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Joseph Parise  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/19/2004 4:18 PM |
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| I have followed the Zone Diet since 1997 with relative success. In April 2003, I began marathon training and have completed three marathons since January 2004. In conjunction with this activity, I have read numerous books and participated in various training groups and plans. Each of these has encouraged a diet high in carbohydrates – many of which are unfavorable. They also highly recommend the sport drinks, gels and goos that are associated with this type of training – I have not tried of these and instead have relied on water and OmegaZone bars for training and racing.
Though I have been relatively pleased with my performance, I often wonder if there is any advantage to adopting these carbo-loading recommendations. This self-doubt comes from questioning how so many can be mistaken about the benefit of a diet rich in carbohydrates and my desire to improve my performance. In addition, though there seems to be a general misunderstanding of the science behind the Zone Diet, many ridicule my eating habits as “voodoo science”
Can anyone offer support or advice on The Zone Diet and marathon training? In addition, I would appreciate specific eating plans for race day and the day preceding the race. |
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sonjabean  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/20/2004 12:42 PM |
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| Hey there! I'm not an expert on this by any stretch of the imagination, but I've read about the topic in a few different books. At the worst, other people can write in and tell me how wrong I am, then you'll get a variety of responses!
I've read about the whole carbo-loading thing for endurance. In particular, in "The New Glucose Revolution," a book about the glycemic index. From my understanding of that book and the Zone, it seems like eating a Zone meal that is dense with low GI foods 1-2 hours before the event is probably a good idea. In other words, stick with non-starchy veggies for your carbs, etc. But during a marathon, what I've read leads me to believe that you might want to consider breaking with the Zone and consuming high GI foods like Gatorade and/or jelly beans to keep the glucose flowing while running. Since you will be using the glucose as it enters the bloodstream, it seems like it would be okay as far as the Zone goes. From what I understand from Dr. Sears, the problem is when the body cannot use the glucose in the bloodstream. Again, I could be wrong and people are welcome to tell me why. After the marathon, a lot of sports ideology recommends high GI foods again to replenish used glucose stores in the muscles. I'm not so sure about that. Seems like you might only want to go off the Zone DURING the race. You could also combine sports ideology with the Zone again, and for your post-race meal, have the 40% of carbs come from high GI foods in order to get the glucose back into your muscle stores faster.
The good thing about the Zone diet is that you're only one meal away from the Zone at any time. I guess my real recommendation to you is to try whichever way of eating makes the most sense to you before, during, and after the race. If you are happy with your performance during marathons sticking to a strict Zone diet, keep at it. If you want to experiment, taking the risk that your performance could suffer, try it. If it doesn't work out, you can always go back to the Zone. |
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Sue K  Posts:8675
 Zone Expert

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| 05/20/2004 6:32 PM |
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| Hi,
I don't run marathons, but I have some experience with them because my two adult daughters do. I do not agree with the advice given by sonjabean.
Do a search of drsears.com with the word marathon. You'll find some useful info, including suggestions from Barry Sears to marathoners regarding dinner the night before, breakfast the day of, and snacks during the marathon.
Sue |
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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.
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BrianG  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/22/2004 3:20 PM |
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| I don't agree with the high-carb recommendations either. You always have to consider where your information is coming from- a particular author may be the greatest running coach in the world, but chances are that he/she hasn't invested the same amount of time and energy into studying nutrition. More likely than not, running coaches who reccommend high-carb are just kind of repeating what they've always been told about diet. |
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sonjabean  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/22/2004 5:13 PM |
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| Just out of curiousity, have there been studies of people "in the Zone" performing in marathons and/or any other 4+ hour endurance sport like long-distance bicycling? If so, please post a link or refer me to a book or article. I would love to read it. It would really be interesting to see how Zone edurance atheletes stack up agains carbo-loading atheletes! |
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Scott  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/22/2004 5:47 PM |
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| [quote:5866a8cad6="sonjabean"]Just out of curiousity, have there been studies of people "in the Zone" performing in marathons and/or any other 4+ hour endurance sport like long-distance bicycling? If so, please post a link or refer me to a book or article. I would love to read it.[/quote:5866a8cad6]
Any books by Philip Maffetone, considered one of the premier endurance coaches around having trained the likes of Mark Allen, Mike Pigg and other well known triathletes using a controlled carbohydrate approach.
Many studies have shown that increasing the intake of dietary fat, rather than carbohydrate, results in just as good if not better endurance performance, not to mentioned improved lipid profiles.
[quote:5866a8cad6] It would really be interesting to see how Zone edurance atheletes stack up agains carbo-loading atheletes![/quote:5866a8cad6]
Keep in mind that you will always find world-class examples on both sides. To answer what dietary prescription is preferable, you need to look at not only performance, but longevity in the sport, current lipid profiles, recovery ability....
More later... |
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sonjabean  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/22/2004 8:39 PM |
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| thanks again, Scott! |
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Mickey  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/23/2004 7:37 PM |
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| if I am not mistaken, Dr.Moffetone coined the 40/30/30 diet before Dr. Sears named it the "Zone". Dr. Moffetone was working with world class tri-athletes, who were also competiing in the ironman events. I also believe Dr. Moffetone helped develope the PR bar, the first balanced sports food bar. So the research is out there. |
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Scott  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/24/2004 1:16 AM |
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| [quote:8b2957aca1="FlaDoc"]if I am not mistaken, Dr.Moffetone coined the 40/30/30 diet before Dr. Sears named it the "Zone". [/quote:8b2957aca1]
I believe that to be incorrect. I am not sure of the enitre history, but Maffetone simply was one of the very first to recognize the vailidity of Sears' approach (which as some are aware is much more than simply a 40-30-30 caloric breakdown). I remember seeing on the MAF reports something to the effect of a balance nutrition approach as [i:8b2957aca1]endorsed[/i:8b2957aca1] by Phil Maffetone. Endorsed usually refers to support, or approval. |
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TopBoffin  Posts:0
 Newbie
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| 05/24/2004 10:31 AM |
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| Well I'll add my two penneth worth, but first let me say that I am a complete illiterate when it comes to marathons, sports etc. ... but i just wanted to say that i did hear a report on the TV that the high carb approach for atheletes was being questioned by some coaches. So this may encourage you to do some research and you may be able to find some reference to this.
Also I was very interestd in the comment that sonjabean wrote:
[quote:8fbbed7645]Since you will be using the glucose as it enters the bloodstream, it seems like it would be okay as far as the Zone goes. From what I understand from Dr. Sears, the problem is when the body cannot use the glucose in the bloodstream[/quote:8fbbed7645]
I sometimes dance for 3-4 hours petty nonstop, but wouldnt class myself as an athlete. I dont stick to the Zone during these times cause I have a couple of (non diet) Cokes (Heaven forbid! :!: ) along with plenty of water !! but it works for me, I dont have half the energy and the endurance without them
cheers
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ActiveForums 3.6
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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| 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 |
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"IFOS – THE TOP GLOBAL PURITY STANDARD FOR OMEGA-3 FROM FISH"
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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.
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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).
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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.
- Extraction of fish oil
- Winterization – remove limited amounts of saturated fats
- Absorption – remove heavy metals
- Preliminary Molecular Distillation – refining “touch up” to reduce contaminants
- Oil conversion to ethyl esters
- Ethyl ester thermal fractionation – remove additional saturated fats
- True Molecular Distillation – final refining to remove pcb’s and long-chain monoenes
- Rigid Processes – proprietary validation, inspection and encapsulation methods. Independent lab verification of IFOS requirements and certified 5 star rating
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
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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.
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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 |
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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
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