This has probably been asked before, but I couldn't find it. I am curious why Dr Sears went from a low calories, 800 to 1200 (page 201 The Zone), to 1100 as the lowest he recommends?

Many thanks
Linda

my guess: to keep the diet in the range of healthful diets, not one which has you digesting your own muscle to get protein!

Somehow I don't think that is the answer! lol

If you mean Enter the Zone I don't see the reference on page 201. But Dr. sears rarely talks calories and he did change from a wider range of blocks to a minbimum of 11 blocks for women. Is this perhaps what you are refering to? If so, janet is right, it is to support and maintain your lean body mass while yu lose fat.

In his first book (hardback) 'The Zone Dietary Road Map' page 201 "For the average person, that will be 800 to 1200 calories a day. This may seem like a starvation diet, but I guarantee you that you'll have a hard time eating all the food necessary to get to those calorie levels if you follow the rules of the Zone -favorable diet." I did the calculation for the diet according to his original writings and I come up with 884 calories a day, balanced with 30f,40c, and 30p of course. I eat that way, feel wonderful and am doing very well. I was just wondering why he upped it and why the number 1100?

The lower calorie range was based on the fact that he originally stated that smaller people could go with as low as 8 blocks per day, rather than 11 blocks per day. But, as I understand it, an 8-block day was falling short of providing the necessary amounts of vitamins and minerals in food.

Thank you Cranberrycat. Do you know where I could find that information at? Is it in one of his newer books or on this site somewhere? I can compensate for the vitamin and minerals as long as my body is getting the macronutrients it needs. I was doing the higher 1100 and didn't feel as well as I do at the lower number. I can't eat enough on the higher amount without really getting into dense carbs and I enjoy eating the way he has outlined in his original books. I think perhaps some of the zoners who have problems losing on the zone may be because of the higher 1100 requirements. That's just a guess, and I could very well be totally wrong. Thanks again for everyone's input and answers to my question.

Well, he also says that no adult should go lower with calories, either. I can't tell you specifically where it is written, but I believe it was in "Mastering the Zone".

if you went with 800, would you use fewer carbs, or just fewer blocks ? Fewer blocks would lower your macronutrients, while fewer carbs would take you out of the zone....

Remember please that I am going by Dr Sears original book The Zone. It's based on my protein requirements as the zone principles indicate. My lean body mass is about 112 (rounded) and at a moderate level of exercise (x 0.6) that makes it 67 protein grams daily. I get 2.6 blocks 3 times a day and two snacks at .9 blocks a day (9.6 blocks a day). My calorie requirement is about 884 a day. I am very much 'In The Zone'. I feel great and have energy to spare. When I am working hard (very active - LBM x 0.9) my levels would go up to 101 protein, 45 fat, 131 carbs and 1334 calories a day. All according to the original book. So I am still curious why he upped it to a set level as he has instead of going by the individual's actual needs.

According to the Zone calculator online at Very active my protein requirements would be 101 (rounded), and 14 blocks (rounded). So I really figure I am not way off base...

interesting, Linda, it seems you are very much aware of your needs....so, yeah, I'm a bit curious now too. Don't know the answer, and am not an expert, either, just another questioner.

Hi Linda, I'm from Mexico and I have the same problem as you. Based on the books, my requirements of protein would be 88 and 8 blocks per day, but according to the calculator online my requirements would be 11 blocks per day.

Apparently an adult can not eat less than 11 blocks a day, so at some point this became a standard.

Anyway, I have an appointment next week with a specialist in zone diet, to remove any doubt about that.

I keep in touch!

PS:Sorry for my english!

It will be very interesting to hear what he has to say Paula. Not of course, that it will change how I am eating because I feel very comfortable with what I am doing, but it will be good to know. Because of the controversy on this subject, I would hesitate to encourage anyone else from going to the lower levels. Once I understand why he changed it, I will feel better about it. What I am thinking is that he upped to to take in all those who would go lower without proper knowledge and actually damage their health. At 1100 it not only keeps the protein at a level that is considers adequate, it also keeps calories in the range that 'experts' say is required for health. And it may be to prevent liability on Dr Sears' part. Not that I think he would disclose that.

I just spoke with an expert on the help desk. She said the first book was confusing and there was supposed to have been a disclaimer that the minimum number of blocks was 11. She said that is why they came up with the calculator on-line so that people would never go below 11. She said the body can go into starvation mode on anything less than 11 blocks per day and the body will not be able to get all the nutrients it needs.

Note: She said the minimum number of blocks for women is 11 and the minimum number of blocks for men is 14 ... even if calculations come out lower.

Thanks for letting us know that Karen... I am not sure I believe that was the reason because there was no such disclaimer in The Soy Zone either, at least not that I remember. But it is the safest route and most people should pay attention and do as Dr Sears says. I feel much better at the level I am at now than I did at the higher 1100 calorie level so I will stick with it until I start working harder.

Thanks again...

You're welcome, Linda!

Posted By Karen on 01/28/2009 12:17 PM

Quote: "I just spoke with an expert on the help desk. She said the first book was confusing and there was supposed to have been a disclaimer that the minimum number of blocks was 11. She said that is why they came up with the calculator on-line so that people would never go below 11. She said the body can go into starvation mode on anything less than 11 blocks per day and the body will not be able to get all the nutrients it needs." end of quote

I just had a thought. If that is true why doesn't he have a disclaimer on his website about the first books. He must know there are a lot who use his books more than the website. Perhaps he has one and I am just not aware of it?

Actually, Linda there is science behind the answer they have given you. If you get below 1200 calories a day (I would have to check this amount to be absolutely sure) the body goes into starvation mode. It is not just that you are not getting enough nutrients but the body becomes "calorie conservative". When you are getting plenty of food the body becomes kind of wasteful, it does not digest every little bit. When it goes into starvation, your body takes every bit of nutrient it can and then slows down the metabolism to burn as little as possible for maintenance. If you go back to eating more than that minimum you will gain wait quickly. So it sets you up to have more difficulty over time.

Here's Barry Sears' explanation of why he changed to the 11 block minimum (this info is from drsears.com).

<<Protein requirements - Relevance: 3030
Q: I noticed that you have changed the minimum daily protein requirements. My husband and I have been on the Zone diet for approx. 2 1/2 years and when we figured our blocks according to your first book, I was at 8 protein blocks a day and my husband at 11. When I got the message that this site was opening up I read that you advocate a minimum of 11 protein blocks a day now. Could you please clarify this information because I don't want to start putting on weight as I am still trying to lose. Respectfully, Priscilla R A: Dear Priscilla, I suggest 11 blocks a day as the minimum for an adult just starting out on the Zone Diet. This corresponds to about 1,200 calories per day, which corresponds to the caloric level recommended by the American Diabetes Association. However, if you have no hunger and maintain your physical performance at this block level, you may wish to decrease the number of blocks by one per day and see how you feel for the next two weeks. I would never go below 8 blocks per day. A great number of women do very well at a level below 11 blocks. However, because of the lower carbohydrate intake at 8 blocks per day versus 11 blocks, you might want to think about taking an inexpensive vitamin and mineral capsule as a cheap insurance policy to make sure that your micronutrient load is being maintained at this lower block level. The Zone diet is based on years of research. And more important, continuing research for many more years to come. During our clinical study in San Antonio with Type II diabetics, one factor that came into greater focus is that many of the Type II diabetic women showed more compliance and therefore enhanced clinical results when we increased their minimum daily block amounts from 8 or 9 blocks to 11 blocks per day. That is why I increased the minimum number of blocks per day for adults to 11.
http://www.drsears.com/SearchIndexe...fault.aspx - 8/24/2007 11:32:38 AM >>

Thank you very much Sue!

BTW, I did not mean to imply that my comment was Dr. Sear's opinion. Just information.

Hi Anna!

No explanations necessary, IMHO. BTW, my post was not meant as reply to your info. (Now I'm explaining, ha!)

Have a great day! :-)

You're welcome Paula!

I did not take it that way, Sue! Just wanted to be clear with Paula re: my info.