Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: zone diet calculator

Question:
I'm willing to start a diet, I would like to loose more or less 7kg. But I have no knowledge about nutrition, carbs, and so on. I heard about the Zone diet, but I didn't find someone who could help me to learn and understand the rules of this diet. Can someone just tell me a few words about the zone diet calculator? I must say too that I'm vegetarian, which doesn't always makes things easy...

Answer:
First, I'll give you a link to the Zone diet home page, if you don't have it already. http://www.enterthezone.com/ The homepage has a feature on it called the zone calculator. On it, you will be able to calculate your lean body mass. This is critical, as this is what will determine the amount of protien you will eat each day. You'll have to convert to inches and pounds though. The zone is based on Dr. Sears theory that insulin greatly controls our ablility to loose or gain fat. The zone diet is a reduce calorie diet with each meal and snack eaten in a ratio of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat. Sears lists favorable foods in Blocks, and from each group you choose blocks to make your meal or snack, keeping the 40/30/30 ratio. By following the diet, you control the over production of insulin adn balance it with glucacon (from eating protein). Thus, you are in the Zone. As you are vegetarian, your protein sources with be somewhat limited. Protein powders and soy product are the main ones I am familar with. I've been doing the zone for about 1 year. I didn't have much weight to loose, only 10 lbs, but now I am at 12% body fat. The best benefit to the diet is the mental alertness that I feel. Plus I'm happier and don't have afternoon fatigue. The book Enter the Zone is very detailed. If you are into the science of the nutritional biochemistry of the diet, you will enjoy the book. His other books are less technical, Mastering the Zone and Zone Recipies