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Subject: I feel like I'm in prison.

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Teresa User is Offline
Posts:18
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/01/2008 10:16 AM
This is insane. Discipline in my eating habits is not a new concept, as I have followed a calorie and fat-restricted regimen and exercised regularly for the better part of the past 20 years. But I have spent an inordinate amount of time over the past few weeks poring over the “Food Block” page, calculating every breakfast, lunch, supper and snack. I have missed sleep, going to bed at least an hour after my husband due to planning take-with meals and snacks for the next day. Trying to cook for both of us is even more “fun” as I have to cook our portions separately to ensure I get the right proportions of carbs, fat and protein. (The “plate” method is not how I cook or eat, as a chunk of protein on my plate with plain veggies on the side usually goes under the heading of “boring”.) I practically dream in blocks and feel like the four walls are closing in as I am reminded at every planning session of what foods must be kept limited to keep from (gasp) going over (!) my block allotment. In the meantime I haven’t noticed that I “feel” much different and I really haven’t lost much weight (if any), despite sticking to the program pretty faithfully and spending time each day doing moderate exercise or spending several hours on my feet, or both.

But time and slow suffocation are not the only problems. I have not yet obtained the book (I won’t buy it unless I’m sure I want to keep it, and I’ve had to request it through ILL) and so some of the following may be misguided, but I have some serious reservations as to the sustainability of this lifestyle. First and foremost is the limitation on whole grains. ½ slice of bread? ¼ cup of rice? What happened to having a good ol’ whole-grain sandwich for lunch? A whole sandwich (i.e., 2 slices) is 4 carbohydrate blocks, which for women means that not only is the 3-block allotment exceeded, but any veggies on the sandwich or fruit alongside is out of the question. What happened to whole grains being good for you? Dr. Sears seems to lump them together with bleached flour and white rice as though the fiber and nutrients found in the former count for naught. I have owned and used a grain mill for the last year and a half, and practically all of the bread, muffins, pancakes – even cookies – my husband and I consume are made with freshly-milled wheat, with the fiber and nutrients intact. Now I’m supposed to believe that these foods are no better than white bread off the grocery-store shelf? Bread has been a staple of human existence for thousands of years and quite frankly, pigs will fly before I believe that now suddenly it should be blacklisted.

This disregard apparently doesn’t stop with grains. Portion sizes for fruits and vegetables seem to be based solely on glycemic load, apparently in disregard for the nutrients the more “unfavorable” foods offer. Vitamin C? Calcium? Beta-carotenes? B-vitamins? I don’t know when the last time was that I had a whole cup of (ahhh!) orange juice with breakfast. True, many or all of these nutrients can be found in the more “favorable”, low-density vegetables, but who is going to eat 20 cups of spinach or 3 cups of broccoli in one sitting? Not me.

And what about cooking? I love to cook and over the past several years I have built a “library” of Cooking Light issues which I have referred to over and over, but if I stay in the Zone I must now either ditch them or spend countless hours adapting the recipes to making them Zone-friendly. Someone on another thread mentioned that we are creatures of habit and tend go back to the same foods over and over. Not me. I know of only a handful of dinner recipes that I’ve prepared more than once since my husband and I were married 8 years ago. I like variety and am constantly trying new recipes, so I don’t imagine that the list of Zone recipes (the ones that sound good, anyway) on this site would last very long. Once they run out I will be back to number-crunching my other recipes into submission. And honestly, there aren’t many veggies on the “A” list that I care for that much without some form of disguise, so cooking these takes some more creativity (and thus block-counting) than steaming them and plunking them on my plate. Being bombarded with protein – and from the same sources (cheese, eggs, turkey bacon, or a combination thereof) - at breakfast, has become wearying as well.

Finally, timing. Eating every 5 hours makes sense, and I like the idea of having two snacks per day. But a bedtime snack? Eating too late at night is one of the primary ways I gain weight. Because late-night eating doesn't seem to be a concern with the Zone I have been less careful about eating supper by 6:30pm, and it seems my waistline has suffered for it. I imagine the late (though Zone-balanced) snacks haven't helped, either.

My purpose in writing this is not to insult or offend, but to vent and perhaps find if others feel the same or even correct me on a few points. I am not fond of eating crow (with or without equal blocks of carbs and fat :D) so I will not say that I am leaving the Zone forever. But I do intend to read and research more before deciding if this diet is wise to follow or right for me. Incorporating more lean protein into my diet wouldn’t be a bad idea, but in the meantime I am leaning more back toward my old method, which is simply to eat a good amount of complex carbohydrates, including vegetables, fruits AND whole grains while watching overall calories and limiting fat intake, eating supper no later than 6:30 and NOTHING between then and bedtime, and getting out and moving as much as possible. I began looking into other diets only because I’ve gained a few pounds over the last few months due to a mostly sedentary internship, and thought a different method might take the weight off faster. But after eating a WHOLE banana with lunch yesterday (oh, the freedom!) and a veggie plate for dinner (albeit with some ricotta sauce on the broccoli), I feel less boxed-in and grumpy and more hopeful.
janet User is Offline
Posts:861
Zoner
Zoner

08/01/2008 11:34 AM
Teresa....I feel your pain! For so many this very exacting method is the route to weight loss. Including myself. Years ago. I don't know how I did it.....it's hard this time around. I am struggling with the same reactions as you. Back then I ate all these "fake" meats (soy products) which were all measured....and ...well I don;t know why it worked so well then and is so hard now.....
I know others will be more encouraging....
Sue K User is Online
Posts:8671
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/01/2008 5:34 PM
Hi Teresa!

Vent away! :) It can really help clear the mind. Then read a Zone book. It's will address all the concerns you voiced here. You're painting yourself into a corner, and learning the actual princples behind the Zone will very likely turn that around.

Here's a little info about me. Thirteen years ago I lost 100 pounds during the first 2 years eating this way, and then got off 2 high blood pressure meds for good. I didn't do it by being exacting, nor by tediously weighing and measuring, nor by only eating protein and veggies (and I used the plate method). I gradually begain using the block system after I'd lost 100 pounds, but not in a stressful precise way. I've always loved to cook, and still do, rarely ever eating the same exact meal twice, except for a few or our favorites. The Zone has been a freeing experience for me!

My husband (not at all a cook!) also has an easy time putting together Zone meals and snacks, from whatever we happen to have in the house. He lost 67 pounds in the Zone doing the plate method while loosely keeping blocks in mind.

Be good to yourself!


sue

Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!


To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.

Zone Dinner Party (link)
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/01/2008 6:56 PM
Hi, Teresa!

I understand exactly where you are coming from. I hope I can help you out just a bit.

First, the food block guide is a "guide" and not the "Bible". Feel free to venture off and find some other foods that may not be listed. If you want to "block" them, just remember that a block is the equivalent to around 9 grams of carb, 7 grams of protien, and 3 grams of fat. But, if you are off by a few grams here and there, don't sweat it.

If you are cooking for your husband, and if he is enjoying your zoned meals, simply double your serving size and serve him a 3 block meal with a glass of milk. Much easier than trying to do 4 blocks for him and 3 blocks for you.

I think, if you buy the book, things will be much more clear to you. There is a lot of information on this website, but I think the book will help explain the "why" of the Zone better than the site does.

Take a look at the "Bread" thread that E. Wally started. He found a brand of bread that only has like 4 grams of net carb in it. 2 slices for one block! Perhaps still not a favorable choice, but my opinion is that it is better than others. And, you could make a sandwich AND eat an entire apple with it for a meal (don't forget the fat). Sounds very satisfying to me! Sears does seem to paint the picture that all bread is bad. I think there are some BAD choices, and then there are some breads that are probably not quite as bad as that. And, no one ever said you had to ban ALL unfavorables. Eat them in moderation.

Rice and pasta can be replaced by other things. Really, I used to be addicted to these things, and I no longer desire them. I use spaghetti squash in place of spaghetti. I simply don't eat rice with my oriental dishes. And, I don't miss it. Think of it, it is only a "side" item. The MAIN dish is the one that was seasoned and flavored so carefully!

Not sure why fruit is an issue for you, there are plenty of vitamin-packed fruits on the favorable list. Don't feel obligated to stick to the favorables only. Again, use unfavorables in moderation. BTW, I almost NEVER eat 10 cups of spinach or 3 cups of broccoli!

You can use your creative ability for cooking and make up your own recipes. I like trying new things, too, and I find that the light/healthy recipes from other magazines are easily adaptable to the Zone. There are a lot of recipes on this site, and if you do a web search, you may find more recipes out there, they may not be posted on "official" Zone Diet sites, but they ARE out there.

Eating that bedtime snack may appear to you to be causing problems with wt loss, but I don't think that there is any evidence that eating late will pack on the pounds. This has always been a controversial subject. If you feel so strongly about it, you can always adapt and NOT follow this rule. But, I believe you may find yourself more hungry in the morning, and perhaps more difficult to get "started" when you get up. But, it is really up to you, as to how closely you follow the Zone guidelines. (again, they are just guidelines)

I don't think anyone is offended by what you wrote, and it is good to vent. I hope that what I wrote back to you will help you to put things into perspective. Everyone follows the Zone in their own special way. You need to figure out how the Zone will work into YOUR life, and not how to work your life AROUND it.

I have spent too many years trying to work AROUND it, and it never really got me anywhere, worrying about every little detail. Just balance things the best you can, and eat what you want and not what you HAVE TO. Then, perhaps take your time to work INTO it. Take one week and commit yourself to ONE zone behavior. Then, after you have mastered it, then try another one.

When I first started, my first goal was merely to stop eating so much ice cream!

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


E.Wally User is Offline
Posts:271
Zoner
Zoner

08/02/2008 11:44 AM
Theresa,

[you wrote ]

I have not yet obtained the book (I won’t buy it unless I’m sure I want to keep it, and I’ve had to request it through ILL) and so some of the following may be misguided, ...

[ answer ]

It was.


A little bit of history - are you willing to listen ?

The nutritional concept called "The Zone Diet/The Zone Eating Plan" - DID NOT - enter the world of consciousness through THIS WEB SITE OR ANY WEB SITE.

The "internet" was in its infancy about the time the FIRST "ZONE" BOOK was published.

Hence - the important part, Theresa, it was NEVER INTENDED to be "launched" / "administered" / "implemented" via the internet.

The "Zone Web Site" came along much later and along with the "Forum" was and remains an "adjunct", an "enhancement", a "tool", an "additional support mechanism" - a "useful additional dimension" - TO THE BOOKS.

The fundamental science and research it is based upon would fill a library - such as the ones at Harvard and M.I.T. where much of it was done - and the books are palatable "summaries" and "handy applications" of this.

Your apparent insistence on refusing to even consider the use of the Zone knowledge base contained in the books, say for example, "Mastering The Zone" - until you have "mastered The Zone" - is suggestive of an aspiring high school future brain surgeon refusing to waste their time and money on medical school until they have learned brain surgery first.

... from the "END"Zone

E.Wally

ewally@verzion.net

Tom User is Offline
Posts:85
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/03/2008 12:11 PM
[quote]Posted By Cranberrycat on 08/01/2008 6:56 PM
First, the food block guide is a "guide" and not the "Bible". [/quote]

Or, in your best pirate voice:



"....the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner."

It really isn't that difficult. Make it as simple as you can.

Tom
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/03/2008 11:14 PM
LOL!

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


Teresa User is Offline
Posts:18
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/07/2008 8:35 PM
[quote]Posted By E.Wally on 08/02/2008 11:44 AM

Your apparent insistence on refusing to even consider the use of the Zone knowledge base contained in the books, say for example, "Mastering The Zone" - until you have "mastered The Zone" - is suggestive of an aspiring high school future brain surgeon refusing to waste their time and money on medical school until they have learned brain surgery first.

[/quote]

Hi Wally - I do not refuse to read Dr. Sears's book; but as I do not wish to have books in my library that I do not find useful, I simply wish to read the book before deciding whether to purchase it. Hence the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request. Once I do read it, I will hopefully find that some or all of the concerns listed above have been addressed.

Elias User is Offline
Posts:93
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/07/2008 9:26 PM
Teresa,

I know exactly how you feel. No one said it was easy, and if it were, then everyone would be doing it!

Actually, it isn't too hard, though. But, it is a commitment, at first. There MUST be a reason why you gave the Zone a thought. Just focus in on that reason, first.

Use the Zone, work with it and make it work FOR YOU. If you try to follow each zone rule to the tee, then it isn't working for you. Instead, make it YOUR Zone, and then it will be a lot easier. If that means eating some foods that are off the favorable list, then so be it. At least, the balancing will help you to gain better control of your insulin levels. I would say, ANY opportunity that you have to improve your diet above what the general American public eats, is a step in the right direction.

It will all make a lot more sense when you get the book. Borrow it, see what you think, and then purchase it, if you think it is worth the money.
Gina User is Offline
Posts:22
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/08/2008 10:05 AM
Hi Teresa, I started the Zone Diet a few weeks ago and even went on vacation to Mexico for 6 days and did not gain weight (althought that may have been because of a touch of Montezuma's Revenge!!!) Anyway, it really is not that hard to do if you ease up on yourself. I have lost about 6 lbs in 3 weeks but for me it is primarily due to the reduction in portion sizes and my husband and I found out we eat fairly close to this way anyway. So again, it was not hard for us to adapt.

But what I want to address here is the issue of whole grains.....I have not read the science behind Dr. Sears objection to healthy whole grains so I will just tell you my thoughts. I am Italian and while I can live without pasta for 363 days a year (Thanksgiving and Christmas - bring on the spaghetti!) I can't live without bread. I have been eating and enjoying very dense whole grain breads throughout my weight loss journey over the last year (36 lbs or so - 6 of those on the Zone). I choose organic, very dense, very high fiber whole grain breads, usually "Foods for Life" brand from Whole Foods Market (California). Most have less than 18 grams per slice (2 blocks carb) so you can use two slices for a sandwich and go over a 3 block meal by a bit but I would not worry about it. What I don't do is eat whole grain breads at every meal, but I usually have whole grain breads every other day or so because I love sandwhiches too! Not just for the convenience but they are great comfort foods too.

The benefits from the Zone Diet have been great, just in this short amount of time for my husband and I and we will continue to follow the principles as closely as possible but I refuse to live my life by exact standards and have not seen that to be the focus of anyone here either.....and by the way, when you have no time....the plate method is fantastic and works!!!! Did that in Mexico and had no problems!

Good Luck!!

Gina
paul User is Offline
Posts:110
Zoner
Zoner

08/08/2008 12:23 PM
Teresa, I am Italian as well. Keep in mind that cheese, fruits, wine (in moderation), some awesome deli cuts, hot cabbage salad my Grandma used to make with garlic, anchovies, vinegar and lots of other stuff are very zone friendly.

One of my snacks is a slice of bread, 3 kinds of cheese. Its not the best zone snack, but, there are a lot worse.


"If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it." ~W.C. Fields
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/08/2008 7:10 PM
I would like to comment on the bread issue, as well.

I know where the Zone stands on bread. However, I have always believed that there must be a varying degree of "favorable" and "unfavorable" (a.k.a the glycemic load). If you can find a slice of bread that measures up pretty well, then who knows?

There are a lot of breads out there that may stack up, mostly those dense whole grains and multi grain breads. I also know of a brand sold here in Wisconsin, Natural Ovens. There are a few varieties of their bread that I feel would not be SOOOO bad in the Zone, paired up with adequate protein and fat, of course.

Sprouted wheat breads also seem to stack up fairly well, otherwise known as "Ezekiel bread".

Now, I will also tell you that I personally eat bread VERY RARELY. But, if there is a situation that comes up, I will make sure that I have either Natural Ovens or Ezekiel bread.

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


Teresa User is Offline
Posts:18
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/09/2008 10:04 AM
Does anybody know of a way I can calculate the macronutrient ratios in my own homemade bread? The eggs, oil, milk, etc. shoud be straightforward enough, but I'm not so sure about the flour - and the amount I have to use varies depending on the weather and other factors. Once I get this I may be able to tweak the recipe to incorporate more protein.

I don't go overboard on the bread normally either, as we rarely eat bread with supper and breakfast would usually consist of 1 muffin OR 2 small pancakes, etc. and I don't feel like a sandwich for lunch every day. I have read a little bit about sprouted-grain bread and was thinking about trying to make some, especially for quick bread recipes - muffins, pancakes, etc. as a risen dough isn't needed (no pun intended) anyway and it may as well be as nutrient-packed as possible.

Pasta is just so-so for me as well, although I do on occasion make my own ravioli...yummm....
Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8671
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/09/2008 10:16 AM
Hi Teresa!

You'd count the macronutrients for each ingredient and then divide by the number of portions you make in order to find the amounts of macronutrients in a single portion. The better you keep track of the amount of flour you use, the more accurate your carb count will be.

sue

Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!


To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.

Zone Dinner Party (link)
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/09/2008 11:27 AM
Teresa, just one request...
Please share your recipe once you get it tweaked! LOL!

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


Amber User is Offline
Posts:19
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/19/2008 11:33 PM
Another alternative for pasta are tofu noodles--they are noodles made out of tada--tofu, and I almost don't eve count them because they have 20 calories, a gram or 2 of protein, and 3 grams of carbs (2 of them fiber) and .5 grams of fat for 4 oz (1/2 of the bag) and it's a lot of noodles. These are a woinderful alternative to pasta and tast geat with flavorings and additions. I like to make prawn pasta primavera with loads of veggies and prawns!

Shirataki Tofu noodles are the brand and here is the website!
http://www.house-foods.com/tofushirataki_faq.html
cassandre User is Offline
Posts:16
Aspiring
Aspiring

08/27/2008 2:28 PM
I suggest that you visit www.drsears.com and read about silent inflammation.
Being in the Zone is not only about wait loss, it's most importantly about health. And being healthy is not necessarily about beeing thin, believe it or not!
Being in the zone can protect you from chronic disease. A lot of research has been done on this issue.
It's a step by step process of course, but well worth it!
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

08/28/2008 2:03 PM
Totally agree, Cassandra!

I have read in the Zone books that weight loss is really just a "side-effect" of the Zone. So, I always remind myself, even if the pounds don't magically disappear, I am still doing myself a lot of good.

Cranberrycat

We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.


Morgan User is Offline
Posts:1
Newbie
Newbie

09/02/2008 11:55 AM
I felt the same way and I was really glad to find your post on here so I could get some guidance also. I dream about carbs and had a terrible time while out of town, trying to eat Zone friendly foods (the same thing every day to try to save money and cooler space) out of the trunk of my car and it didn't take long for me to go pig out at a restaurant on comfort foods. It's a new day and time to try to start again and grapes, cottage cheese and a half of a sandwich is already old from last week. Same thing every day. I was glad to find your post since I felt the exact same way and I was glad for the responses to help comfort me.
Sue K User is Online
Posts:8671
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/02/2008 12:54 PM
Here's a very different perspective! I've always felt just the opposite about the Zone, right from the beginning. Many times I've described it as a freeing experience for me. The possiblilties are limitless. We have our favorites, but they aren't even usually prepared exactly the same way from one time to the next. Incidentally, cottage cheese, grapes and half sandwhiches aren't even on my menu. And I don't spend tons of time cooking either!




Some tips...

think out of the box

try new foods and/or new combinations of your favorite foods.

use condiments, sauces, etc. to make meals more fun and appealing to you

focus on possibilities and let go of nagging thoughts of limitations




Bottom line, making things different is going to involve some changes.


Keep in touch!

sue

Lost 100 lbs 14 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil!


To view my before/after pics and meal photos scroll over this picture and click when the link appears.

Zone Dinner Party (link)
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Dr. Barry Sears, PhD.Dr. Barry Sears is a leading authority on the dietary control of hormonal response. A former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Sears has dedicated his research efforts over the past 30 years to the study of lipids. He holds 13 U.S. Patents in the areas of intravenous drug delivery systems and hormonal regulation for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

A turning point in his research occurred in 1982. That year, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for discoveries of the role that specialized hormones, known as eicosanoids, play in the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and cancer. Since eicosanoids are only generated from dietary fat, Dr. Sears reasoned that one could apply intravenous drug delivery principles to nutrition in order to control these exceptionally powerful hormonal responses with laser-like precision. In essence, his approach treats food as if it were a drug.

This area of his research led to various patents in the area of hormonal control by essentially using food as an oral drug delivery system to modulate eicosanoids especially for cardiovascular, diabetic, and neurological patients.

The impact of Dr. Sears’ revolutionary work in the dietary control of hormonal response began with the publication of his landmark book, The Zone. Since its publication in June 1995, The Zone has sold more than 2,000,000 hardcover copies, and became a #1 best seller on the New York Times book list. In addition, The Zone has been translated into 22 languages indicating a worldwide response to Dr. Sears’ research. His second book, Mastering the Zone, published in 1997, also became a New York Times bestseller with hardcover sales in excess of 500,000 copies to date. His third book, Zone Perfect Meals in Minutes, published in 1997, quickly became one of the best-selling cookbooks of 1997 and an another New York Times bestseller. The Anti-Aging Zone was published in 1999 and provides the molecular insights into how the Zone Diet can reverse the aging process. The Omega Rx Zone, published in 2002, explores the molecular foundation of chronic disease and how high-dose fish oil can dramatically reverse it. His latest book The Anti-Inflammation Zone discusses how to combat silent inflammation in order to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and many other inflammatory conditions—and how to reverse these conditions if they are already present. To date more than 5 million hardcover copies of his Zone books have been sold in the United States.

His research has elevated food from more than simply a source of calories to being recognized as an exceptionally powerful drug. Because of his revolutionary research, Dr. Sears has been a frequent guest on many national programs such as 20/20, Today, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, CNN, and MSNBC.

Dr. Sears continues his ongoing research as President of Zone Labs, a biotechnology company in Danvers, MA as well as the President of the non-profit Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA. In addition to continuing research on the hormonal effects of food, Dr. Sears has expanded his research in developing innovative dietary approaches to treating cancer and neurological conditions, as well as his on-going work in treating cardiovascular diease and type 2 diabetes.

I have been taking the Fish Oil for over 3 years now. I am 44 playing hockey and working out. The Fish oil helps with the pain that I get from playing hockey. It greatly enhances my performance on the ice and while working out. I have noticed a big difference in my energy, attentiveness and memory. If I miss a day for whatever reason, I notice a huge difference and it feels like something is missing. Anyway that is my short little story and it comes from the heart.

– Carter B.

 

I am a nutritionist and Ph.D. doctor of health and nutrition. For Dr. Sears to figure out balancing fat, carbs and protein, is really beyond brilliant. It is a milestone in diet history. I go over people's diet/emotional journals. Mostly all the time, we discover that the fatigue, irritability, unstable emotions were due to the imbalance in their diet. Using the Zone to balance them out, helps control weight, roller coaster emotions and gives them energy. Dr. Sears is so right when he says food is medicine. He has figured out the most powerful drug combination going, called The Zone.
Best and healthy wishes,

– Elaine W., Ph.D., N.C., M.A.

 

I have a very exhausting job as a flight attendant. I read the "Omega Rx Zone" about 4 years ago and started taking the fish oil. I am 47 and have been flying for 22 years. I am very active, I run and lift weights. But combining lack of regular sleep, a physically demanding job, and irregular eating patterns this job takes a toll on the body. Since taking the fish oil, I have noticed that I do not get exhausted. I get tired, but not exhausted. I stopped taking it for a couple of months and then started taking another company's fish oil. I started getting exhausted again. I came back to Zone Labs and will continue with the fish oil for the rest of my life. I believe in the product and it makes a huge difference in my life. It makes a difference with my running as well. I also bring the bars and shakes with me on the road. It is almost impossible to eat the way I should at work. I haven't found the right secret. At least I have my Zone fish oil, bars, and shakes.

– Kathryn S.

 

I have been in the Zone, for about 1 month now. I wanted to share with you how wonderful I think this program is. I have been a personal trainer for almost 10 years and actively compete in numerous athletic activities. The Zone program has helped me to achieve a better awareness of my nutritional needs and the results I have seen are amazing! I have lost nearly 13 lbs since I have been in the Zone. I feel more mentally alert, more focused at work, have greater intensity during my training, have made significant strength gains, and just feel better over all. With that said, I would like to thank you for helping me in my quest for "super-health"!
Thank you!

– Rob Y.

 

I read 'The Zone' and as exactly as I could followed the advice for diet. I noted weight loss progress. Over six months, I lost 33 pounds. One year has passed since then. I have maintained the new weight, guided always by Zone concepts. The Zone is powerful - I have found it fantastic and I am very grateful to Dr Sears.

– Lyn S.

 

Before I stumbled across the Zone I was weighing close to two hundred pounds and I was depressed. I used to be a gymnast as a young man. I would think, "look at me now," when I looked in a mirror. The day I found 'The Zone' book, I was intrigued and as I read it the science made sense and so, I began to follow the "treatment". I began to lose weight and I was feeling way more energetic. I am forty two years old, I am very active and my weight is down to 162 lbs, 38 pounds lost on the Zone. I cycle, walk, jog, swim and I can now perform some of the more simple gymnastic skills I did twenty years ago...I literally feel like I have turned back the clock.
Thank you!

– Jack J.

 

I have been on the Zone diet for 7 years. I did not go on the diet to lose weight necessarily; but fairly quickly I lost 25 pounds, going from 190 to 165; from a 36-inch waist to a 32-inch waist. I primarily did the Zone to live healthier. My health is excellent now. I just turned 62 years old. My Zone is my eating lifestyle now; I seldom stray; and I do not miss anything. It is The Good Life.

– Curtis Y.

 

My wife's doctor told her to read "Enter the Zone" and to do the diet, so I told her I would do it with her. After only one week on the plan we went on a strenuous hike (the first of the year), and when we stopped at our favorite coffee shop on the way home I was able to get out of the car and stand upright and walk into the place without pain or stiffness. The Zone had eliminated all the inflammation that had always forced me to stumble all humped over into the coffee shop any time we skied or hiked all day.
Thank you, Doctor Sears.

– Larry C.

 

I used to have a lot of knee pain when I walked or ran. I have been taking Omega Rx for almost a year now, and rarely have any pain. I believe it is the anti-inflammation action of the oil. I feel smarter as well. Thanks for developing such a superior oil!

– Joe W.

 

Prior to following the Zone Diet, my body fat was around 15% and my weight around 153 pounds. No matter what I did, my weight and body fat did not change much. I regularly cycled 20-30 hours per week logging well over 400 miles. That had little impact on body fat or weight. Diet also seemed to have little impact on body fat or weight. Within a couple of months of following the zone diet, my weight dropped rather quickly to 142 pounds and body fat to about 8%. I still regularly cycle up to 20 hours per week (during the summer). I have also started strength training. I eat about 16 blocks per day. I take 3.6 grams of fish oil per day, along with Vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, and B & C vitamins. I also take GLA, which in my opinion, has significantly reduced fatigue and improved recovery times after exercise.

– Jeremy S.

All polyphenols have antioxidant properties than can be measured by their Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC), but not all polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties. The polyphenols in Dr. Sears’ Zone Polyphenol Plus have been carefully chosen to have both.

Polyphenols are the phytochemicals that not only give fruits and vegetables their color, but also help regulate inflammation. In addition, polyphenols also activate the key enzyme (AMP kinase) that helps restore cellular ATP levels. Polyphenols also help regulate the activation of inducible inflammatory proteins (such as COX-2 and inflammatory cytokines).

There are more than 4,000 known polyphenols, and the richest sources are fruits and vegetables. In general, the more color a fruit or vegetable has, the richer the polyphenol content.

Why OmegaRx From Zone Labs?

Certified Purity and Proven Potency

Zone Labs’ Ultra Refined Omega-3 Concentrates are three times fresher and contain less than 1/10th the mercury than what is allowed by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard

Zone Labs adheres to the International Fish Oil Standard (IFOS), an independent third party validated laboratory quality standard that is more rigid than any other global standard for purity.

  • No company in the worlds runs more tests with IFOS than Zone Labs
  • Zone Labs receives a 5 out of 5 star IFOS rating for every batch it tests
Standard IFOS Standard for a 5-Star Ranking Council for Responsible Nutrition European Pharmacopeia Norwegian Medicinal Standards
Peroxide < 3.75 meg/kg 5 meg/kg 10 meg/kg 10 meg/kg
Totox Levels < 20 meg/kg 26 meg/kg NA NA
Lead < 10 ppb 10 ppb 100 ppb 100 ppb
Mercury < 10 ppb 10 ppb 100 ppb 100 ppb
Dioxans and Furans < 1 ppt 2 ppt 2 ppt 2 ppt
PCBs < 45 ppb 90 ppb NA NA

 

 

 

 

 

"IFOS – THE TOP GLOBAL PURITY STANDARD FOR OMEGA-3 FROM FISH"

Zone Labs products show no detectable lead or mercury when tested down to 10ppb, which is 10 times below the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standard limits.

Zone Labs products are three times fresher than the minimum allowed by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard and European Pharmacopoeia Standards (based on average peroxide values).

 

Zone Labs starts with only wild, small fish from pristine Chilean waters and ends with proprietary validation and testing processes to achieve an IFOS certified 5 star rating.

8-Step Manufacturing Process - Quality Assured

Testing to specification all raw materials, bulk products, packaging material and finished products – always using stringent internal standards and in-process testing.

  1. Extraction of fish oil
  2. Winterization – remove limited amounts of saturated fats
  3. Absorption – remove heavy metals
  4. Preliminary Molecular Distillation – refining “touch up” to reduce contaminants
  5. Oil conversion to ethyl esters
  6. Ethyl ester thermal fractionation – remove additional saturated fats
  7. True Molecular Distillation – final refining to remove pcb’s and long-chain monoenes
  8. Rigid Processes – proprietary validation, inspection and encapsulation methods. Independent lab verification of IFOS requirements and certified 5 star rating

 

Clean Sources

No farmed fish. No large fish. Pristine waters.

Zone Labs starts with wild sardines & anchovies fished from cold, pristine waters off of South America where there are less environmental impurities.

 

A recommended serving of Zone Labs Ultra-Refined Concentrates delivers 8 times more omega-3’s than a typical retail fish oil supplement.

Most fish oil supplements have 30% or less of the healthy omega-3s EPA and DHA, with the remaining 70% of the capsule containing unbeneficial, lesser refined fatty acids that contribute to their bad taste and gastric side effects.

 

Getting a clinically valid dose of omega-3’s is easy with Zone Labs’ Ultra-Refined Omega-3 Concentrates.

Typical Retail Dose = 300mg omega-3

Standard Zone Dose = 2400mg omega-3

 

A serving of canned tuna has 12 times less omega-3’s than
Zone Labs Ultra-Refined Omega-3 Concentrates

Commonly consumed fish and shellfish in the United States

Mercury Source: Food and Drug Administration, FDA 1900-2004, “National Marine Fisheries Service Survey of Trace Elements in the Fishery Resource". Omega-3 Level Source: American Heart Association Website.

  Mercury level
in parts per million (ppm)
Omega-3 fatty acids
(milligrams per 3-oz. serving)
Zone Omega-3 Products < 0.01 2400 (standard 4 capsule serving
Salmon (fresh, frozen) 0.014 1200
Flounder or sole 0.050 480
Pollock 0.041 450
Crab 0.060 400
Scallops 0.050 290
Shrimp ND* 290
Catfish 0.050 270
Clams ND* 250
Cod 0.095 210
Canned Tuna (light) 0.120 200
* ND: Mercury concentration below detection limit.

 

OmegaRx®

Zone Labs’ leading product. OmegaRx delivers all of the benefits of Zone Labs’ ultra-refined omega-3 concentrates.

Advantages

  • Delivers clinically proven health benefits from the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA*
  • Promotes a healthy heart, healthy brain, healthy immune system, healthy circulatory system, healthy joints, healthy moods, healthy triglyceride levels and a healthy pregnancy*
  • Combats silent inflammation

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

 

 

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