I've been zoning for about 2 months, but I have a couple of questions.

Within how long could you eat and consider it a meal? Ex, could I eat my fat blocks (18 peanuts) while cooking the rest of my meal (3 oz chicken, 1/2 c black beans, 1/2 apple) and still stay in the zone if I don't eat the rest of the meal until 20 minutes later?
Or as my night snack, I have found a no sugar added ice cream that is one block of carbs and one block of fat. I normally start getting ready for bed around 10. Could I eat the ice cream around 8 then not eat a non fat source of protein (turkey dog) until 9:30?

Also, I'm not sure there is an answer to this one, but I am a math person and I like calorie counting and knowing the total grams of each nutrient I am aiming to get in a day. Does anyone know about how many total grams you should be shooting for of each macronutrient when you factor in the extra nutrients you get from other sources? (ex, my oatmeal has 6 g of protein, but I count it as 2 blocks of carbs)
Sorry for the potentially confusing questions, but I don't know if what I've been doing is ok...

Hi Julie,

Above all, forget about calorie counting. You should ignore the other macronutrients.

Dr. Sears has said that the C and P should be eaten within 45 min of each other, though some people can't handle eating them that far apart and stilll stay in the Zone.

The fat is best eaten together with the P and C.

HI Julie,

Those new to the Zone Eating Plan often develope the impression that "the Zone" [ the insulin zone your blood is in ] is very narrow and one must "hit the balance" of a Zone Meal or Snack just about "dead on".

This is not the case at all. If someone is reasonably intelligent and consciously striving [ like you are ] to "balance" a meal or snack - you will be "in the Zone".

A gram or two here or there - especially within a Meal - makes no difference at all.

The question of factoring in the "other" nutrients that often come as part of one of the ones you are adding is a good one.

Originally one of the ways/methods to "balance" the nutrients was called the "1-2-3" method.

This meant : Fat 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, Carbohydrates 3 grams.

In any Meal or Snack that should be the RATIO of Fats to Protein to Carbohydrates.


This desired "ratio" has since that time been adjusted and tweaked here and there to today where you will note that "fats" would not at all fit into the "original" ratio.

Why ?

Because actually the AMOUNT of fats we need is still about the same total in a meal for example but the "way of getting there" has been - hopefully - simplified.

"Simplified" in that the question you raise about "incidental" "other" nutrients has always been around because this has always been a concern - and still is.

So -

It was ASSUMED that if a person was following the Zone recommendation as far as suggested sources for your protein goes they would be getting typically some "good fats" along with the protein.

So -

The amount of fats suggested to meet the "current ratio" was adjusted down to 1.5 grams [ in half ] ASSUMING the other 1.5 grams was going to be acquired through - in almost all cases - the protein source.

The actual AMOUNT of fats - in fact - did not change - in the overall ratio. The "accomodation" of them did.

That being said you can go right ahead if it satisfies a personal need and add up each nutreint and "balance" in that manner.

Some call it the "Label method".

That;s ok too.

Just remember that you DO NOT have to hit the amount of "grams" right on the head.

However - that being said - often the nature of The Zone Eating Plan is to "infect" your brain as you feel better and better and your blood profile looks better and better and one starts "tweaking" their nutritional intake so it is always precise down to the fraction of a gram - just I suppose to see how far you can take it.

I know all about that since I became so afflicted at one time. I had an electronic scale accurate to TWO DECIMAL PLACES and everything I ate for a year or two was weighed at least out to a tenth of a gram !

I enjoyed doing this - it was fun.

I can also tell you that my blood lipid profile stayed at exactly the same levels as when I had been using the "Plate method" and the "Block method"

I'm sorry if this might disappoint you but I have to report what I found.

And I also was very much concerned about "calories" - for a while - eventually I could care less and haven't thought about them in years.

Hope this helps.

e.Wally

ewally@verizon.net

Julie,
I have a bit of a different twist for you, than what Sue or EWally suggested.

First, I think that you might be stretching your timing a bit by eating the ice cream at 8 and then the rest of your snack at 9:30. However, your meal suggestion is probably fine. Everyone is different, and if you are going to eat one nutrient first, it would be best to have either the fat or the protein. If you eat the carb first, then I am afraid that the sugars will be digested too quickly, before the protein and fat even comes along.

Now, about calorie counting...

If it makes you feel good to count calories, I see no harm in it at all! I think that if your goal is weight loss, then counting those extra things can help you to identify those foods that are contributing extra calories. Keep your focus on Zone balance, but it is not harmful to watch your calories, too. Because, excess calories WILL cause you to gain fat, regardless of the Zone.

thanks for the great advice! These forums are awesome!

You're welcome Julie! I'm happy to help. :)

Glad to help!