hello, I'm doing the zone diet but it's impossible for me to eat 5 meals a day. I read the book and I should be eating: Snack (1) + Breakfast (3) + lunch (3) + dinner (3) + snack (1) = 11 blocks however, I'm doing it like this: Breakfast (3) + lunch (4) + dinner (4) = 11 blocks Do you think it's a problem? how that this can affect the program? thanks!

You may not be able to get into or stay in the Zone with only three meals a day. To succesfully lower insulin into the Zone, one needs to have a steady blood sugar reading. Simply stated, it is unlikely one can accomplish this if one goes too long between eating.

Also, if you require 11 blocks a day, eating 4 block meals may be eating too much food at one time for your specific needs. While the Zone is not a caloric based eating plan, too many calories at one time will not allow one to acheive insulin levels within Zone parameters.

ok, so I have to change the way I eat :( the thing is that I'm from Peru and here there's no zone bars or easy zone's snacks.... that's why is so difficult to plan 5 meals a day.

Make a slightly larger lunch, and save a portion for the afternoon snack.
OR
I usually have low Fat meat (3 blocks) for lunch at work and some fruit (apple & orange),
and save half an orange for afternoon snack.
1 apple = ~ 2 blocks, 1 orange = ~ 2 blocks.
3 block lunch and 1 block late afternoon snack.

I also have some Soy Nuts sometimes for protein as part of afternoon snack.
Lots of ideas, search through these forums. You do not have to have any ZONE bars to snack properly.

Lo-Fat Yogurt and some almonds also make a 1 block snack.
Add some fruit or protein powder as needed to balance Protein/Carbs to ZONE.

Wine and Cheese make an OK before-bedtime snack.

Hi, I live in China where there are no "zone bars" unless I bring them with me (which I don't, except I keep enough for long distance plane travel use). In my daily life, I use a cup of milk for snacks, or I use 2 hardboiled eggs (eat the whites) plus a piece of appropriately sized fruit and some nuts for snacks, or I use a handful of soy nuts plus fruit, or I use a piece of low fat cheese (usually have to get that in Hong Kong, unfortunately) plus fruit. These are things I take to work with me for midmorning and late-afternoon snacks. The possiblities are endless, just work with whatever kinds of food you have available. I agree with what others said above, it works LOTS better if you have 3-block meals plus the snacks. Or a 2-block breakfast plus morning snack, which is what I do. Then I have a cup of warm milk before bed and sleep great. Eating 4 blocks at a sitting is too much for your body to use at once if you are an 11-block person. Cheers, Kate

thanx!!!!! I will do that... I have to be creative :D