My experience with the Zone diet

In the past few months, I decided to follow the Zone guidelines of balanced meals.   According to Barry Sears, PhD, this structure of  eating will retool your metabolism.   

The Zone diet contends that you can expect to turn back encroaching heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Another much-touted advantage is better athletic performance.






The Zone meals follow these percentages:

• 40 % Carbohydrates
• 30 % Protein
• 30 % Fat

The Zone also builds meals according to blocks.

Each block equals:

• 7 grams of protein
• 9 grams of carbohydrates
• 1.5 grams of fat

The Zone diet according to my size and activity level is to eat 5 meals daily of 5 blocks each.  This proved to be slightly lower calories than I was accustomed to eating.

When I first started with the Zone I quickly lost body weight and body fat.  Unfortunately this was not my intention and I quickly needed to make some adjustments.  After week 2 and a bit more research I realized that my fat quantities needed some adjustment.  I started doubling up my fat blocks for each meal.  So my total blocks are now: 25 blocks of protein, 25 blocks of carbohydrate and 50 blocks of fat. With this new block breakdown I am now gaining weight with controlled body fat. Also the plus side to adding extra fat is that my energy levels have started to increase again.  (note that my fat sources are: almonds, walnuts, avocado, olive oil and coconut oil).

I'm not saying that this is the best or only way to eat...

...It's that this way of living has eliminated my sugar cravings, increased my physical output and is producing positive results for me and my girl.