I've got a question about the science side of the Zone.

In several of Dr Sears' Zone books he makes the comment "you can't lose more than 1 pound a week."

He didn't qualify the statement as "under normal circumstances" or any other such phrase. I don't have the exact context for this comment, but I remember coming across it in more than one Zone book, and re-reading it multiple times in each book... so I don't think I'm misunderstanding it.

I just don't see how that can be the case. Is he talking about 1 pound of FAT? ...and saying saying that any other weight loss you see is water or sludge from your colon, or some other bodily stuff? Even so, that can't be correct. What about the people on "The Biggest Loser" who are losing 5 to 10 pounds a week for nearly a dozen weeks running? Look at their pictures and tell me they're not losing more than 1 pound of fat per week!

I think Dr Sears mis-stated what he was trying to say. He either needed to add some conditions to the comment, or explain more of the medical science behind what he was trying to say.

Does anyone here know more about this? Can you enlighten me?

Thanks.

When I've heard him explain that, it's been in regard to 1 to 1.5 pounds of body fat in a week's time.

Congrats on your progress Jeff!

Hi Jeff

One of the men on Biggest Loser Australia lost 9 kilos (19.8 pounds) in one week - this was in week 8!! Hard to get your head around.

Congrats on your weight loss, Jeff!

I think the 1-1.5 lbs of fat per week is based on exercising 30 min 6 days a week using the sample of exercises listed under fitness on the top bar. I believe this number could be more if you exercised more than that; but then again, I'm not sure because you would increase your number of blocks to compensate. Keep in mind that on BL, they exercise 4-6 hours every day, which not normal for the average person.

As I understand Dr. Sears' comment about 1-1.5 pounds of fat loss weekly, it is not based on a specific amount of exercise.

Wouldn't it be interesting to know the AA/EPA 's of the contestants on those shows!

I`m now 50 days on The Zone diet, eating fewer blocks than calculated, exercising more than 1 hour daily, and I have not lost a single pound. OK, it`s true, my ratio of body fat/lean body mass is better.

Rejec, I am in the same boat! I have only lost 3 pounds on the scale since January! But... I have lost approx 8 pounds of fat and have gained 5 pounds of lean body mass!

Rejec, congrats on you progress!

A tip, for optimal results with the Zone, it would be better to eat your full block requirement.

Hi Rejec

Try eating the amount of blocks that you have calculated and see what happens. Your body may be thinking you are not giving it enough food so is going into starvation mode. I found this quote from Mastering the Zone - "Never consume more protein than your body needs to maintain your lean body mass, but never eat less. Eating too little is to subject yourself to protein malnutrition. In other words, stay in balance".

Also regarding the exercise. One hour daily is great but anything over that is just wasted. Loosing weight is 90% what you eat and the rest is exercise.

Aaahhh, Margaret, great minds think alike! I was going to post to Rejec about starvation mode! LOL!

Sue, you might be right about 1-1.5 lbs per week without regard to a specified amount of exercise. I was thinking about this after I posted the other day. I've been losing all along without any exercise. I'm able to exercise some now, but I wasn't able to at all at first. I like the study Matt told us about regarding where the weight was lost from for each group ... % fat, % muscle. But still, I think BL contestants are an exception because of all the exercise they do every day.

For people within a normal range of body fat and body weight, 1-1.5 lbs. of body fat per week is probably a fairly good approximation. The greater your total body weight and the greater your to body fat percentage, obviously the more body fat you have to lose and the more body fat you can reasonably expect to lose on a weekly basis. The converse is also true. If you already have a fairly low body fat percentage and are fairly low in body weight, the smaller amount of body fat you can expect to lose on a weekly basis.

That makes sense, Matt!

Thanks everybody for your advice. Nevertheless I think if you eat less calories a day than you spend, you must loose some weight in the long run. I should eat 19 blocks per day but I simply cannot so much. So, I normally consume 15 or 16 blocks. Well, I`m patient and I wil persist. Daily, I record all the data and perhaps the change will come in the next 50 days!

Hi!

It doesn't work that way Rejec. The result of consistently eating less protein carb and fat than your body needs is the loss of LBM and very little to no loss of stored body fat.

Hi, Sue,

unfortunately I disagree with you. It is impossible not to loose weight, if the energy balance is negative. In my opinion, the problem lies somewhere else. Dr.Barry Sears made his calculation of the blocks for an average person. However, the people are not all the same. Some have more efficient metabolism than others. In my case, it looks, I`m still eating too much. So, I embarked on an experiment. For the next 15 days, I reduced my food intake to 10 blocks. I will report the results.

Rejec - please listen to Sue. My son has gone to school for this and if you eat less than you body needs at first you will lose some weight, but in the process your metabolism will slow down, it thinks it will not be getting any more food. Then when you do eat the proper amount you will gain since your metabolism is slower. That is why yo-yo dieting never works and why you end up heavier than you were before the diet. If you have been yo-yo dieting, you need to get your metabolism back to where it needs to be. Some times varying your blocks per day helps because it keeps your metabolism guessing. You said you should have 19 blocks. So one day you eat 19, the next 21, the day after 18, then 20, then 19. Just make sure by the end of the week you've eaten 19x7. Just a thought.

hi i am a slow loser or i am doing this wrong. i guess this is the healthy way. fast wieght loss is usually water. not real fat. i am an old akins fan. so trying this diet makes me nervous. can you also give me insight on how fast you notice the fat coming off

Hi Rejec

I just went back to your post of 4/9 and you said after doing the Zone for 50 days you have not lost a single pound. Why not do an experiment and for the next 50 days try eating the correct amount of blocks as calculated and see if there is a difference. If you think about it - you are undereating and your body has responded by not letting go of the excess fat. It thinks that it should be storing the fat just in case there isnt going to be more food coming.

Vonda, I've always been a very slow loser too. On every diet I've tried---and that is many---I lose a few pounds in the beginning, then the loss comes to an abrupt halt even though my eating and exercise didn't change. My weight climbed and climbed and left me feeling very desperate. I've been doing the Zone for just three weeks now, and trying to keep exactly to my 11 blocks every day, plus walking on the treadmill for 30-40 minutes every day. I've lost 7 lbs. and my clothes are fitting more loosely. I'm not sure how that compares to others' experience in the beginning weeks, but I'm thrilled! I love how the Zone keeps my hunger on an even keel; no more super hungry feelings and cravings. Maybe my body thought I was starving it for so many years (and I kind of was) and it just hung onto the weight. I'm hopeful that at last I've found the ticket to better health and weight loss that won't fizzle out in a few weeks. I encourage you to keep on the program and use this forum to ask questions and gain good information from those who have found this way of eating so helpful. I'm still learning too! Good luck, Vonda!

Lolly, congrats, that's great! You should submit your post to the testimonial section of this site!

Congrats, Lolly! You are doing GREAT!

For the time being, I stick to my hypothesis that we are not all equal. Phisical laws cannot be cheated! Since 12th April, I`m on the exact diet of 10 blocks and I`ve lost 3 lbs. I will continue for 15 days and then make a change if necessary. I expect to find my balance of energy input/output the experimental way.

Lolly - congrats on your amazing progress

Rejec - as I said in an earlier post, in the beginning you will lose they way you are doing it, but in the end it will not work for you, it will harm your metabolism and you won't be able to stick to that few blocks for ever.

I am also a slow looser. Usually it stops very quickly (and then I give up). I am in this phase right now. No loss in 4 weeks. But I am not giving up. Because for me, the zone is so much more than loosing weight. I am amazed how exactly after 4h only I get hungry. I don't have to eat chocolote bars or else in the afternoon anymore because I am dying of hunger 1h after lunch. And I am fitter than ever before. I don't feel sleepy anymore as I used to. That is why I keep going anyway. It is rewarding even if the scale says the same weight.

Thank you Sue and Karen and Sue! It's very encouraging to have y'all cheering me on!
Manuela, I'm glad you're not giving up and you're enjoying the benefits of Zone eating. Having the "hungries" under control and feeling more fit is really great, isn't it? I hope to continue losing weight, but I agree that eating in this way and exercising is much more than losing weight. It means health! I look forward to hearing your progress, so be sure to let us know how you're doing.