Okay...

So I put my info into the bodyfat calculator and it tells me that I need to eat 20 blocks a day.

Does that mean that I eat 20 Blocks a day to MAINTAIN my current weight?? If I want to lose weight, should I eat less blocks??

Please help...

Dave

Hi Dave!

In case you missed it, I replied to this last week in the other thread where you posted it: http://www.zonediet.com/RESOURCES/F...fault.aspx

You will lose stored fat on the body fat calculator's recommendation. To lose stored fat you should not eat less than that recommendation.

Thanks Sue!!! I totally spaced that. :crazy:

I appreciate all your help.

Dave

Sue,

I just received an email from Dave at the Zone stating that the blocks calculation derived from the body fat calualator is a calculation that will maintain your wieght (or lean body mass) not a calculation to lose weight.

Ed,

My understanding of the body fat calculator is that it is a calculation that will help one to maintain your lean body mass. One can still lose weight and continue to maintain your lean body mass (by eating in the Zone). If you desire to gain weight, you would still eat the same number of blocks, but increase your fat intake.

Hope that helps!

Everyone,

Seems I read somewhere - maybe in a number of places but not all concerning the exact issue we are talking about - that the number of blocks that we calculate is our "daily needs" will, if we are carrying EXCESS fat, cause us to lose THAT fat while nourishing our lean body weight.

This understanding, if correct, would seem to be the answer to the subtle interpretation differences we are seeing.

E.Wally

ewally@verizon.net

[quote]Posted By Edward on 07/22/2008 11:22 AM

Sue,

I just received an email from Dave at the Zone stating that the blocks calculation derived from the body fat calualator is a calculation that will maintain your wieght (or lean body mass) not a calculation to lose weight.[/quote]

Hi Edward,

I haven't seen the email exchange between you and Dave and I can't speak for him (I'm assuming you're referring to Dave Schreck). If you have a question regarding the info he emailed you, he would be the best one to ask.

My take on what Dave has told you is that he's trying to convey to you that the calculator result is not a calculation that has been reduced to promote stored fat loss.

There is no reason to reduce the blocks one requires when one wishes to lose stored fat. A person in the Zone will be using both dietary fat and stored fat to provide for all their energy needs 24/7 when they follow the calculator protein requirement/block requirement recommendation.

Here's my reply to the original poster regarding LBM:

20 blocks would be the amount you require to maintain your LBM at your current activity level. You'll most likely lose stored fat on 20 blocks.

Here's the address to see the entire reply:
http://www.zonediet.com/RESOURCES/F...fault.aspx

In closing, in regard to the original question in this thread, the amount of blocks recommended by the calculator should not be reduced by those wishing to lose excess stored body fat. If one has exccess stored fat to lose, the loss of that fat usually occurs while eating the daily protein/block requirement recomended by the calculator.

Cheers!

I'm new just tring to get started and don't really understand. When I did the Body fat calculator it said 11 blocks. Is that a day or a meal?
Thanks
Andrea:)

That's 11 blocks for the whole day Andrea.

A typical way to split them is 3 balanced blocks for breakfast (that's 3P plus 3C plus 3F), 3 for lunch, one for a snack in the afternoon (1 P plus 1C plus 1F), 3 for dinner and 1 for a bedtime snack.

Cheers!

Thanks to all for the response.

One additiona question. My 17 yr old son who is a very lean 5'9", 140lb high level hockey goalie and who works out with a trainer 2X per week is trying to gain weight(about 10 lbs).

Should we do the body weight calculation for him and add block of fat per meal as was suggested above or should we just increase the amount of combined blocks that the calculator gives us by 1 per meal or 1 per day?

The one thing he does not want to do right now is loss weight.
Thanks

Ed

The Zone recommendations I've seen for growing teens state to calculate their protein requirement, same as for an adult, and then add a couple blocks too it to arrive at their daily block requirement. The other way to do it, which usually amounts to about the same thing, would be increase the activity level beyond their actual in the calculator. Either method will give him the extra blocks he needs if he's still growing. To gain fat in the Zone one would add extra monounsaturated fat blocks. To gain muscle one would usually perform strength trainging and support it with the appropriate amount of protein according to their LBM.

Thank you.