The exercise categories on the Block and Body Fat Calculator are a bit unclear to me. I'm assuming that I fit into the second category, light exercise, which is what I've been using to calculate my blocks. I walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes 6 days a week. I use 2 lb. hand weights during part of it. As I increase my speed, incline and time, do I need to move into the next level?

Hi Lolly!


If you feel good, have plenty of energy and you are not losing LBM, then you're using the correct activity level.

How are you feeling, Lolly? My thought on it is that if you seem to think you belong somewhere in between, then try your stats using the next activity level, see where it takes you for the number of blocks. If there is no change, then it wouldn't matter. But, if there is a change, then you could maybe go somewhere in between the block increments.

Thanks, Sue and Cranberrycat. I calculated the blocks using the next activity level and it stayed at 11 blocks. I don't think I need to worry about changing that anytime soon! I'm continuing to eat well, but am less satisfied after meals and/or get hungrier sooner. I've frequently been feeling lightheaded during the past week. What's up with that?

I've noticed on a couple of threads that you've said that a person weighing over 200 lbs. might need more than 11 blocks. I'm at 208, and until the past week the 11 blocks seemed fine. I haven't lost anything for a week, which I think is normal. But I don't want it to STOP. My lean/fat ratio is the same too. Any thoughts?

Lolly:

I recommend ditching the hand weights. If you want to make the exercise more difficult, increase the speed or the incline. The use of hand weights has a potential for shoulder injury and very little benefits. The risk/reward isn't worth it.

Hi Lolly,

I'm not sure what you are thinking about re the 200 pound/more block issue, but you might be confusing something else with the block calculation for a person who weighs over 300 pounds.

Light headedness is a sign that you meal balance may be off, or that a carb adjustment may be needed. Keep a food diary and see of you are even feeling hungry and when. Then take a look at your previous meal or snack to see what could be changed. I'll be happy to help if you have questions.

Lolly, you may not need more blocks, but you could need to adjust your carb blocks. Lack of meal satiety and early hunger may mean that you are not getting an appropriate protein/carb ratio.

Thanks again for your responses.
Here's what I've eaten so far today:

Breakfast:
2/3 cup steel cut oats
1/2 cup plain ff yogurt
1 cup strawberries
9 almonds

I was really busy at work and although hungry, I ignored it, drank water, and forgot to eat a snack. That's the first time I've forgotten a snack since being on the Zone. You caught me!

For lunch:
1/2 c. eggbeater omelet cooked with a 1/2 t. olive oil
a pinch of low fat Mexican cheese blend
1/8 c. black beans and about 3 Tbsp. salsa
Panful of fresh spinach that wilted down to about a cup
2 Tbsp. avocado

An hour and a half later I felt weak, like I needed to sit down.

afternoon snack: 1/2 apple, 1/2 tsp. almond butter, 1 oz. lowfat cheese

Haven't had dinner yet: 3 oz. (I weigh it) chicken breast, olive oil sauteed onion, mushrooms and zucchini, and a boatload of steamed green beans.

How am I doing, apart from the missed snack?

Okay, Matthew I'll drop the hand weights. I had read that was a good thing to do. I wasn't doing anything with them other than holding them and swinging my arms at waist level. But if it doesn't matter, I'll forget it!

You're welcome Lolly!

No wonder you're hungry, your breakfast contains 1P and 4 C. You need more protein. Also, because you chose fat free yogurt instead of low fat, you should add at least another block of fat, 2 if you're trying to make it a 4 block meal.

Your lunch contains 2P, about 2C and could use more fat, too, because egg whites are fat free.

Thanks for your lightning-speed response, Sue! I thought I had 3 carbs for breakfast. Forgot to factor in the carb in the yogurt, then didn't add for the missing fat. Good grief. I need to keep my nose stuck in the block list. I know this isn't complicated, but it seems that way sometimes. I'm trying not to overeat, and end up not eating enough.
I'll get the hang of it eventually. Yes?

I'm grateful for your help, and I'll very likely need it again. ;D

Yes, of course you will Lolly! :-)

Questions are good. Keep them coming!

Yes, of course you will Lolly! :-)

Questions are good. Keep them coming!

Hi everybody,

I have been in the zone for a month now and I feel great. I train for triathlon and my time of entering a competition has come. Next Tuesday it will be my first one: 750mt swim, 20 bike, 5 run.
Now, I am eating 11/12 blocks divided in 2for breakfast, a sneck, 3 blocks for lunch, a snack, 3 blocks for dinner and a bedtime block. I wake up very early in the morning. I was wondering if I have to mantain the same division in blocks i usually do also for the day of competition. I feel good with 11 blocks, even if recalculating, it came out I should eat 12.
Is there anyone who has had my same experience and can give me advise? Sorry for my English but I post from Italy, and I love reading your tips.
Bye
Monia

Hi Monia!

Congrats on feelign great inthe Zone!

I'd suggest to eat the 12 blocks that are recommended for you.

As for the competation day, it depends on the time of day of your event begins. I would say to divide you blocks the same way you've divided them for your long trainings (those that most approximate the actual race).

Good luck to you on Tuesday!

Hi Sue,
thanks very much for your reply. Yes, I feel great in the Zone. I hope it will help to finish my triathon competition tomorrow as I feel a bit of a shame to enter it... I have trained for 2 years so far but never wanted to compete. This time will.
It will start at 12pm, so I think I will eat four bloks divided between breakfast and snack before it. Let's see...
Bye. Monia

Hi Sue,
thanks very much for your reply. Yes, I feel great in the Zone. I hope it will help to finish my triathon competition tomorrow as I feel a bit of a shame to enter it... I have trained for 2 years so far but never wanted to compete. This time will.
It will start at 12pm, so I think I will eat four bloks divided between breakfast and snack before it. Let's see...
Bye. Monia

Your first one! Very exciting! Best wishes, and let us know all about it!

OH, yes, yesterday was my first competition. A triathlon of 750mt swimming(I don't really know but in yards should be 820), 20 km bike(12 miles) and 5km running(3 miles). I felt great and I finished it. I even wasn't the last one! I ate my two block for breakfast at about 8am, one block snack at 10.45, a block after finishing and a three block meal I took from home in the two hours after the competition as I read in the many books on the Zone I own.
The sensation I felt was great, I wasn't hungry neither weak. I was simply ok. When I finished I did not need the parade of fruit it was offered to the athlets because I remembered my insuline, during the effort, was already high(Am I right)? so I just took water. And I did not join the Pasta Party (you now, I'm Italian...)or better said, I joint it but eating my three blocks meal. I am sorry I am bothering you, but I am enthusiat of this new way of living, really. I am not good at managing the Omega 3 yet...
Thanks for being there.
Monia

That's fantastic Monia! Congrats on you success! You're not botherign me! I'm still enthusiastic about how the Zone makes me feel, even thoughh it's been 15 years since I began eating the Zone diet. :-)