I'm just starting this diet.
Previously, I was eating about 36 blocks a day. I was eating 36 grams of protein at every meal, 6 times a day. APPARENTLY THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

After measuring myself at home the zone calculator told me this:

body fat: 22%
body fat lbs: 35.20
lbm: 124.80
protein requirements: 112.32
Protein blocks: 16
carb blocks: 16
fat blocks: 16

After going to the gym and getting my BF & LBM measured, I was told that my body actually was closer to this:

body fat: 18%
body fat lbs: 29
lbm: 131
protein requirements: 92
protein blocks: 13
carb blocks: 13
fat blocks: 13



Ive been eating in the zone for over a week now and can tell that I'm probably loosing muscle mass, but my main goal is just to get leaner than I currently am.
My main concern is that 13 blocks a day doesn't seem like a lot of food.

Is it enough?

Also, I've been filling up my blocks of carbs with mostly grapes, apples, and a serving of Brussels sprouts. Is it ok to be eating all these fruits/sugars at night? will I accomplish my goal of getting leaner?

please give me some feedback guys.

Hi alex,

36 yikes, good thing you found the Zone! :-)

In order to recommend a protein requirement for you, we'd need to know your activity level. If you can post the type(s) and amount of aerobic and strength training you do each week, I'll be happy to make a recommendation. From the block results you show, it appears you've used the "Very Active" level in the first one (the 16 block requirement) and the "Moderate" level for the second one (the 13 block requirement). Your Zone protein requirement and block requirement is designed to provide the protein you need to maintain your muscle mass, and increase it if your are training to do so (judge success by your LBM remaining stable or increasing), the carbohydrate you need for optimal brain function and the fat you need to fulfill all your energy needs. If you are indeed losing LBM, then you are not eating enough protein.

For best results your carbohydrates should mostly be from Zone favorable vegetables, with less coming from fruit. Whether or not you are able to be in the Zone with your current carbohydrate choices (mostly all fruit) will depend on your degree of sensitivity to carbohydrate. The more carbohydrate sensitive person will not be likely to remain in the Zone when eating that way.

im training about 4 days a week. MWF- weight training S-sprinting..im having trouble determining my "activity factor".
somebody just tell me what to do to get this excess body fat off.

Hi alex,

It sounds like you'd be "Active". With LBM between 125 to 130 as yours looks to be, that would be 15 blocks daily. You'd follow the typical men's day (it's 14 blocks) and add one more 1 block snack to your day. Good places to add the extra block are either before or after you workout, or between breakfast and lunch if you have a long span of time there.

The easiest way to do the Zone is with either the ZoneFast 1-2-3 plan (you can read all about it in the WEIGHT LOSS tab above) or the hand-eye method (aka dividing the plate into thirds) which is shown in Quick Start Guide: http://www.zonediet.com/Tools/Quick...fault.aspx

Both work great. I lost 100 pounds with the hand-eye method, and then dropped even more excess fat when I started ZoneFast 1-2-3 almost 6 months ago.


These men's 7 day meal planners contain lots of great meal ideas too: http://www.zonediet.com/Tools/MealP...fault.aspx

Good luck!

i think ive been eating the right blocks today, but if i do not feel satiated after 2 hours does that mean im not in the zone? is it possible that im just used to eating more food per a sitting?

alex, give it a little time. It takes a few days of consecutively eating Zone balanced meals and snacks to lower insulin to the levels of the Zone. For more insight, click on the "Hormonal Adjustment Diagnostic Chart" found at the bottom right of this page: http://www.drsears.com/ZoneResource...fault.aspx