Hello everyone.

I have a couple questions about the Zone.

I am starting it now to test it for the next 7 weeks since I'm off season (Varsity wrestling). I currently train 12-13 times a week including 3x weights, 1 cardio, and the rest is all wrestling.

the zone calculator subscribed 19 blocks for me with a protein intake of 132g..

My question is, if I need to raise my protine intake during my season (say I feel like i am not recovering too well), do I simply increase the number of blocks in carbs and fats as well to stay in the zone?

Also, what if my body fat goes way too low, I like to keep it around 12%, should I only raise fat blocks or all of them?

Thanks!

Hi,

1.You would't need to increase protein above your calculator recommendation. Your protein amount would only increase if your activity level or your LBM increases significantly. When the season starts, put your stats and actual activity level into the calculator again to get a current recommendation. Once you've been eating Zone meals and snacks 2/7 for a few weeks, if you feel your recovery is suffering, experiment with trying different foods for your pre and post workout snacks. Zone cookies, bars and shakes are all excellent choices. Increasing monounsaturated fat will help if you feel the need for more energy. On the other hand increasing your intake of Zone balanced macronutrients (P, C and F) beyond the calculator recommendations, give or take a little, will take you out of the Zone due to the excess calories.

2. If your body fat goes too low, Dr. Sears' advice is to slightly increase the amount of monounsaturated fat you add to meals. With the Zone you burn fat to produce your energy. If you provide enough dietary fat you won't be tapping into your stored fat for fuel.

Have fun with it!

[quote]
Have fun with it!
[/quote]

Hey Sue, thanks a lot!

I will definitely have fun, ill be super strict on it for 7 weeks except for dinner outside two times a week, I don't drink. Ill report back on what I think of it after words as well.

Omar, try to eat in Zone balance when you eat out, too. Weight loss happens in the Zone when insulin levels stay within a low range and and inflammation is at a low level. Eating Zone meals 24/7 will maintain the low insulin levels and your fish oil dose will keep the inflammation in check. If you eat a meal that contains too much carbohydrate for Zone balance your insulin elevates and your body stops burning fat to produce energy. It can take a couple meals or even a few days of eating Zone balanced meals and snacks 24/7 to lower insulin again and restart fat burning. If you're really lucky you might be able to pull off eating out of the Zone a couple times a week and still lose weight, but you could also end up in a neverending cycle of being in the Zone for a day or two, then spending 2-3 days getting back into the Zone after eating out, only to eat out the next day and then begin all over again. Eating out and staying in the Zobe is easier than you might think.check out the info a bout eating out in your Zone book and on this website. The Sherlock Zone stories here give suggestions about what to eat at specific restaurants.