BUYING ZONE FRIENDLY FOOD

I found frozen Taquitos at Trader Joe's yesterday for about $5 for a package of 10. Each is worth a 1 block snack.
Blocks, here is the description of the block right from the CF journal 21:

A block is a unit of measure used to simplify the process of making balanced meals.
7 grams of protein is 1 block of protein.
9 grams of carbohydrates is 1 block of carbs.
1.5 grams of fat is 1 block of fat.

If you find something in the store, and you are curious to how it falls in to the "Zone" use this formula: Protein Divided by Carbohydrates; the answer for a Zone friendly food will fall in the .7 range anything else is not zone friendly.
In order for a zone meal/snack to work the protein and the carbs have to have the same amount of blocks. If you are training hard everyday, Like some of you MMA fighters, than you may double the amount of fat to protein you are taking in for energy. If you are eating correctly than you will use fat as energy and not carbs. We have a lot more fat stored in our bodies that is to be used for energy than we do carbs. For those of you trying to lose weight I would stick to the block plan you started Zoning with and continue until you are at the desired weight.
Next...'The Myth of Carb loading for energy'

The Snack.....

What are you guys eating for your zone snack? Have you found a "bar" that is zone friendly yet? For you going on the adventure race this weekend here is a quick portable snack to pre-pack:
1 Whole wheat tortilla (13g carbs) (1C)
1 Cheese stick (1P)
1 tbsp peanut butter,(5Fat) roll it all up together and you have a quick filling snack. Wash down with water.

Dr. Barry Sears says in his book "Enter the zone" that we should be eating within an hour after waking and 4-5 hours between meals and have snacks 2 hours before and after meals. Also eating a zone favorable snack after dinner (2 hours)or right before you go to bed will allow your pancreas to release the Human Growth Hormone(HGH) to repair and heal your body while you rest.

I have a 2-4 block snack every night of
1/2 cup of frozen blueberries (1C)
1/2 cup StoneyField Whole milk plain yogurt (1C,1P)
tblsp of organic natural Smuckers peanut butter (5 fat)
and 7grams of Vitamin shop vanilla protein (1P)
Mix all together and enjoy.

I have talked with a couple of athletes at our gym that will have milk and either nuts, or peanut butter as a snack. I like it is as well. I am curious to what everyone is eating for their snacks whether it be mid morning, mid-afternoon, or post dinner snack. How many blocks per snack, and how many snacks a day are each of you consuming? post to comments.

History of the Zone at Tri Cities

January 2008 Mark and I were about 2 months away from opening our doors. We had also been doing CrossFit together for about 2 years. At this point we were also very close athletically we could not determine who was "better". He would beat me in a workout by a few seconds, or I would beat him by a few. Our loads were very close as well.

Then Mark went to his CrossFit level 1 Cert at CrossFit GSX in Texas. He of course came home with more knowledge about CrossFit, but he also returned with this idea about this Zone diet. He immediately started following it. I was skeptical, I can eat whatever I want as long as I train hard I wont get fat. I was so ignorant.
Anyhow, a month goes by we are about to open our doors in a couple weeks. Mark had been on the diet for at least a month. Now his WOD times are improving and he is telling me to get on the diet because he feels great. Then I became violently ill with the flu. In fact everyone we trained with became sick in some way at that point. Well except Mark. And his times keep improving.
Now let me jump ahead a few months. Mark was killing me with the WOD, there was no comparison with our times and his loads were increasing as well. He was hands down "better" than me. So now I am sold I start following the zone. Right away I saw body fat shed off. But more important I felt great! in Just a couple weeks I was recovering quicker from my WOD's and just feeling all around better. Plus I was eating MORE!

Since then I feel great, I am seeing results with my WOD times like never before, and my loads are increasing as well. Recovery after a WOD is less as well. instead of being prone for 15-20 minutes I now lay there for about 3 minutes and I feel fine.

Mark and I are huge believers in the Zone diet. I am able to compete against Mark again and more important we are both feeling very healthy and we want everyone to be on the zone too. We are not going to make any money off of you following the zone, in fact no one will make any money of the zone diet. In fact doctors and pharmacies will lose money. Eat better live better...

The link to the Zone journal is on the right hand side of this blog download the PDF from the CrossFit Journal site.