I suffer from severe hypoglycemia and have been experimenting with the zone for a while. I have been very scrict about eating only low glycemic fruits and vegetables at every meal. Using Sears' .75 protein to carb ratio I find myself hungry 30 minutes after a meal (which is a typical hypoglycemic reaction). Even using a 1.0 ratio I end up hungry very soon.
However, I have found that if I use a 1.5 or 2.0 protein to carb ratio I do much better and my hunger seems to subside.
But I am confused, because Dr Sears seems to state that a protein to carb ratio above 1.0 will lead to health problems. My ratio has sometimes been 2.0 :blink:

Should I be eating different kinds of carbs at a meal and using a .75 ratio or am I just one of those people that needs a drastically different ratio? I would eat only veggies as my carb but I need at least 17-18 blocks per day and find it hard to eat veggies for more than one or two blocks per meal.

Thanks

Hi Thomas!

The following should help. Stay around a P/C ratio of 1. Use all favorable veggies, keeping the volume of your meals a manageable size by including foods like hummus, salsa, tomato sauce/puree, a block of black beans, etc. You might also find it helpful to experiment with a mix of densities, staying within the realm of the favorable veggies. When you do eat fruit, limit it to berries (they're the fruits for the Zone). Last, add a few extra blocks of monounsaturated fat to your meals (eg. add a total of 5 or 6 F blocks to a 3 block meal, add a total of 7 or 8 F blocks to a 4 block meal). All these suggestions taken together should do the trick. "Mastering the Zone" has lots of recipes that will give you ideas on how to use all favorable carbs from veggies only and still result in a normal sized meal. I'd advise you not to use the cornstarch in those recipes.

Well, I would not rely totally on recipes from the book(s). You definitely need to follow guidelnes, but unfortunately there are some recipes that do NOT follow the guidelines that Sears publishes.

Thanks for the replies. I tried eating only vegetables as my source of carbs and cutting out one block per meal and it makes a big difference. I feel better and can go up to 4 hours without hunger (before I couldnt go more than 45 mins). Now I need to find a way to start reducing the volume of my meals lol

You're welcome Thomas!

Glad the suggestions worked. To lessen volume of meals you could also try dropping 1/2 to 1 block C. If that results in hunger try adding a couple more F blocks to that. Dr Sears explains teh value fo thisn in "Mastering The Zone. He suggests to develop about 10 meals that are hormonally correct for you. You'd write the meal in the food diary and keep tweaking the ingredients, one at a time, each time you make it, unitl it's to your liking in regard to size and how well it keeps you in the Zone.

One surprising thing I have noticed is that if I have a four block meal (3 C, 4 P, 6 F) with veggies as my source of carbs I can stay in the zone for several hours. However, today I tried spreading my meals throughout the day by having one four block meal and four three block meals (2 C, 3 P, 5 F). I figured this would help me even more. I only had veggies as my source of carbs.
After the four block meal I lasted 4 hours without hunger, however after the three block meal I crashed after 1.5-2 hrs and felt very tired. Was this due to having the wrong protein to carb ratio?
It doesnt make a lot of sense to me because I kept everything in the meal the same, I just reduced the overall blocks by one...

I have always been told and read that the more meals the better when it comes to hypoglycemia, but I have actually found that I do better with larger more infrequent meals as long as the ratios are properly balanced :confused: I must be doing something wrong...


Also, the maximum amount of carb blocks that should be dropped per meal is 1 (to make a 1:1 ratio)?


thanks

Thomas, it doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. It's just not what your body needs right now. Each body is unique, and responds uniquely. The great thing about the Zone is that you are able to adjust in different ways to find the things that work best for you. For instance, most apples don't allow me to stay in the Zone, but I do well with a couple variteties (Granny Smith and Honey Crisp). Go figure. Most of my meals contain only veggies, btu I ned to combine certain ones for best results. With more time and experience (trial and error with what works, what doesn't) you'll know the best mix for you, the best carbs for you, etc.

About the meal timing and 3 block meal vs 4 block meal issues. Your focus is only on meal size and timing. the foods in the meals play a big part in it, too. Using me as an example, I'm very carb sensitive yet meals containing only lower density veggies leave me hungry. Also, it may be too early to try to analyze how you do with different meal sizes, because until a couple days ago you were not keeping insulin in the Zone. Studies show it takes 4 days of consistently eating Zone meals and snacks (ones that are correct for your needs) to lower insulin into the Zone. I'd give it a week or two of doing Zone in the way which works for you, and keeping a food diaery of it, before playing around with a different meal schedule. In other words, get solidly in the Zone before experimenting with a different meal schedule. Then, if you wish to try smaller meals, work off the ones in the food diary that worked bestfor you. That way the changes will be based on meals you already know work. The less variables when you experiment, the clearer the reasons for the results will be.

You're correct not to go too much fatther than a P/C ratio of 1.

Hi, I'm just getting ready to start. Can someone please let me know where I can obtain a list of good carbs (fruit and veges) and the quantities you can have for a 3 block meal. I'm a bit confused at the moment. I understand the protein and fat side of things, but not the carbs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Gale!

Here it is:

http://www.zonediet.com/EATING/Quic...fault.aspx

Those under the heading "Low Density Carbohydrates (Best Choices)" are favorable . Those listed under " High Density Carbohydrates (use in moderation)" are unfavorable. Sr Sears says not to eat morethan 25% of the carbs in a meal from unfavorable carbs. You'll get the best Zone results if you eat little to no unfavorable carbs.