Hi there, I've been on the zone now for a little over two months. It was a little up and down for the first three weeks -- I was trying really hard but sometimes I would make a mistake mix up my ratios (mostly because I wasn't used to it). I even bought a scale which I still use religiously. Anyhow, by the fourth week I've had it down pretty well, and only had the occasional treat (usu. a small muffin, or a cookie, no more than once or twice a week). By week 5 I still hadn't lost a pound or had any drop in my bodyfat, so I got really strict and cut out almost every treat (the occasional one I did have was small and balanced with healthy protein). I also made sure virtually every choice I made was a preferred one... so I ended up eating the huge amounts of veggies recommended to get my carbs, and only choosing the healthiest proteins that I can find. I'm really proud of myself in terms of my efforts as I have stuck with this for 4 weeks now... BUT, I still haven't lost a pound or changed my bodyfat. I'm exactly the same as when I started the program. I do feel a little more energetic, but I haven't changed my composition at all. I am really getting frustrated and upset... the zone rep at the gym said she hasn't met anyone who didn't lose weight on the zone, and everyone I talk to agrees... within the first couple weeks everyone lost weight -- except for me! I'm about ready to give up. I started this because I wanted to lose weight before my wedding in August (I have tried "everything" before this in the last two years). To give you some background, I'm female, 5'6", 152lbs, 32% bodyfat. I'm extremely active... I lift weights a few times a week at least, run 3-4 times a week, do martial arts 3-4 times a week and fence a couple times a week as well (I've maintained this activity level for a couple years now). I follow the zone very closely (I eat 13 blocks a day) and weigh/measure everything, and I drink lots of water (10-12 glasses a day). I just want to drop my bodyfat but I can't seem to... what should I do? I think I'm broken. :cry:

You may have trained your body to burn sugar instead of fat by the way you exercise. -C.

[quote:66d60d5d41="Dragoneye"]Hi there, ...By week 5 I still hadn't lost a pound or had any drop in my bodyfat, so I got really strict and cut out almost every treat (the occasional one I did have was small and balanced with healthy protein). ... I'm exactly the same as when I started the program. I do feel a little more energetic, but I haven't changed my composition at all. I am really getting frustrated and upset... the zone rep at the gym said she hasn't met anyone who didn't lose weight on the zone, and everyone I talk to agrees... within the first couple weeks everyone lost weight -- except for me! I'm about ready to give up. I started this because I wanted to lose weight before my wedding in August (I have tried "everything" before this in the last two years). To give you some background, I'm female, 5'6", 152lbs, 32% bodyfat. I'm extremely active... I lift weights a few times a week at least, run 3-4 times a week, do martial arts 3-4 times a week and fence a couple times a week as well (I've maintained this activity level for a couple years now). I follow the zone very closely (I eat 13 blocks a day) and weigh/measure everything, and I drink lots of water (10-12 glasses a day). I just want to drop my bodyfat but I can't seem to... what should I do? I think I'm broken. :cry:[/quote:66d60d5d41] Concerning your wanting to drop your body fat. I have a question for you. How are you measuring it? I purchased a fairly good scale to weigh and calculate body fat. Though I lost weight, the Body Fat percentage was virtually unchanged. (However in using a tape measure combined with the formula on this site, I found that it did show a decrease in Body Fat.) Then Consumer Reports did a study of weight scales with Body Fat capabilities and found, for the most part, that they are unreliable. Just a thought.

Thank you for your responses.... cduane... how does this happen based on the way I exercise? I love being active and thought this was a good thing! How can I fix it? jaydpiii... I've had my bodyfat measured at the gym where I attend. I also keep track of my measurements, too (i.e. hip, waist) and have not noticed any changes. Most notably, there has been no improvement in how my clothes fit. I just seem to be stuck. :( Oh, and I probably should mention I was anorexic for a few years about ten years ago. Since then I have been working hard to eat more, but it's always been a bit of a struggle. The last year has definitely been the best, but I had a tendency to undereat protein a fair bit... that was another motivating factor in starting the zone...

"Slow Burn" by Stu Mittleman and "The Maffetone Method" by Phil Maffetone tell how your training can teach your body to burn fat. Can you post your most recent cholesterol results? Your bloodwork might provide some clues. -C.

I'm new to the zone so could be way off base here ... but isn't 13 blocks a day a lot for a 152 pound female?

Funinthezone. 13 is NOT a lot for a female who is as active as the new frustrated zoner.

Another question: are you on birth control pills? This can affect your results. Some have better luck with dropping a carb from meals and adding a fat. I, like you, didn't lose any weight my first several weeks on the Zone. It took awhile for my body to kick start, and I still lose a lot slower than others (more like 2 lbs. a MONTH instead of a week! And that if I am really strict.) However, I have lost about 16 lbs. now (I have been zoning 10 months) but I am looking and feeling much better. I also notice that, though I am not at my goal, I look better because I am no longer bloated and puffy (I look at old pictures of myself and can't believe how bloated I was!) Although I am not at my goal yet, I have dropped from a size 14 to an 8, which is great no matter how many pounds are gone. I'll get there, though it may take me another 10 months or more. The reason I stick with it is that I finally feel in control of my eating and I know I am making healthy choices. I feel better and have more energy. My weight loss may be slow, but I am sure not! I have more energy than ever, and rarely feel tired before bedtime. I am a zoner for life, and it's really not for the weight loss, though that is a benefit. I hope you will reach your goal for your wedding, but this may not be the best reason to do this. We really put too much emphasis on this "perfect day", and it's an easy trap to fall into. I know the people on this forum are great, and will help you to find a way to get yourself going, but I hope you aren't putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect for your wedding. Goodness knows that there is enough stress in planning a wedding! And, of course, in starting a marriage! :) I hope that's not being too forward. Just tell me to stuff it if I am being too much of a butt-inski. :roll: You're not broken, but you may not have found the right combination for you, yet. Everyone is different, and it really does take tinkering to find the way that works for you. Please keep asking questions--there are some awesome people on this site that will give you great support. I know that they really kept me going when things got hard--I never could have gotten this far. Thank you, everyone!!! :D Hang in there! _You_ are worth it. Ronica

new2zone: So, now I'm wondering if I'm eating enough blocks. I began two weeks ago and have been eating 11 blocks per day. I do find myself hungry after about 3 hours. I lost 5 lbs right away (the first 4 days), but then have slowed down a lot. The scale did just register another pound off today, so that brings the total to 6 lbs. I am a 43-year-old female, began the Zone at 140 lbs., and I am 5'5". I really only want to lose about 8 more pounds. Do you think I should be eating less, more? Or, am I right on pace? Am I not "in the zone" if I'm not able to stave off hunger for 4 - 5 hours after a meal? Thanks in advance for your advice.

funinthezone, I'm not sure I can answer your question. The way I checked was to go to DrSears.com and then Zone Tools, and there I checked the body fat calculator. When you input your height, weight, waist and hip measurements, and activity level, it calculates your recommended blocks per day. I also find my meals last 4-5 hours (I think that is actually correct according to Dr.Sears), maybe some more expericed Zoners could respond. Thanks, robin

Im sorry to here that you are not looseing weight.A couple of my friend that i know burn fat by jogging/walking 20 min. intensively in the morning on an empty stomach because there is little carbohydrates left from overnight and they said it goes right to the fat it doesnt work for everyone though so you might want to give it a try.

Hi Dragoneye, I know pretty much how you feel. I've lost 12 pounds in the last 6 weeks. Well, sort of. I've lost 2 pounds and gained them back 6 different times. That counts as 12, doesn't it? So a couple things to knock around. First, it sounds like 32% bf is a really high number for 5'6", 152 and lots of exercise. Even your BMI only comes out at just under 25, which means NOT FAT! WooHoo!!! When I lose a pound and he then comes back, with a friend :evil: , I can always look back and see where my counts and numbers didn't work. I've found lots of different ways to goof up, so if you need lessons there, just let me know! But if I r-e-a-l-l-y pay attention to how I FEEL a few hours after I've eaten, rather than the numbers on the box, it does 2 things. It lets me relax and not worry so dang much, and I move that scurvy little needle on the scale down a bit!! Good luck to you!! Bob

Hi, I can think of a few scenarios. 1. You may need more blocks due to your very active exercise plan. It will depend upon your LBM. I am 5' 7 1/2 ", withe LBM somewhere in the 115 to 117 LB range due to my active lifestyle, and to be honest, for someone with the amount of training you do (running , martial arts, and wt. training, each several times or more a week), 32% body fat at 152 LB doesn't sound quite right (sounds too high), unless you have just recenty begun these exercise activities at this level, or you have very small bones. Maybe try a different method for measuring you body fat. 2. You may be sensitive to carbs (which could happen for a number of reasons) in which case you will most likely stay in the Zone better by dropping a carb at each meal. I'm carb sensitive and thias is the norm for me. If you do this you must add several 1.5 g monounsaturated fat blocks to each meal where carb is dropped. While the Zone is not a calorie counting eating plan, it is a calorie deficient one. Dr. Sears recommends you replace the calories lost when the carb is dropped with fat to provide the necessary calories for energy but not stimulate insulin in doing so (fat doesn't have a direct effect on insulin levels). 3. It helps to change one's exercise (lessen intensity, change type of activity, change duration, etc) every few months. The body can get accustomed to the status quo and the change in exercise routine will be enough to shake thigs up and get you burning the fat again. Hope this is of help. Sue