The Zone Diet is a nutritional plan that was developed by Dr. Barry Sears, who is an authority on controlling the body's hormonal response through diet.Zone Living: Living in the Zone

The diet was popularized by Dr. Sears' book The Zone: A Dietary Road Map, which was only the beginning of the many books that followed. The Zone Diet aims at adjusting a person's metabolism though a daily intake of 30 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 40 percent carbohydrate.Zone Diet Info: An Overview About the Zone Diet While the diet does not enforce restricting calorie intake, one must distribute the calories they consume to the percentages mentioned previously. The goal is to lose about 1 to 1.5 lbs of body fat per week, using a sustainable dietary program.

• 30% Fat
• 30% Protein
• 40% Carbohydrate

The first step in estimating you diet plan with the Zone Diet is to calculate your percent body fat. This is done by entering in information about your activity level, waist size, weight, height and wrist size, then a calculator provided on the Zone Diet web site will give you your lean body mass, daily protein requirement, and number of blocks of protein, carbohydrate and fat. The second step is to download the Blocks Guide, which will give you the portion sizes for proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that will  keep you In the recommended "Zone."  Each selection in the Food Block list is one block. For example, one ounce of chicken equals one block, a woman should have 3 ounces of chicken. From the calculations, most women will be allowed 3 blocks of protein, 3 blocks of carbohydrate, and 3 blocks of fat per meal. Most men will be allowed 4 blocks each of protein, carbohydrate and fat.

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes

The content on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are about to embark on the Zone Diet, please consult your doctor.