Comments on: The Zone Diet Explained http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited life. changing. fitness. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:32:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: What should I eat? | Crossfit Suncoast http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39902 What should I eat? | Crossfit Suncoast Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:32:59 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39902 [...] Buy a food scale. Yes, it costs $20-25. Diabetes costs alot more. Read the CrossFit Impulse article The Zone Diet Explained and figure out your required blocks. Give this an honest effort. It may seem confusing at first, [...] [...] Buy a food scale. Yes, it costs $20-25. Diabetes costs alot more. Read the CrossFit Impulse article The Zone Diet Explained and figure out your required blocks. Give this an honest effort. It may seem confusing at first, [...]

]]> By: Paleo Recipes Blog , Archive » The Paleo Challenge is back on, and you can play along! http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39494 Paleo Recipes Blog , Archive » The Paleo Challenge is back on, and you can play along! Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:14:03 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39494 [...] Check out this link for a more-detailed explanation of the Zone diet and blocks system.  [...] [...] Check out this link for a more-detailed explanation of the Zone diet and blocks system.  [...]

]]> By: Naomi http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39344 Naomi Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:29:29 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39344 Got it!!! That answered my questions :) Thanks! Got it!!! That answered my questions :) Thanks!

]]> By: Jeff Barnett http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39319 Jeff Barnett Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:37:31 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39319 Naomi, The fat blocks prescribed by the Zone Diet will be fine for losing weight. Many athletes end up having to eat 2x-3x as much fat as it prescribes to fuel their performance. Your yogurt sounds good. But I honestly don't know much about the composition of homemade yogurt. Try using this website to find the breakdown: http://nutritiondata.self.com/ By the letter of the law, on the Zone Diet you should always eat a Zone balanced meal. That means 2 blocks of carbs, 2 blocks of fat, and 2 blocks of protein. However, in the larger picture, we know that pre and post workout meals are a little "special." In short, keep having your banana before you workout. That's fine. There's no particular size meal you "should" be eating. If your daily prescription is 15 blocks, you can go 3-3-3-3-3 or 4-1-4-1-4-1. However, depending on your size, you don't want to eat too large a meal at a time. For an average man, the upper limit is a 4-5 block meal. For an average woman, I'd say 3-4. Don't go above that for any one meal and you'll be fine. Naomi,
The fat blocks prescribed by the Zone Diet will be fine for losing weight. Many athletes end up having to eat 2x-3x as much fat as it prescribes to fuel their performance.

Your yogurt sounds good. But I honestly don’t know much about the composition of homemade yogurt. Try using this website to find the breakdown: http://nutritiondata.self.com/

By the letter of the law, on the Zone Diet you should always eat a Zone balanced meal. That means 2 blocks of carbs, 2 blocks of fat, and 2 blocks of protein. However, in the larger picture, we know that pre and post workout meals are a little “special.” In short, keep having your banana before you workout. That’s fine.

There’s no particular size meal you “should” be eating. If your daily prescription is 15 blocks, you can go 3-3-3-3-3 or 4-1-4-1-4-1. However, depending on your size, you don’t want to eat too large a meal at a time. For an average man, the upper limit is a 4-5 block meal. For an average woman, I’d say 3-4. Don’t go above that for any one meal and you’ll be fine.

]]> By: Naomi http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39306 Naomi Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:06:54 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39306 Hi Jeff! WOW! Thanks for your fast response! My yoghurt is usually home made so completely natural- no sugars or sweeteners. And when I buy them, I get the same. SO am I understanding correctly that a yoghurt should be counted as a protein? (OR 2?) Regarding the fat. I wanted to know if following the amount of fat prescribed by the diet is too much for someone also trying to lose weight. So how much fat I'm eating now is not relevant. OK, lastly (sorry for all my Q's- I'm trying to get my head around this) do I need to eat a _ block meal at a time? For example, lets say I want to eat a fruit in the morning before I workout which is what I normally do, do I need to make sure I am having at the same time a protein and fat as well? SO lets say I want to eat an apple which is 2 blocks (i think), do I need to have 2 blocks of the others as well or can I 'save' those portions? Okay, hope I've explained myself and I am not totally off the mark... and happy new year, btw Hi Jeff! WOW! Thanks for your fast response! My yoghurt is usually home made so completely natural- no sugars or sweeteners. And when I buy them, I get the same. SO am I understanding correctly that a yoghurt should be counted as a protein? (OR 2?)
Regarding the fat. I wanted to know if following the amount of fat prescribed by the diet is too much for someone also trying to lose weight. So how much fat I’m eating now is not relevant.
OK, lastly (sorry for all my Q’s- I’m trying to get my head around this) do I need to eat a _ block meal at a time? For example, lets say I want to eat a fruit in the morning before I workout which is what I normally do, do I need to make sure I am having at the same time a protein and fat as well? SO lets say I want to eat an apple which is 2 blocks (i think), do I need to have 2 blocks of the others as well or can I ‘save’ those portions?
Okay, hope I’ve explained myself and I am not totally off the mark…
and happy new year, btw

]]> By: Jeff Barnett http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39304 Jeff Barnett Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:24:10 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39304 Naomi, If your yogurt is the common variety Dannon or Yoplait, then you should ditch it. It's essentially just carbs with a dash of protein. However, if you're eating Greek yogurt, or any kind of yogurt that doesn't use all that sugar as a sweetener, then you might be OK. Try to give eggs a shot a little at a time. You don't have to fall in love right away. Just try one a week. Start small. They may grow on you. I've seen several women go Paleo and develop affinity for foods they once disliked. Without knowing what your fat portions are I have no way of determining whether you should increase or decrease them. However, in broad strokes, fat is not the enemy. Naomi,
If your yogurt is the common variety Dannon or Yoplait, then you should ditch it. It’s essentially just carbs with a dash of protein. However, if you’re eating Greek yogurt, or any kind of yogurt that doesn’t use all that sugar as a sweetener, then you might be OK.

Try to give eggs a shot a little at a time. You don’t have to fall in love right away. Just try one a week. Start small. They may grow on you. I’ve seen several women go Paleo and develop affinity for foods they once disliked.

Without knowing what your fat portions are I have no way of determining whether you should increase or decrease them. However, in broad strokes, fat is not the enemy.

]]> By: Naomi http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-39299 Naomi Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:05:19 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-39299 Hi! Ok, so I started crossfit about 6 weeks ago, have seen incredible results already and am interested in trying out the Zone diet. I have happily discovered that what I eat is quite Paleo (besides for low fat yoghurt and milk in my decaf coffee). Completely eating Paleo is complicated and not really possible for me since I eat strictly Kosher and therefore wild meat is a definite no no. I am therefore interested in trying a combo of Paleo and the Zone and found your article really clear and informative! However, I didn't see yoghurt on your list and wondering where it would fit in. I am getting the vibes that I should be dropping my morning yoghurt but I do love it and since I am a fussy eater on top of all this, I can't think what I will eat instead! I hate omelettes or any kind of eggs besides for hardboiled and that is what most people at the gym told me they eat. So- what do you recommend? I know it sounds stupid that this is all about a yoghurt but that is my breakfast after all! Also, it seems to me that the Zone has alot of fat portions and I need to lose weight. Should I be lessening my fat portions? Hi! Ok, so I started crossfit about 6 weeks ago, have seen incredible results already and am interested in trying out the Zone diet. I have happily discovered that what I eat is quite Paleo (besides for low fat yoghurt and milk in my decaf coffee). Completely eating Paleo is complicated and not really possible for me since I eat strictly Kosher and therefore wild meat is a definite no no. I am therefore interested in trying a combo of Paleo and the Zone and found your article really clear and informative! However, I didn’t see yoghurt on your list and wondering where it would fit in. I am getting the vibes that I should be dropping my morning yoghurt but I do love it and since I am a fussy eater on top of all this, I can’t think what I will eat instead! I hate omelettes or any kind of eggs besides for hardboiled and that is what most people at the gym told me they eat. So- what do you recommend? I know it sounds stupid that this is all about a yoghurt but that is my breakfast after all! Also, it seems to me that the Zone has alot of fat portions and I need to lose weight. Should I be lessening my fat portions?

]]> By: Adriana and Robert http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-38866 Adriana and Robert Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:04:06 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-38866 Thanks Jeff! Thatswhy I think Zone is perfect for realizing how much food we actually need!! However I belive on the myth of metabolism - different metabolism are like different survival strategies of the bodies. (Where gaining quickly can be positive in the mean of survival in terms of evolution). How is it with running and crossfit? I use to run 5K some times a week but it doesnt have any significant effect on the time improvement (here I mean WODS that include running). Thanks a lot for quick answers :) Thanks Jeff!

Thatswhy I think Zone is perfect for realizing how much food we actually need!!
However I belive on the myth of metabolism – different metabolism are like different survival strategies of the bodies. (Where gaining quickly can be positive in the mean of survival in terms of evolution).

How is it with running and crossfit? I use to run 5K some times a week but it doesnt have any significant effect on the time improvement (here I mean WODS that include running).
Thanks a lot for quick answers :)

]]> By: Jeff Barnett http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-38762 Jeff Barnett Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:32:47 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-38762 To answer your question, no, it doesn't account for "metabolism." However, I've found 99% of the time that when someone "gains weight easily" while someone else doesn't, the person who doesn't gain weight easily is eating either different quality foods, a different volume of food, or both. It's comforting to consider ourselves a genetic exception, but the truth is most of us aren't. To answer your question, no, it doesn’t account for “metabolism.” However, I’ve found 99% of the time that when someone “gains weight easily” while someone else doesn’t, the person who doesn’t gain weight easily is eating either different quality foods, a different volume of food, or both. It’s comforting to consider ourselves a genetic exception, but the truth is most of us aren’t.

]]> By: Adriana and Robert http://crossfitimpulse.com/the-zone-diet-explained-edited#comment-38675 Adriana and Robert Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:07:16 +0000 http://crossfitimpulse.com/?p=186#comment-38675 Thank you for your answer, Jeff. I was little worried that we will be short on protein. Now its all clear! I just realized how bad we are at math while doing the dinner!! :D Anyway we had great lunch and so much fun! One more thing to ask. Does Zone diet consider metabolical rate? Lets have as an example a small women with fast metabolism. Should she eat the same as a small woman with very slow metabolism who gains weight easy? Thank you for your answer, Jeff.

I was little worried that we will be short on protein.
Now its all clear!
I just realized how bad we are at math while doing the dinner!! :D Anyway we had great lunch and so much fun!

One more thing to ask. Does Zone diet consider metabolical rate? Lets have as an example a small women with fast metabolism. Should she eat the same as a small woman with very slow metabolism who gains weight easy?

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