I've been trying to find a good book on a 40/40/20 diet to learn more about it...and maybe get some recommendations for recepies and the best foods to eat etc etc....I can't find one..( I spent an hour at B&N last night ). I HAVE, however, found a lot on 40/30/30 diets. Apprarently this is the zone diet.

Does anyone know the major differences as it relates to working out...losing fat...etc?

Thanks in advance.

I think the 40/40/20 ratio is especially for building muscle while the 40/30/30 zone system is geared towards general fat loss and well being.

As far as diets go the zone system seems to be pretty good. You get a nice balance between different types of food and you're encouraged to eat low GI and good fats. People are reporting excellent results using it, with fat loss, reduced hunger and increased energy being the most common effects. Check out the forums at http://www.zoneperfect.com/ and read some of the stories there, and ask around if you have any questions on the diet. The site is pretty informative and contains lots of articles and recipes.

Unless you have very specific goals you'll probably do fine on either diet. They're not all that different so I imagine you could easily use recipes from the zone system and make them fit into a 40/40/20 diet with only minor adjustments if you wanted to.

i dont understand why people stress and get everything to 40/40/20 just because john did it...

i dont understand why people stress and get everything to 40/40/20 just because john did it...

I'm not stressing. I just want to learn more about it. Before I start my exercize and diet I would like to be better informed about what I'm doing. Having more information will tell me if I'm going to start something I cannot finish. I DO need a diet...and I would like to put on some additional muscle so the fact that John was able to do this with a 40/40/20 makes it attractive. No stress here though.

Because it WORKED for John. He has chronicled everything from the very start about his diet. He cut with that diet. He gained with that diet.

To me, it shows that people between the heights of 6' and 6'4" at a certain shape and weight range can benefit from using similar values, food choice, input of info and how to log properly.

People are coming here un-armed, wanting to improve themselves physically and mentally for information that is proven to work for a certain type of person.

We could ask the same question about clothes, designer sunglasses, hairstyles. Why must we follow in the footsteps of others. It's very simple to be honest.

A question I must ask to the 'qualified'. Every now and then I go and see a doctor about my bloodwork and hormone levels. I am told different things by different doctors, but each are equipped with their phd's and their certificates which says 'Yes, I am a person that read books based on someone elses research'. On that standing, I respect your qualification and dedication to this field, but on the other hand, John has hands on experience (without the masters and degree in nutrition) have proven to work for him. People are asking for general information. If it was literal, we'd all be walking adonis's.

All the best

Craig

Well said Craig :tu:

Marcus

30% cals from fat seems super high to me, you're going to be eating a lot of sat fats (atleast unless you're very carefull) at that level.