Let's say for some reason I am in a situation where I have consumed 4p3c4f with no favorable option of getting 1c.
Even though beer is an unfavorable carb, I also know that the zone is based heavily on hormonal response. This leads me to the question - what is more important? Staying favorable? or Staying ratio exact.
Again, This question is posed in a situation where either option is available, and I do not have to sacrifice anything.

In that situation, I would avoid the beer, and choose the favorable carbs over being ratio-exact. 4P-3C is still an acceptable zone ratio, and the Zone is a "zone", not an exact point. You can be a little off on either side.

On the other hand, if you WANT to have the beer, it is probably going to go over better if accompanied with a meal.

So, if you are only adding the beer to balance the meal, it would be better to be a block short. If you WANT to work the beer into a meal, then that would be the time to do it.

Due to the highly variable carb loads in beer, White Wine is generally much more advisable as one 4oz glass would be 1C, while in Beer, it could only end up being one lonely warm ounce for 1C. No wonder they call it the beer belly!

Michael, by all means you can skip the fourth carbohydrate block in that situation to achieve the better Zone result. The hormonal response is foremost and carries more importance than maintaining the exact P/C. In fact, the P/C range of that Barry Sears considers to be in the Zone is 0.6 to 1.0, with the traditional 1P block/1C block falling close to the midpoint of that range.
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sue
Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate

Lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil. ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

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