Is monterey jack cheese (8g fat per 1oz serving) okay to use as a protein or does it have too much fat in it? I've been having either this or string cheese (6g Fat) with a 4oz glass of wine every afternoon for my snack, but am wondering if I should be using reduced fat cheese instead. I've been doing this for one month and only lost 6 lbs. Most of that came off in the first week. Am looking for reasons why I'm stuck and wondering if this might have something to do with it.

A pound and a half per week is the most you can healthily lose on average, so the Zone experts say. Body fat behaves like a sponge, so losing it affects water retention. Your 6 pounds loss in month sounds on track. :D Just keep your eye on limiting hi-glycemic carbs. Regarding the extra fat in the cheese, it should really be 1.5 g or 3 g per block, and that fat is an unfavorable (saturated) fat source. You do not need to give it up, but you might want to limit it or find a suitable way to balance it. Sue can make better comments. Charlie