Breaking Down the Zone by Michael Roussell

[Lisa~]

Mike,

I enjoyed your comments on the Zone. Your take was balanced and informative as always.

Nutrition Quest, Cool Food Facts

[Michael Roussell]

Lisa,

Thanks. I'm glad you liked the article. I really think that Dr. Sears has more good points than bad. More people should read his stuff!

[Lost Dog]

Some diets get a bad wrap for some insignificant little detail, or the way they are marketed, despite the fact that they work. Or, like in the Atkins case, because people never read the book and just do what their friend told them to do after his friend's friend read the book. (I hate Atkins. It's not healthy to live with no vegetables. )

[Michael Roussell]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

Atkins case, because people never read the book

YES!!!! 90% of people who do the "atkins diet" never read the book. Read the book!

[dos]

Michael, I know you address this a bit in your article but how does someone like myself stick to a 40-30-30 plan when i weight 240+lbs? I mean that if 40% of my calories are from protein and i consume 1 gram per pound this amounts to 240grams or 960 calories (a bit excessive I think...). Anyway, to stick with the 40-30-30 plan, I would only be consuming 2400 calories per day. I actually consume about 4000-5000 calories per day just to maintain my present weight.....a 40-30-30 plan would call for 400-500 grams of protein.

Sears also contends that a high carb diet is hazardous to the health of CV patients. With this type of statement he completely disregards the findings of Dr's Dean Ornish, John McDougall and countless other doctors who have had amazing heart disease reversals with patients on a virtually vegan diet. Anyway, there are just lots of funky holes in Sears' statements....one more i can think of is his contention that his diet is actually not a calorie deprivation program. By his own admission, he states that his protein intake is 100grams per day. This means that, if following his own 40-30-30 plan, he is consuming a whopping 1000cals per day.....needless to say that this is a starvation diet, especially for a man who is not small by any means.

[Michael Roussell]

Originally Posted by dos

Michael, I know you address this a bit in your article but how does someone like myself stick to a 40-30-30 plan when i weight 240+lbs? I mean that if 40% of my calories are from protein and i consume 1 gram per pound this amounts to 240grams or 960 calories (a bit excessive I think...). Anyway, to stick with the 40-30-30 plan, I would only be consuming 2400 calories per day. I actually consume about 4000-5000 calories per day just to maintain my present weight.....a 40-30-30 plan would call for 400-500 grams of protein.

Dos, I mistakenly didn't mention that Sears uses 1 gram protein per pound of lean body mass. I actually wouldn't think that 240g of protein a day isn't that excessive for a man your size. I think for you it would be hard to adhere to a 40/30/30 per meal plan as most of your protein (from what I understand of the vegan lifestyle) is what I call residual protein, being from beans, rice, vegetables, etc.

Another thing that Dr. Sears doesn't mention is that his food block system grossly underestimates calories because only one macronutrient is counted in each food. If we use beans for example only the carbs are counted and the protein is not. So you will end up acutally eating more calories than on paper. I use a similar system and don't think the extra calories is an issue as long as you are consistent. Your point about having to consume 400-500g of protein if you kept with the nutrient percentage breakdown is a flaw that is exposed if you are eating lots of calories and stick strictly to macronutrient percentages to guide you. Dr. Sears would say that you don't need to consume all those calories because your body fat has enough stored energy to make up the difference. He also recommends that athletes add extra fat to each meal.

Sears also contends that a high carb diet is hazardous to the health of CV patients. With this type of statement he completely disregards the findings of Dr's Dean Ornish, John McDougall and countless other doctors who have had amazing heart disease reversals with patients on a virtually vegan diet.

I kind of have to side with Sears here because I am a fan of lower carbohydrate diets (usually <40% calories from carbs). The Dean Ornish thing is an argument that is commonly brought up but it is important to remember that Ornish's plan was not just a diet but it included exercise and meditation/stress reduction. Two things that have a great impact on one's body.

I have to say I am really impressed that you can stay vegan, consume so many calories, and stay strong...just awesome!

[Alan Aragon]

I have been known to be rather tough on Sears. He means well, but... Anyway Mike, I'll check out your article soon as I get a spare sec. I'm going to assume it's good