carb/3 fat blocks, and drop that down to 2 of each for your snacks.

Jena, 13 blocks is my requirement too. Yes, it means 13 balanced block each day (1 balanced block equals 1P block plus 1C block plus 1F block). You can split it up in various ways, whatever works best for you, as long as you don't skip breakfast and you make sure to eat an evening snack.

Here are some suggestions:

3 bl breakfast, 1 bl snack, 3 bl lunch, 2 bl snack, 3 bl dinner,1 bl snack

4 bl breakfast, 2 bl meal/snack, 2 bl meal/snack, 2 bl meal/snack, 2 bl meal/snack, 1 bl snack

1 bl snack 3 bl breakfast, 3 bl lunch, 2 bl snack, 3 bl dinner,1 bl snack

2 bl meal/snack, 2 bl meal/snack, 2 bl meal/snack, 2 bl meal/snack,2 bl meal/snack,2 bl meal/snack, 1 bl snack

You get the idea.

I really appreciate your help I know Its taken me quite some time to understand it but I just wanted to get pin point accuracy and understanding. So THank you so much for validating what I thought was right. This helps me out SOOO much. This is great. Thanks guys. It helped even more after I used the fat calculator. You've been great guys thank you so much!!!

You're welcome. A tip, it's not necessary to have pinpoint accuracy with the Zone. The Zone is range of protein to carbohydrate ratios (from 0.6 to 1). Any one of the methods of doing the Zone diet will keep you within that range and allow you to enjoy the benefits. Have fun with it!

You're welcome, let me know if you need more help with those blocks!

ok cool, thanks again!

When my weight goes down, will I have to change the blocks or up my calorie intake or something?

No, your block amount will only change if your LBM or your exercise increases significantly. If you continue to lose body fat once you reach the ideal 22% body fat, you then slightly increase the monounsaturated fat blocks you add to meals, in order to prevent further loss of stored body fat.