I'm trying to get started but am kind of confused.

I have the print out of the items to eat but not sure how to "group" them.

Proteins, Favorable Carbs (cooked), Favorable Carbs (raw), Vegetables, Fruit, Fruit Juice, Grains and Breads, Condiments, Snacks.

Ok, please someone set me straight on how I pick my blocks. I've been told several different things and need a pro to help me. I'm trying to do the 3 block system with 2 block snack. What do I do?

Do I pick 3 proteins, 3 carbs (does that include ALL cooked, raw, veggies, fruit, grains and bread?) and 3 fats (like nuts?)?

I'm sorry for sounding so stupid, but when I originally started, I was told to pick 3 out of each column! I was like, "this is A LOT of food."

Please set me straight :)

Only THREE macro-nutrients (Food Types):
3 blocks of Protein,
3 blocks of Favorable Carbs,
& 3 blocks of healthy Fat.
.
Protein if labeled, 7 grams = 1 block.
If not labeled, typically 1 oz pre-cooked of Protein meat source = 1 block.
1.5 oz fish as protein source = 1 block.
If there is no label;
Defer to the Food Block Guide available on this website under TOOLS.

Carbs, if labeled, 9 grams pre-cooked = 1 block.
Choose Favorable carbs, avoid unfavorable carbs.
Does not matter if cooked or uncooked.
Carbs are carbs.
However, if there is a label, subtract the Fiber from the Total Carbs on the label to determine the number of Carbs. .
If there is no label;
Defer to the Food Block Guide available on this website under TOOLS.
.
FATS: Most protein sources have some fat.
Add 3 blocks of fat at 1.5 grams per block.
If your protein source has NO fat, like Protein powder, then Double the fat and add 6 blocks fat.
For a 3 block meal you want a total of 9 grams of Fat.
(1.5 grams x 6 or 3 grams x 2)
So a 2 block meal would be 6 grams total Fat.
IF your protein has fat in it, then just add 3 grams of additional fat like Almonds.
.
IF you need further clarification, JUST ASK.

TYPO, below:
NOT: If your protein source has NO fat, like Protein powder, then Double the fat and add 6 blocks fat.
SHOULD BE: If your protein source has NO fat, like Protein powder, then Double the fat and add 3 blocks fat per block of Protein.

Another TYPO:
.
WRONG: (1.5 grams x 6 or 3 grams x 2)
CORRECTED: (1.5 grams x 6 or 3 grams x 3)

Jen, as John said, a 3 block meal contains 3 Protein choices + 3 Carbohydrate choices = 3 Fat choices. For best results you'd pass on the grain and breads To make it easier with no measuring, weighing or calculations involved, use Zone At-a-Glance. It's the method I used to lose 100 pounds with the Zone Diet, and I still use it. http://www.zonediet.com/tools/zone-classic Though there is a lot of discussion about blocks here in the Zone Forms, most people I know who follow the Zone Diet use At-a-Glance.

I had 3 blocks for breakfast but I think it was too much for me. I had an egg with 2 pieces of cheese, a few peanuts and a waffle, and a small glass of OJ. I felt full most of the day but did try to eat a little snack (saltines and 2 graham crackers).

I think I may have to do the 2 blocks for now. Maybe 2 blocks for breakfast and dinner, and 3 at lunch, with 1 block snacks. I know it wouldn't be a lot, but maybe 1 block for dinner? Is that possible? I work long days and sometimes dinner time would be right before bed. I don't want to eat that much right before sleep.

I am diabetic so am trying to work out something that's good for me. I'm not a veggie person but have been trying. 2 cups of celery is a lot so I've tended to eat more fruit. I don't know.

I was thinking of trying to make my snacks easier by just buying the balance protein bars. It has 17g of sugar in them, which is kind of high but when reading up on it, it says it's ok for diabetics.

I might add, too, that this is very hard for me to eat 5 small meals a day. My whole life I have only really had 2 meals a day, so I know my body is trying to adjust. I do feel a little bit better throughout the day, which is good. I think my body is just in shock now that it's getting food spaced out!

I wonder how long it will take before I start showing signs of weight loss. I guess I need to get my blocks consistent first!

Hi Jen,

It's fine to space out your meals and snacks however you like as long as you follow a few Zone guidelines. Don't, skip breakfast , and don't eat more than 5 blocks at a time or go more than 5 hours waking hours without a Zone snack or meal. It's also important to eat at least a 1 block Zone balanced snack within an hour or so of bedtime. If you've eaten a 3 block meal a couple hours before bed that would work too. Unfortunately your particular carbohydrate choices won't you to lower insulin into the Zone (re breakfast with the waffle and OJ, and mostly fruit for carbohydrate throughout the day). Saltines are not going to help matters, either. Consider replacing those foods with favorable veggies that don't have huge Zone block volumes, such as pasta sauce and salsa for example.

Also don't go below Dr. Sears' set minimum of 11 blocks daily.