I had a look at the book in a shop. For my size and lean body mass it said I should be eating about 850 kcals per day . I eat about twice that much to maintain. I don't mind weighing and calculating, but I'm not prepared to starve . I also like fat. I'm not interested in eating an apple without a piece of cheese, or raspberries without cream. I love the way fat brings out the flavour of food. The zone prescribed about 250 cals each from fat (28g) and protein (63g), with the rest from about 85g carbs. I typically eat about 90g protein, 60g carb and 100g fat. So I wouldn't find the protein and carb parts of the zone too hard, but I'd find it very hard to eat so little fat. I'm much more likely to throw away the whites of my eggs than the yolks!

More seriously, I do question the calorie levels - I just can't think that eating half my current intake would make me feel better, or that I wouldn't lose weight - which I don't want to do, since I'm already at the 22% BF that the Zone says is ideal for females.

Ain't fat grand. Eating a high fat diet I am gaining more muscle than I ever did eating high carb. Of course what most people do not realize is that fat is the primary fuel for the body NOT sugar. Sugar becomes the primary fuel when we do something real intense: like break out into a full run, go up a flight of steps, or do some real intense exercise. Otherwise the muscles primarily burn fat and only a little sugar. That is one reason why I think many people do well on a low carb diet. Because of all our modern conveniences: cars, bikes, escalators, elevators, computers, TV's, etc very few people do a lot of the heavy type exertion that burns sugar. That might be a reason why some athletes do well on a high carb diet; although there is some research to suggest that even athletes can benefit from watching carb.

Sugar is also a prime fuel for the brain, although the brain can also use ketone bodies from the break-down of fat. This may be why some people (like myself) really do not do well on ultra-low carb --the 20 gram Atkin's induction level--. I also work out, so if my carbs get that low I just don't have the energy. For those not familiar with Atkins his diet does go through stages where carb levels are incrementally increased. I just state that so I do not get 80 replies telling me that Atkins does not remain at 20 grams; I realize that but I was just using it as an example of ultra-low carb. Some people may do well on induction level. Some people may need to go low carb, but not quite that low. Everyone's body is a little different.

Anyways I love the taste of fat, just not the sight of it on my body. However, for some people eating plenty of fat helps the body to lose fat. Fat is great because it provides energy but has no impact on insulin. I think if you eat enough fat the body feels at ease letting go of some of the extra.

I did the zone years ago & liked it- I can't remember why I stopped. it's not that hard after you go a couple of weeks- Right now trying Atkins but 3 days in and all I want is an apple or something. Can't even stomach the idea of more protien/fat & my daily salad is already used up. However, I followed WW for 6 months with no results- so I want to try the low carb thing