Hi, I just started the zone diet two days ago and I have some questions about exercising and protein intakes. I thought that working out first thing in the morning on an empty stomach was the best way to burn fat, but Dr. Sears mentioned in his book to eat a snack thirty minutes prior to working out. I like to jog/walk on an incline on my treadmill 5-6 times a week, lift 5-10 pnds weights 3 times a week, and do squats and pushups everyday as was recommended by Dr. Sears. I plan to start doing yoga on the days I don't lift as well. I am eating three meals a day each consisting of 3 blocks of protein and two 1 block snacks. My goal is to lose some weight but mainly change my body composition, or lower my body fat percentage. I would like to know when is the best time to workout and whether or not the snack required prior to working out should be borrowed or added to my daily protein intake. Also, is low fat soy milk allowed on the zone? and if so, how much of this would make a one block snack? I like to drink the Silk kind- 1cup:2g fat/6g protein/8g carbs(6grams sugar/1g fiber). I plan to purchase The Zone to get more accurate info, but your help would be really appreciated.

[color=darkred:0804694d90]Hi, Opinions vary among experts on the best time to exercise. IMO morning is preferable to other times of day. Evening would be the least desireable time for exercise. If you exercise first thing in the morning, have a one block snack prior and yes, count it in your daily protein intake. Then have breakfast after you exercise. If you add a few nuts to the one cup of soy milk you listed the amounts for, it would be a Zone balanced one block snack.[/color:0804694d90]

I agree with Sue, there are various opinions on when the best time to exercise is. I would set myself up for failure if I were to exercise right away in the morning. I get up very early to go to work, and if I were to plan my exercise that early, I would not likely achieve my goal (because when that alarm goes off, I would rather snooze). So, I think the best time to exercise is when you can work it into your schedule and you can stick to it. I am not a vigorous gym exerciser, but I generally take walks. I find 20 min to walk during my lunch break at work, and then I schedule another 20 min to walk after work before the bus arrives at the house with my kids. When the weather turns cold and snowy, I may go to the gym, but for now I really enjoy getting the fresh air. I don't exercise at a high enough level to push up a block, so I incorporate my exercise around meal times so that I am supplementing my body while sticking to 11 blocks.