Not all protein blocks are equal...

[Margie Lempert]

I've spent several years studying various nutritional approaches and have a fairly decent level of understanding about Zone and paleo and their various iterations. I have been working on a paleo diet for 3 or 4 weeks, with more and less attention to Zone macro intake. I am definitely a paleo convert.

There is, however, this burning question I have about Zone proportions: not all proteins are created equal in terms of fat. An egg has far more fat than 1 ounce of chicken breast. However, it seems that in every sample meal I read, fattier proteins are treated the same as leaner proteins; an egg based meal still typically has added fat. Same with cheese (if you do dairy), or fattier cuts of meat.

Can someone explain this to me? What am I missing?

Also, I tend to look at the sum total of my macro intake for the day, rather than meal by meal. It seems more practical sometimes. Any thoughts on that approach?

[John Alston]

Fat is good! It will help you snatch more.
Seriously.
OK, I'm lazy about counting any macro nutrient other than protein, so maybe I'm not the best responder if you're into that type of micro managing macro nutrients.

[Margie Lempert]

John - I'm totally with you. Sometimes I'm anal, sometimes I not. This is just a question that's been gnawing at me. I'm sure the answer is somewhere on the boards, but I haven't found it yet.

[Mike ODonnell]

Wish I could help out....but I am not a fan of the zone....and counting calories....and fat is good.

[Garrett Smith]

The wonders of the Zone. OCD on portion control--except on fat portions in protein! That's where magical rounding comes in.

I kept the Zone all OCD. 3 grams of fat were 1 block, and that was final. Then there isn't any worry of differences between types of protein. I tallied all macronutrients for each and every meal (ie. counting the protein in nuts).

From everything I've heard, tallying your daily totals and not worrying so much about the per-meal totals is fine.

[John Alston]

Originally Posted by Margie Lempert

John - I'm totally with you. Sometimes I'm anal, sometimes I not. This is just a question that's been gnawing at me. I'm sure the answer is somewhere on the boards, but I haven't found it yet.

Is that you in the avatar? You coming down to Lost Battalion?

[Margie Lempert]

Thank you guys. I know I'm being super anal. It's really just about the inconsistency of it, you know? I don't think knowing would change how I eat. And I haven't started counting the protein in my nuts or anything ; )

Anyway, glad to hear that not everyone is super pro-Zone. I think it's nice as a loose guide, or to get people started on some nutrition plan. But I'll spend more of my energy on eating paleo and paying attention to what macro intake works best for me.

It is me in the avatar. You just made my day! I think I have to work up my courage to step into Lost Battalion. Been training at CF South Brooklyn and NYC.

[John Alston]

AH, no courage needed, we're a welcoming bunch at LBH. Make sure you come on a MOnday or Wednesday. Coach Joe Triolo will help you out and will be excited for sure at a new lifter with some experience.
Yoon and I go M and W but I'm on a chronic sick leave for the next week or two.
Come on down and compete in one of our upcoming meets, March and May!

[Margie Lempert]

Cool - I will definitely come over to LBH soon. Actually, Yoon's been to CF South Brooklyn before... I think I did Fran with him.

Hope you feel better!

[Júlíus G. Magnússon]

Originally Posted by Garrett Smith

I kept the Zone all OCD. 3 grams of fat were 1 block, and that was final. Then there isn't any worry of differences between types of protein. I tallied all macronutrients for each and every meal (ie. counting the protein in nuts).

That's what I do. Never considered doing it any other way and never understood how people coped with the flakiness of counting a food's blocks only by its main macro nutrient.