Hi All
I've been contemplating the zone for a few months now and figure what the hell, I'll give it a go. Just one question.

I know less is obviously better, but can someone give me a more concrete idea of what "use in moderation" really means when referring to unfavorable fats/carbs? Is it once a day, a week, a month?

Thanks and wish me luck!

Kate

Already have a second question. The other day I had my body fat measured at the gym with calipers, and it was TWENTY points less the Zone book/website calculations (21 @ gym vs 40 zone book/website). Why so different? Since I'm going to follow the Zone, I'll follow its calculation instructions too, but will a "miscalculation" affect my success at all? Are the zone calculations estimates, and might they be wrong?

USE IN MODERATION means that an unfavorable carb should not exceed 25% of the total carb in the meal. So, like no more than 1/2-1 block of your meal should be composed of unfavorable carb.

As for the bodyfat calc, you can probably tell which one that would be. If you look in the mirror and you are obese in appearance, then you probably are closer to 40%. But, if you are relatively slim, then you may be closer to 21%.

A miscalculation could definitely affect your success, because it also effects what your lean body mass (LBM) is. The LBM is what basically guides you to choose the correct amount of protein to eat per day, your protein prescription.

Hi Kate!

Some additional info, the less often you eat the foods listed as "Use in Moderation" the better your results will be in regard to maintaining and improving wellness, inflammation lowering, the loss of excess stored fat, etc.

Something to consider, the accuracy of body fat measurements taken with calipers is highly dependent on the skill and expertise of the person taking the measurements. As I understand, the factors used in the tables in Zone books (the method used in the calc on this site) were developed from hundreds of measurements of individuals, and the LBM and body fat results they arrive at are about identical to results from the Bod Pod (google it for info). The only difference between the books and this site is that you round to the nearest 5 pounds use the calc. That rounding wouldn't result in a 20% body fat difference.

Good luck with the Zone!

HI
I have been measured with couple of different equipment and I always get a different result.
I once read that is go to a hot tub or a swimming pool and sink you have no more than 25% of fat in your body but if it is very easy for you to float (fat floats very easily) than you bodyfat is over 30. Try to take a deep breath in the water and then exhale and if you go down fast and don´t float like a cork your bodyfat is probably lower than 25 % but if you stay a float then it is over.
This is very unreliable measurement but gives you some idea where you stand.
I used to bee able to float very easily but after I started to loose weight a year ago I sink much faster and more easily.
I also think that the less you eat of the unfavorable carb the better (specialy those with high suger and white wheat content) the better.