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Jeffrey  Posts:237
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| 01/25/2008 11:08 PM |
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[quote]Posted By Cranberrycat on 01/25/2008 3:58 PM Jeffrey, You mentioned in a previous post something about the live chat. Do you have any idea on how that works? Are there specific hours when this chat is available? I think I will also post this question on another thread.[/quote] zone live chat is a button in the upper right hand corner of these threads. click it and see what it reveals. ;-) another thought. i often feel empty or light, but i don't equate that to hunger. a lot depends on how my head feels. question yourself the next time you feel hungry... is it real physical hunger or is something different like a feeling of empty or the mind being a bit bored and wanting to rely on old habits? my mind associates a certain feeling with losing fat, so i kind of like that feeling as long as my mind is happy. have you tried eating soups before dinner? miso soup with some tofu might go a long way to filling up the tummy without using up too many grams of C, P and F. i drink a metric ton of water because i'm so thirsty - that also may prevent me from getting hungry as quickly as i otherwise would. you might want to try about 30 minutes of lifting weights and then getting on the elliptical for 30 or 40 minutes. choose the fat burn mode and work out at a consistent rate well within your heart rate. if you are gaining strength and endurance and not losing weight, it isn't intuitive to me how 12 blocks will help you achieve your goals, all else being equal. 99 lbs of lean body mass sounds significant. my wife is a shade over 5' with a slightly smaller than average build and she should would weigh close to 99 lbs total if she had a low female body fat percentage. you may be taller or have a wider, thicker build or have more muscle than she does, but i throw this out in case it rings any bells. good luck and keep at it. i work out saturday and sunday and enjoy it a lot. your ability to gain muscle is maximized when you work out early in the morning and i can only realistically do that on weekends. |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/26/2008 8:37 AM |
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Jeffrey, I tried the live chat button, but nothing happened, it just said that it wasn't active at the moment. I got an email back, and they are working on getting this feature more active, it has been on and off (improvements with the site, etc). I agree with your thought on the hunger. Empty or light is not exactly how I feel when I get hungry. "Light" is how I would like to feel-LOL!. I think I get what you mean when your mind feels a certain way as it is burning fat. I get that "feeling", too, when things are clicking. My hunger is usually more of a physical hunger, sometimes I can put it off by drinking some water or a warm drink, but it usually returns pretty quickly after that. I may try your miso soup idea (have never actually had miso soup, so will look for a zoned recipe). Perhaps even a 1/2 block of something shortly before the meal may help (although with work it doesn't always go that way, but that could help me out at home, if I am getting home late, which means it will take longer to get dinner going). I don't have an elliptical or the weight lifting equipment available. At curves, they just have the machines, and you go around in the circuit, expelling as much effort as possible at each station for 30 seconds, then moving to the next, while keeping the heart rate up there. I can only work out in the evenings, as my work day starts pretty early. Thanks again for your comments. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Jeffrey  Posts:237
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| 01/26/2008 3:08 PM |
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Cranberry, i agree that dealing with hunger after you are hungry is a losing proposition - kind of like unfiring a cannon . ;-) you are definitely better finding strategies to prevent the hunger in the first place. miso soup is a whole bunch of tasty nothingness. it is effectively flavored water with some minor amount of greens. it does likely have a lot of salt in it. if you add a little tofu for texture and taste, you get a decent volume of food without using too many of your allotted C, P, F grams. also, i find i can go at least an hour longer without being hungry if my mind is active and focused on something other than food. very often it is a timeliness crisis at work. i definitely east once the crisis is over. anyway, keep at it. it sounds like you are feeding your body at least what it needs to optimally function, but your brain and hormonal system seemed to have a short circuit that tells you to be hungry anyway. are you taking any form of medication? |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/26/2008 9:56 PM |
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No medications (thank God!). I only take fish oil supplements, sometimes some multivitamins with magnesium, calcium and zinc. I rarely even take any meds at all, rarely get headaches or have any body pain. I used to take a whole bunch of Naproxen or Motrin for my bum knee (injured in an accident years ago, and it was never quite right since), but I really don't have much pain anymore, since zoning. I will definitely try the miso soup. Might be just the thing I can use, although maybe a less salty version. Another thing about the zone, I really notice salt and prefer less salty foods now. Nice to be able to "taste" the food. :) Got out twice on my XC skis today, once by myself and once with my 11 year old daughter. Just going around the yard (big yard), but didn't get into town for my workout, and needed to get something else in! Besides, it was a really nice day to get outside! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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cheril  Posts:181
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| 01/27/2008 6:44 PM |
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Hi CranCat, It appears that my post from Friday went awol. I wanted to also mention that if you currently don't use fitday website that it tracks daily calories and breaks them down by P,C,F. It also allows tracking of weight loss goals and calories burned. I thought that along with the calorie counter site's recommended calorie allowance/day and # calories to consume/day with a weight loss goal in mind may all help you evaluate any changes. I'm always amazed on fitday how many calories are consumed when I drop a carb + add a fat. Looking at my daily log when the fat goes pretty high, makes me re-think that strategy (I do it for convenience, mostly) and can look strange on paper when one uses pp or other ff product and add back all the fat. This may help for your Curves comparison.
The good news on any dietary changes that you make now is that you know how to maintain weight. Ah, I understand, it's a bummer when you're not at your ideal wt. I'm a bit shorter than you and the same age. I swear that's a double whammy:-). Personally, I have never been able to drop weight using 11 blocks. My best weight loss was at the old recommended 8. Of course, that's why I left the Zone years back. I always think that I'm closer to needing 8 blocks than 11.
I was so excited that I managed to drop a few pounds between Thanksgiving and Jan 1. I managed through out of town guest visits, holidays, and vacation travel...all coming close to being within the Zone but sometimes getting a little side tracked. Since Jan 1, I've been stagnant. I had hoped to get out on a few long walks this week to try to shake things up but I've had back spasms for a week. I realize that a few weeks on a plateau is nothing compared to your year. I applaud you for your continued effort through this frustrating time!!
Keep me posted:-). |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/27/2008 8:57 PM |
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Absolutely, I really think I know how to maintain my weight! LOL! Thanks for the info on Fitday, I have used that in the past. I have also tried other ones. However, I have put together my own spreadsheet, and I can copy/paste from the zone block list to my food diary page. I am adding a calories column, so that I can compute caloric value of a meal. My spreadsheet will calculate blocks per meal and total blocks per day. So, adding this new column will not be too much trouble, but just have to look up the caloric values and plug them in. I can't speak to your caloric needs, but will keep you up-to-date on how my plan progresses. This week is the week that I am supposed to jump to 1600 calories, and so I am not sure how I will make 1600 cals out of 12 blocks yet. But, if I plateau or gain on 1600, then I will drop it back down to 1200, and then jog back and forth. The theory to breaking the plateau is to allow yourself to gain 2-3 pounds, then drop to the lower calories for a few days until the 2-3 pounds are shed. Then, jump back to the higher cals until you gain those 2-3 pounds again, and then drop down to shed the 2-3 pounds. You keep repeating this cycle, and the idea is that it should take longer each time to regain the 2-3 pounds. If you get to the point where you are maintaining and not gaining back, then you have successfully raised your metabolism. Will see, I am just not sure... |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Sue K  Posts:8675
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| 01/28/2008 9:30 AM |
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Hi Cranberry, A tip. With a P requirement in the vacinity of 11 or 12 blocks, eating the amount of food you're proposing (1600 calories daily), will quickly take your insulin right out of the Zone, even if you eat those 1600 calories in Zone balanced proportions. With that will come all the negative ramifications of elevated insulin, including the switch form burning fat to burning glucose to produce ATP. In terms of the Zone, what you're proposing would be considered taking giant steps backward. It's my understanding that this yoyoing type of caloric approach is designed for a person who's plateaued while following the calorie based Curves eating plan that you've recently been posting about. I fail to see how this techinque could be helpful to you since you've been following the Zone diet, which is based on insulin control. |
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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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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/28/2008 11:52 AM |
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I don't believe that I have even said that I was committed to this plan. I am still looking at it to see how it would work. The plan allows for a jump to 1600 calories this week, but I have also studied other BMR type diets, and looking at those plans, they don't recommend as huge of a jump. Also, I am choosing to see what happens at this point, as long as I have decided to eat 12 blocks now instead of 11. I recognize the ill effects of elevated insulin, and how I feel after eating out of the zone. I am sure I will recognize that and quickly change, if I feel any ill effects. Your statement also ONLY assumes that Sears approach is the ONLY way, and I don't choose to think that way. I think that the Zone is an excellent framework, but as I have discussed, it has not been successful in helping me to break my plateau. However, one CAN lose and gain fat by decreasing and increasing calories. Incidently, the Curves Diet also speaks from the standpoint of converting the body from a carb burning machine into a fat burning machine, just like the zone. It is not a glucose burning diet at all (speaking specifically about their higher protein plan). Are you doubting that I am following the Zone diet? The way that you phrased the question makes me wonder if you do? |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/28/2008 5:41 PM |
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I had a few more thoughts to add, figured I would just add a new comment rather than editing the last one. Sue: Here is the deal--I have proof on paper that my insulin levels are not elevated. My insulin level was 8 right after Christmas last year, when my eating patterns were NOT at their best. So, following the zone guidelines, I can only assume that my insulin levels are not any worse than that, and quite possibly better. You have suggested that I eat foods to bring my insulin levels down, and that will result in the ability to burn more fat. However, I have told you on countless occasions that I am unable to gain meal satiety by eating lower GL foods, and that I have to combine and mix carb densities to get the most effective meal response. I also have to add more fat in order to achieve that. I feel as if I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, because I have not been able break this plateau with the zone. The curves diet approach has been studied by Baylor University, and there are some significant scientific outcomes that are published and available for review. Now, obviously, there may be some bias, and I am sure that Sears would find flaws in the study results. As well, I bet that those who interpreted the findings on the Baylor studies can find flaws in Sears' data. Who is to say who is right here? Or, could it be that there is a combination of truths? I am just trying to keep my mind open to other ideas. I certainly hope that you can respect my decision, whatever I decide to do. |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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cheril  Posts:181
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| 01/28/2008 6:43 PM |
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Hi Cran, My 2 cents, of no cash value, would be to take your current block intake as the high and drop from there. Maybe a couple days 9 blocks then a few 11 or 12? The only reason I mention this is when I put in MY variables (I don't know yours) on calorie count for calorie allowance to lose 5 pounds between now and March 4, it indicates 1200 cals/day as their minimum. And 1200 calories may be close to the 11-12 blocks/day you are eating.
Calculate Calories Needed for Goal Weight
You should consume about 1200 calories a day to reach your goal weight of This is at a reasonable weight loss average of 1 lbs per week, which should be reached by March 04, 2008.
Remember that this estimate is based on your body weight, height, age, gender, and activity level. It may vary slightly depending on other factors.
Generally, women should not consume any less than 1,200 calories per day, and men should not consume less than 1,500 calories per day.
Again, I have read a bunch of your blogs but can't speak for you. If you could drop blocks without messing up at work (spacey/headache) or home (snapping at kids) it may be worth considering say a couple days at 9-10 blocks and then go high to 12?
I understand that the added fat gets you through the day's meals but have you calculated the difference between the added fat (which helps you maintain your weight;-)) and an additional block or two. If you added a block or two would that be fewer calories? I don't know if you tried that in your effort to get to your current personalized meal formula.
I do understand the "something's missing" feeling and again, it's only my two cents with no cash value:-). You don't need to respond to all my ideas. Use them if you feel they may be of value or we can blog your ideas back if you would like.
Personally, I have learned that I can live on a two block breakfast (cottage cheese, apple or berries, almonds) just as well as a 3 block. I get overstuffed if I go 3 block w/strawberries so I cut a C and add a F. But I don't get hungry sooner or later with either a 2 or 3 block cottage cheese apple almond or block modified breakfast. I can also live on a breakfast zone bar, lunch zone bar but preferably only if I can have an early dinner (in place of afternoon 1 block snack) otherwise I get a headache. I know I stay pretty well in the zone because if I decide to have a half a sandwich on the go...if I eat more than 1/4 of the bread I get spacey and headache.
It's all a strange balancing act. I strongly believe our age and height add another dimension:-) |
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Sue K  Posts:8675
 Zone Expert

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| 01/28/2008 6:58 PM |
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Hi Cranberry, Re: " Sue: Here is the deal....", you're correct that I think continuing to tweak your meals to gain better insulin control will help to break your plateau. A fasting insulin reading from 13 months ago wouldn't be an indicator of your fasting insulin level now. Your current level could very well be just above the Zone range, in which case, a little more tweaking, of both meals and the other important pieces of your Zone lifestyle (omega 3 supplementation, exercise and meditation), will do the trick. My best wishes to you in your continued endeavors to break your plateau. |
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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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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/28/2008 8:14 PM |
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Cheril, Actually, I really appreciate the thought you are putting into this with me! It is worth much more than what you are giving it credit for! Just as a fun little experiment, I also did what you did, plugged in my numbers into a website, and got the high and low calorie range. The low range is about where I have been on the zone. The high range is about 1700, which is lower than what the Curves thing is recommending, and that is one of the things that is holding me back from committing to the curves thing. Besides, if I do GAIN, I will then be faced with a few more pounds that are just as difficult to lose! LOL I would probably not drop below what I have been doing, since it is already in the low range of what I should have. Also, I am feeling even a bit better now that started eating that extra block. I have been keeping the calories at around 12-1300, with the added block. One problem on 11 blocks was that there was potentially a span of time that could easily escape me and I could end up going too long without a snack or meal. But, since I added that extra snack, I can fill the gaps a bit better now, and I am less likely to run into meal timing problems. Plus, I feel like I am really feeding my body what it needs to add some LBM. Also, I am more likely to keep up with the exercise, knowing that I am "earning" that extra snack by doing so! Incidently, I had tried 2 block breakfasts, in the past. I tried eating 2 block meals so that I was eating my 11 blocks spread out over the day, to try to keep insulin levels more stable. I really didn't have any great results from it. I was able to maintain satiety for just 2.5-3 hours on that meal. Which, really isn't that bad, but I would run out of hours in the day! I again really appreciate the support! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/28/2008 8:23 PM |
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[quote]Posted By Sue on 01/28/2008 6:58 PM Hi Cranberry, Re: " Sue: Here is the deal....", you're correct that I think continuing to tweak your meals to gain better insulin control will break your plateau. A fasting insulin reading from 13 months ago won't really be an indicator of your fasting insulin level now. Your current level could very well be just above the Zone range, in which case, a little more tweaking will do the trick. My best wishes to you in your continued endeavors to break your plateau.[/quote] Sue, I don't agree with you on your opinion about my fasting insulin. I have no reason to believe that my insulin levels are elevated at this time. There has been no increase in bodyfat%, my waist is still the same as it has always been. As long as I eat the way I have been, I do not experience hunger between meals, and I feel like I am in the Zone, with mental clarity and energy to sustain me throughout my busy day (and then some). And, I have already told you that I have done all the tweaking that I can do, without causing hunger between meals. The only thing left at this point is to re-evaluate how things are going on 12 blocks. And, I am still unclear at this point as to where you sit on that issue. I really think that this is one of those times where we need to be thinking "outside of the box". |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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snickers  Posts:82
 Aspiring
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| 01/29/2008 10:07 AM |
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Cranberry,
I was just reviewing this thread, find it interesting!
I think we have a similar situation. I really admire your dedication to the Zone, that you have stuck with it for so long. I would think that most of us would have given up by now!
As I read through your story, there is a thought that jumped out at me.
I wonder if you are carb sensitive, but perhaps not really getting enough carbs?
The reason why I suggest this is because I am similar to you, in that I feel I am carb sensitive, i.e. with early hunger. I had dropped a carb and added fat, too. I also struggle with meal satiety if I eat super low GL foods, like the veggies.
However, I wonder if we have misinterpreted? I wonder if you are sensitive to UNFAVORABLE carbs, but that you still need MORE carbs?
So, the idea I had was that perhaps you should try increasing your carbs to 3 blocks AND eat all of your carbs as veggies?
Just an idea, wonder what you think--or Sue? |
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Sue K  Posts:8675
 Zone Expert

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| 01/29/2008 10:53 AM |
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[quote]Posted By cabbage patch kid on 01/29/2008 10:07 AM Just an idea, wonder what you think--or Sue? [/quote] I think it's an excellent idea for Cranberry to try 3 blocks of all low density veggies. An alternative would be my previous suggestion to use mostly all low density fav veggies with 1/2 block of unfav C. Either method may yield an overall lower insulin level for her than she presently has. My theory is that her current reliance on eating a fair amount of medium density carbs along with her low density veggies, so that she can maintain some degree of satiety, might be keeping her insulin slightly elevated, enough to take it out of the Zone so that she lacks extended satiety after and meals doesn't lose her excess stored fat. Refer back to Cranberry's smple menu posted on 1/23/08 at 3:24 pm in the BMR post in this forum, which angie began. 3/4 or more of the 8 carb blocks were from medium and higher density fav C. Though the Wendy's meal is noted as atypical, even if she'd eaten the other option she mentioned, still the amount of medium and higher density fav C accounts for 2/3 of all the C in her day. I don't think Cranberry necessarily needs more carb, because the symptoms she describes are those caused by increased insulin stimulation (she dosen't describe her symptoms as hunger that's accompanied by good focus and mental clarity, as one would have with too few carbs). For me to say that she doesn't seem to need more carb may sound like it contradicts the fact that I just agreed with you about her trying 3 blocks, but it doesn't really. You see, if she replaced the 2 carb blocks she is currently eating in meals with either of those two alternatives, she may very well end up stimulating her insulin less than she is now because of the change to a lot more low density carbs (and I think this is where you were going with it, too). The result of decreased insulin stimulation would would be that she could gain satiety for a longer span of time after meals and also resume the loss of stored fat. |
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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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snickers  Posts:82
 Aspiring
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| 01/29/2008 11:22 AM |
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Sounds to me like that is the idea behind the Zone Points, which was introduced in the Anti-Inflammation Zone. Based on that system of counting, one could actually eat more blocks of carb, if the carb blocks are coming from favorable sources, because the carbs with the lower point value are carbs that are very low density, and therefore do not stimulate insulin quite as much. |
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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/29/2008 2:10 PM |
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Cabbage Patch Kid, I wonder if you are hitting on something there! I have 2 types meal responses. One is the typical lethargic-can't stay awake kind of response, but that is generally associated with an intake of unfavorable carbs. The other response is hunger at or prior to 4 hours since my last meal. I don't associate this hunger with lack of mental clarity. However, due to the fact that it was often EARLY hunger (2-4 hours after a meal), I was always labeled as carb sensitive. Sue and I worked on that extensively a few years ago. She and I have talked about Zone Points in the past, and I am a bit surprised by her response to your post. I have always wondered about the rationale to the system, but perhaps there is some science behind it. Perhaps, 5 blocks of low glycemic veggies has the same glycemic effect as 3 blocks of low-moderate glycemic carb, despite the fact that there is more grams of carb? So, maybe the reason for the early hunger is that I wasn't eating enough? |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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Sue K  Posts:8675
 Zone Expert

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| 01/29/2008 3:58 PM |
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| Just want to note that my statements above are not particularly in regard to using Zone points. |
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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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Cranberrycat  Posts:5313
 Zone Expert

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| 01/29/2008 7:27 PM |
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Sue, Cabbage Patch Kid brought up the zone points, reflecting that the idea of increasing the amount of low-glycemic veggies is very much the same as what Zone points accomplishes. My statements were in agreement with what CPK said, and I also reflected that you and I had discussed this in the past. So, please help to eliminate the confusion, because I think I am more confused about where you stand on that issue! |
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Cranberrycat
We don't own the earth; we borrow it from our children.
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cheril  Posts:181
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| 01/29/2008 7:45 PM |
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Cranberry, My favorite part of this whole thing is that you don't quit, leave, and come back a few months later like I do. I totally respect that you keep your focus. Personally, I find that when I'm on a plateau for too long (15 minutes;-)) , I leave...maintain the plateau for a while eating anything. Ok, it's not a food/carb festival but my "regular food" (which by fitday.com is not much differrent in calories, but carbs are higher) then I come back "home" to the zone crying. I drop the 5-10 pounds (gained not zoning), plateau, repeat. What's worse than this yo-yo thing is that I do this well above my "ideal weight". So, keep me/us posted on this fact finding mission that you're on. You are a great inspiration! I want to believe that at my height and age (similar to yours) anything is possible:-). So... pressure is on you to break the plateau. I hope that is motivating. |
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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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