Looking to lose some weight and a small group of us will be fully participating come the new year. I however want to get an early start and not only learn all I need to know before January but get started on the Zone by the first week of December. I will be picking up a book this week but as I am checking out things on the website I have a few questions?

I completed the body fat calculator and and I am set for 16 blocks of protein, carbs & fats.

I checked out the link to the food block guide of favorables. So if I'm reading everything correctly I could have 6 slices turkey bacon (2 p blocks), 2 cup cottage cheese (2 p blocks), 12 almonds (4 f blocks), 1 whole grapefruit (2 c blocks) and 4 cups chopped red/green peppers (2 c blocks) which would be a 4 block breakfast?

If I'm correct I understand the concept that choosing something like hummus or onions would result in a less voluminous amount of food.

Just trying to grasp the entire concept. I know it will be more clear once I get the book but I couldn't wait to read.

Thanks!

It looks like you have started correctly and have the basics...

Hi Sean, looks like yo've understood correctly but you may have made a typo on the cottage cheese amount. One half cup of cottage cheese would be 2 P blocks (1/4 cup per block). Also, check the nutrition label on your package of turkey bacon for protein content. One P block will be the amount that contains 7 g protein. Thickness of turkey bacon strips varies among brands. For some you'll only need 1 strip per P block.

I picked up a book for $2.00 at a used book store. It's Mastering the Zone and it focuses on fine tuning so I'm missing out on some of the details. But I'm grasping the concept pretty well. I do have one question when it comes to 1% milk (1 cup) and plain yogurt (1/2 cup).....these count as 1 block P and 1 block C each?

Thanks for the input, it really helps! Thanks Sue was a typo, I have been doing this from the IPad and sometimes it doesn't quite post what I think I'm typing.

I tried a few trial meals so I could better assess what makes a good meal. Tomorrow I am going full throttle in the zone.

Planned breakfast - 1 cup plain yogurt ( 2 P & 2 C blocks), 6 slices turkey bacon ( 2 P blocks), 1/2 cup blueberries ( 1 C block), 1/3 cup mandarin orange ( 1 C block) and 12 almonds (4 F blocks)
Planned lunch - 1 cup cottage cheese ( 4 P blocks ), 1/2 cup kidney beans ( 2 C block ), 2 cups chopped mushrooms ( 1/2 C block ) 1 red pepper ( 1/2 C block ), 1/2 apple ( 1 C block ) and 12 almonds ( 4 F blocks )
Afternoon snack - 1 cheese stick ( 1 P ), 1/2 apple ( 1 C ), and 3 almonds ( 1 F )

Not sure what dinner will be yet but I will plan it during the day and my late snack will be similar to my first snack. Since my first posted I have recalculated the body fat calculator and I'm 14 blocks per day, more measuring and
less guessing helps. Assuming I am correct about yogurt and milk I will likely keep breakfast the same on the days I have work to make things easy.

Well I hope to check in often and take advantage (in a good way) of the wonderful support group here, you folks make things so much easier. Glad your here!

I picked up a book for $2.00 at a used book store. It's Mastering the Zone and it focuses on fine tuning so I'm missing out on some of the details. But I'm grasping the concept pretty well. I do have one question when it comes to 1% milk (1 cup) and plain yogurt (1/2 cup).....these count as 1 block P and 1 block C each?

Thanks for the input, it really helps! Thanks Sue was a typo, I have been doing this from the IPad and sometimes it doesn't quite post what I think I'm typing.

I tried a few trial meals so I could better assess what makes a good meal. Tomorrow I am going full throttle in the zone.

Planned breakfast - 1 cup plain yogurt ( 2 P & 2 C blocks), 6 slices turkey bacon ( 2 P blocks), 1/2 cup blueberries ( 1 C block), 1/3 cup mandarin orange ( 1 C block) and 12 almonds (4 F blocks)
Planned lunch - 1 cup cottage cheese ( 4 P blocks ), 1/2 cup kidney beans ( 2 C block ), 2 cups chopped mushrooms ( 1/2 C block ) 1 red pepper ( 1/2 C block ), 1/2 apple ( 1 C block ) and 12 almonds ( 4 F blocks )
Afternoon snack - 1 cheese stick ( 1 P ), 1/2 apple ( 1 C ), and 3 almonds ( 1 F )

Not sure what dinner will be yet but I will plan it during the day and my late snack will be similar to my first snack. Since my first posted I have recalculated the body fat calculator and I'm 14 blocks per day, more measuring and
less guessing helps. Assuming I am correct about yogurt and milk I will likely keep breakfast the same on the days I have work to make things easy.

Well I hope to check in often and take advantage (in a good way) of the wonderful support group here, you folks make things so much easier. Glad your here!

Yes, correct on the milk and yogurt.

I post here a lot from my iPhone, so I hear you.

"Mastering the Zone" contains an excellent presentation of the diet. The Zone Food Block lists have been updated since it was written. Most of the changes are in the carbohydrate list. Here's the current Food Block Guide
http://drsears.com/ArticlePreview/t...fault.aspx

For more informaton about all aspects of the Zone, fead "Toxic Fat" or "The Anti-Inflamation Zone", both written by Barry Sears. For the best weight loss results you'll want to focus on lowering your levels of cellular inflammation. There are three basics to lowering inflammation, 1. Gaining insulin control with the Zone Diet, 2. Consuming anti-inflamator polyphenols (they're found in both foods and in polyphenol supplements, Maqui is fantastic, check out the polyphenols tab in the toolbar above) and 3., Diluting excess inflammation with an ultra-refined fish oil concentrate (Omega Rx).

Once you have a good idea of what a Zone meal looks like, consider switching to the Zone At-a-Glance method for balancing meals. It's easy and works as well as the block method. I lost 100 pounds eating that way without ever counting a single block. Check it out here http://www.zonediet.com/tools/zone-classic

Please keep us updated!

I am also returning to the Zone diet after enough years that I've forgotten some of the basics.
Fat is a bit confusing. I seem to remember reading that, in calculating the fat blocks in meals, one does not count the fat contained in the protein or carbohydrate blocks.
Is this true? I'll really appreciate help here, because I can't find this in the book.

Also, am I correct that -- in determining carbohydrates -- one subtracts the grams of fiber from the total carbs?

Thanks and happy new year to all!

Siddika

On Carbohydrates: Yes, Total Carbs minus Fiber equals countable net carbs.
On Fat: No, you do count the Fat; however ...
.
A Zone serving requires about 3 grams of (healthy) Fat per each Zone serving of Protein (7 grams) and Carbs (9 grams).
BUT, there is some Fat in the preferred low-fat protein food sources.
.
SO, Dr. Sears calls1.5 grams of fat as one fat block.
IF you eat Fat-Free Protein, then you double the fat blocks to get the full required 3 grams of Fat per Zone Block.
.
Clearer?

Siddika

Dr Sears's " A Week in the Zone" is an outstanding book to aid you in getting back into the Zone. It is very inexpensive and available on this site. I recommend this book often as it is an easy read, yet contians all the basics. You may also be able to borrow a copy at your local library

Thanks, John, but I'm still confused in that you say one block of fat is 1.5 grams, but a zone serving (comparable to 7 grams of protein and nine grams of carbohydrate) of fat would be three grams. So how many grams of fat is there in a three-block meal?

Siddika,

A three block Zone balanced meal contains 9 grams of fat. One fully balanced Zone block of P + C + F contains 3 grams fat. About half of that fat occurs in the low fat protein block (approximately 1.5 g fat to every 7 g protein). By design, the Zone Block system takes this into consideration by adding fat blocks containing 1.5 g fat each. Together, the 1.5 g fat inherent in the P block plus the 1.5 g fat in the F block yield a total of 3 g fat in one fully balanced block of P, C and F.

Im looking to loose weight for health reasons I'm not sure how to go about this I have tried other diets but this one seems like the one for me. I have the GOUT and I'm over weight and need to take control of my diet, I'm getting tired of the pain.
I weigh 255lbs hight is 5'8" I work a lot of Hrs and I'm on road a lot.I havent read the book but will have the wife pick it up so we can read it together. what do you advise to get started on. anybody! Help

Here are some really helpful links for you.

http://www.zonediet.com/why-it-works/overview
http://www.zonediet.com/omega-3-fish-oil
http://www.zonediet.com/polyphenols
http://www.zonediet.com/tools/body-...calculator
http://www.zonediet.com/tools/dining-out-tips
http://drsears.com/ArticlePreview/t...fault.aspx
http://drsears.com/portals/6/Docume...lchart.pdf


I often recommend getting Dr. Sears book "A Week in the Zone". Be strict and dedicated to the book for two weeks. I have heard many great success stories from people who took this life changing step. After two weeks, you should be on cruise control from there.

After two weeks and should be at a point where you can apply Dr Sears "Zone at a glance. http://www.zonediet.com/tools/zone-classic

You will find very helpful individuals here on the Forums as well

Help - I am so confused!

My blood sugar has just started to run high and I need to get control and lose weight. I used the Zone diet about 10 years ago and lost 65 lbs in less than one year. I stopped to let my skin catch up with the changes, as I had seen what happened to friends who lost too much too quickly. But then life got busy and I was too focused on taking care of others and dealing with two job changes than taking care of me. I maintained the weight loss for several years, but the last four have taken a toll on me. So I want to get back into the Zone.

HOWEVER, I don't remember this "block" mess. I remember balancing my meals by grams. And I am stunned at the huge increase in the amount of carbs per meal. I could NEVER eat three cups of asparagus, for example. That's just too much food! Am I reading this correctly? I mean, if one block of broccoli is 3 cups, then three blocks would be 9 cups!!! Not that I would necessarily eat all 3 carb blocks via one carb source, but who on earth can eat 9 cups of broccoli?

Am I totally misreading the block chart? The Zone worked so well for me before, but I just can't eat this much food ... I'm not even sure I can afford this much food! Can someone help explain the changes to me?

NO! You are not misreading the chart.
And yes it is better to go by weight than volume when ever possible.
Most of us use some high density favorable carbs with our meals,
so not al of the carbs are low-density like Broccoli, Asparagus, and lettuce.
Black beans, for example, 1/4 cup is 1 block favorable carb.
1.2 cup tomato sauce is 1 block Carb.
Also you could add a little fruit as part of Carbs for a meal,
but not too much.
1/2 apple, 1 small or 1.2 large orange,
even better are berries, about 3/4 cup is 1 block carb.
No, I do not eat 10 cups lettuce to get 1 carb block.
I make a large salad, and do not count the lettuce.

TYPO: 1.2 cup tomato sauce is 1 block Carb.
Should be: 1/2 cup tomato sauce is 1 block Carb.

TYPO: 1.2 large orange
should be: 1/2 large orange