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Subject: Stuck at current weight

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Heidy User is Offline
Posts:11
Aspiring
Aspiring

09/09/2009 5:52 PM
I've been a zoner for about 6 months and i'velost alot of weight i'am down to 123 lbs i'm 5'5 and female.But lately i have ben fluctuating by two three sometimes four lbs and its really bothering me, i only drink caffeine and sugar free drinks, so i know it's not liquids. Plus i also seem to be hungry quicker. Usually since i'm at school full time now i get uop at 630 eat about 7 i
ll have 4 egg whites and 1 whole egg , 3/4 cup kashi heart to heart with 3tsp. slivered almonds and a sprinkle of blueberries to fulfill the rest of the carbs.
Then about 11 or 12 depending on the class schedule i eat my lunch..but since i live an hour from my school i pack a string cheese, 1/2 cup grapes and a zone perfect bar. somedays about 2-3 hrs later i'll eat either a atkins snack bar(cause it's convenient, but that's only on tue and thu)or when i get home i'll eat 1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese, 1 cup strawberries, and 1/2 tsp walnuts. Dinner usually about three hours later cause i'm SOOOOOO hungry and then i'll usually have the same snack before i go to bed?.........what am i doing wrong. oh also....before i started school i was able to go to the gym 6-7 days a week for 1-2 hours . but now i'm lucky if i get to go once

To be in the zone or not to be, that is the question!
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/09/2009 11:49 PM
It is probably the fact that you are more hungry and don't have your insulin levels under control.

For example, Kashi Heart to Heart is unfavorable carb--you would probably do better if you switch to steel cut oats.

The Zone Perfect bar may be part of the problem, too. I find that I plateau when I rely on bars, as well as am not able to keep hunger controlled very effectively, even the Zone Lab's bars. So, I usually find other foods that are more fulfilling.

Probably all of this is leading to being really hungry by suppertime.

My experience is that when your hunger is not controlled, you are definitely not in the Zone, and you are likely to overeat.

Going to the gym may help, but I would recommend fixing the food first.

Cranberrycat

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


xee User is Offline
Posts:38
Aspiring
Aspiring

09/11/2009 7:57 AM
I'm by no means that experienced yet (Zoning for 1 month now), so take my comment as such!

I wonder if you are expecting your snacks to hold you longer than they can. My understanding of a 1 block snack is that it should hold you for 1-2 hours. So, when you say you are "sooo hungry" 3 hours after your snack for supper, that might make sense.
Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8674
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/11/2009 8:48 AM
Hi Heidy and xee!

Here's some more info about snacks. To quote Barry Sears (page 55 of MASTERING THE ZONE), " a one-block snack is good for approximately two to three hours."


Heidy, congrats on your weight loss success! It's normal for one's weight to fluctuate by a few pounds. Your food choices are the reason you're hungry, and are probably adding to the amount of your weight fluctuations. to feel better, eat the same number of blocks daily (amount determined using the Zone block calculator, link at right), eliminate unfavorable carbs and use veggies adn fruit for most all of you carb, add more fat to you cottage cheese snack (you need a minimum of 3 grams fat in a fully balanced block of P, C and F), and if those sugar free drinks contain artificial sweeteners, switch to plain water or flavored water without any type of sweetener. I'll be happy to help further if these changes don't eliminate your hunger.

It's important to note that Zone Perfect is not the brand of bars made by Barry Sears Zone Labs. Barry Sears isn't affiliated with Zone Perfect and he doesn't endorse their products. Many zoners (me included) report that Zone Perfect bars take them out of the Zone and causing them to experience early hunger and hypoglycemic symptoms. You can learn more about the details of the differences in bars, by doing a search of these forums.


For some more insight, here’s how Barry Sears explains fat blocks (page 292 and 293 of MASTERING THE ZONE).

“Why is a fat block only 1.5 grams?
Every block of low-fat protein contains approximately 1.5 grams of “hidden fat”. Therefore, by adding one extra fat block (which is defined as 1.5 grams of fat) for each block of low-fat protein, you are actually consuming 3 grams of fat or two blocks (one internal in the protein and one external) for each protein block. If you are using fat-free protein sources, such as isolated protein powders, then you should be adding two blocks of fat to achieve the same ratio. Obviously, if you are eating higher fat protein choices, you would not be adding any extra fat blocks to your meal. Remember that every time you add additional fat blocks to a meal, they should be composed primarily of monounsaturated fat.”

Some common fat free proteins eaten on the Zone diet are egg whites, protein powder, some deli-style meats, and some soy products.

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

09/11/2009 9:37 AM
I would agree with Xee. I think that 2+ hours on a snack is "optimal", but most people will really only get 1-2 hours on a snack, and to expect a snack to last longer than that, is not realistic for most. But, along with the timing of snacks, I also think that the food choices could improve.

Cranberrycat

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


Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/11/2009 11:37 AM
That being said, everyone's zone is going to be different. I think that perhaps SOME people can go longer on a snack (and it would definitely depend on they type of snack being used), but not all people are the same, and it is likely that many people will not make it longer than 2 hours on a 1-block snack.

I believe that some things are generalized in the book, makes it easy to present the concept. From personal experience, I have rarely gotten 2 hours of satiety from a zoned snack, and have had excellent insulin levels to substantiate that I am in the Zone. I used to think that this was "abnormal", and that there must be something that I was doing wrong, but after careful review with zone staff, I found out that the 2-3 hours for a snack and 4-6 hours for a meal are "optimal" results, but not necessarily the "norm".

Kind of like the "fine print" at the bottom of an ad.

Heidy, in your case, I would really re-consider the use of the bars, and stick with healthy whole foods. And, I would recommend trying steel cut oats, instead of the Kashi. Or, if you want to stick with a cold cereal, try the Kashi Go Lean (and add some nuts for more fat), or Zone cereal (if you can find it).

Cranberrycat

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


Heidy User is Offline
Posts:11
Aspiring
Aspiring

09/11/2009 3:58 PM
Ok thanks...........also....since i've lost the weight i've had self conscious issues and like if i eat something o know is not the right amount of c to p to f i freak out!!! anyways ....i got home from school ate my strawberries, cottage cheese and almonds. but was still starving and ended up stuffing my face with crackers and cheese because i knew i couldn't wait 3 more hours until supper. anyways i feel really bad right now and i feel like just throwing it up. I just hate that i feel this way and that i get so hungry and dizzy. I feel like i'm gonna gain 10 lbs from the whole situation.I don't know what to do.

To be in the zone or not to be, that is the question!
Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8674
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/11/2009 4:07 PM
Heidy, once you gain better insulin control (the suggestions I gave you will resolve that), you won't be getting hungry and dizzy. If the hunger continues after a week of better Zone compliance, just check in with us here. Hunger can be eliminated with the correct adjustments.

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)
Heidy User is Offline
Posts:11
Aspiring
Aspiring

09/11/2009 4:40 PM
ok......thanks

To be in the zone or not to be, that is the question!
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/11/2009 5:14 PM
Heidy, don't beat yourself up over it. Hang in there. If you are hungry, eat a zoned snack, no matter whether or not you are going to go over on your allotted blocks for the day. At this point it is better to just try GOOD things to get back in the Zone. Don't try to "wait" it out, because that will just make matters worse.

Cranberrycat

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


Jana User is Offline
Posts:465
Zoner
Zoner

09/11/2009 9:13 PM
I agree that eating an extra Zoned snack when you are that hungry would be a better option than eating something out of zone that you are going to feel guilty about or that will make you feel sick. Another thing that I do when I'm hungry like that is have a block or 2 of almonds and maybe a piece of frozen fruit right out of the freezer...it takes a few minutes to melt in your mouth and awkward to eat and by the time I'm done one or two small pieces the hunger has usually subsided...its also not enough carb to put you OOZ.

Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/12/2009 8:44 AM
I used to do the almond thing, but it was getting out of hand. I was stuck on a plateau for a long time, and I will share with you guys what was going on...

I was going along nicely in the Zone, but then I stopped losing weight. I also began to have problems with controlling hunger. I was advised to eat more "low density veggies". But, as I began to eat more and more veggies, I was still struggling with hunger, and I was afraid to do anything to alter insulin. I was afraid to eat too many blocks, because THAT was not my protein prescription. So, I figured that if I ate more nuts when I was trying to make a meal stretch, that would be fine because I wasn't counting calories, I was counting blocks, and nuts would not hurt my insulin levels. BUT, I was still not losing weight.

These days, I have let go of the fear that eating extra blocks is going to hurt me. Sure, maybe a "few" extra almonds in a meal is helpful, but I really need to be more measured with that. And, if I am truly hungry, I will eat a snack. If I KNOW a meal is further away than I had planned, I will eat a snack. The meal can be adjusted later on, or perhaps I will just end up with an extra block that day.

BTW, it worked out that way for me yesterday. I was already fighting with being tired from a late night, and my breakfast did not hold me well, still 3 hours before lunch. So, I had a zoned snack. That helped me until lunch. Then, dinner was going to be much later than I thought, and so I ended up with several smaller snacks in the afternoon, rather than waiting it out until dinnertime. By dinner, it was almost time to go to bed anyway, and I ended up eating a bit lighter, and so I was probably close to dead on with my blocks, in the end (although, at that point, I was not concerned about counting).


Cranberrycat

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


Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8674
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/12/2009 9:11 AM
Heidy,

This good advice you're getting here is starting to take off in some different directions, so here are a couple tips to help you clarify.

1. At 5'5" and 123 pounds, you are most likely at ideal body fat% (between 18% and 22%; you can use the body fat calculator at right to check it). If I am correct and you are at ideal body fat%, you are not on a plateau, and would not need to have concern about breaking a plateau.

2. Additional nuts are the best way to go if you find you need to hold yourself over, say while preparing your dinner. Follow Cran's tip not to overdo it, and stick to only a few nuts. While a few pieces of fruit and a couple nuts without the accompanying protein work very well for Jana, I wouldn't advise that you try it, considering the info in you've posted here, especially the part about having dizziness. For you, eating fruit without protein and enough fat for Zone balance, will be like popping a piece of candy to temporarily help the low blood sugar symptoms (your hunger and dizziness). Eating carb out of Zone balance will add to your problem in the long run, because it will prevent you from achieving the more stable blood sugar levels you need in order to keep your insulin in the Zone.

Please keep us updated on how you feel with the changes you make.

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)
Kathleen User is Offline
Posts:35
Aspiring
Aspiring

09/23/2009 4:46 PM
Thanks for this great advice ..."Many zoners (me included) report that Zone Perfect bars take them out of the Zone and causing them to experience early hunger and hypoglycemic symptoms."

My Dr put me on the Zone 13 days ago for my heart. I was hyperinsulemic, couldn't lose weight, and my body was cannibalizing my organs, esp. my heart. Since being on the Zone, I have lots more energy. The first 2 days, I felt amazing for the first time in years. But then day 3, I began to worry (because I wasn't losing weight) that I might not be in the Zone, because I wasn't counting blocks, I was just doing the hand/eye method 5 times a day. So day 3 I stocked up on Zone perfect bars and started subbing them for all but 2 of my meals, thinking I would be closer to exactly in the Zone, and counting exact blocks. I started having severe headaches, dizziness, shakiness, and extreme fatigue, just like hypoglycemia, and stayed hungry most of the time. If I ate a piece of candy, the symptoms improved temporarily. But as of today, I've not lost a single ounce in 13 days. My insulin is now half what it was 13 days ago, so the dr said not to worry about losing weight, just to eat for my heart, and suggested that my hypoglycemic symptoms might be all in my head, because I'm used to handling stress with high carb, low nutrition foods, and so when I eat what I want, my symptoms temporarily resolve. I left the dr office feeling so despondent, but for whatever reason, ended up clicking on this link, and I think the bars might be my problem, or at least part of it. My stress level is very, very high now, and I'm working hard on that, and I'm exercising daily, so that might be why I'm not losing, but has nothing to do with the hypoglycemic symptoms. I'm stopping the bars as of now. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...

"It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop." -Confucius
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/23/2009 5:22 PM
Just FYI, I bet the ZP bars are the culprit, too. But, just in case you are considering trying this with Zone Lab's bars, you will probably have similar results.

But, hopefully by eating REAL food and zoning it, you will get the hang of it.

Incidently, 3 days to notice weight loss may not be enough. So, try to give it more of a chance!


Cranberrycat

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


Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8674
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/23/2009 6:08 PM
You're welcome Kathleen!

Add "almost passing out while driving a couple times" to your list of symptoms, and they become exactly the same symptoms I had each time I ate a Zone Perfect bar. It happens because their ingredients spike your blood sugar, your body then produces a bunch of insulin in response, and that insulin drops your blood sugar a bit too low for you comfort resulting in those hypoglycemic symptoms you experienced. Those are real symptoms, not usually something that's "all in your head". The piece of candy helps because it brings your blood sugar back up quickly. The problem with eating candy to feel better is that it sets you up for the same scenario of a blood sugar spike and drop, all over again. It's a vicious circle of raising you blood sugar to feel better after a drop, only to cause yet another drop. Keeping your blood sugar levels more steady (meaning no big spikes and drops), as you do with the Zone diet, will provide the solution. I wouldn't hesitate to eat Dr. Sears Zone bars if I were you. They have been tested on daibetics inregard to insulin control. I've only heard of one person who claims to have had negative responses to eating them.

The weight loss will come. Here are my tips for new Zoners, that you might find helpful, and after it I've pasted in an article from this site which explains how Dr. Sears Zone bars differ from the bars sold in stores.


Tips:

My biggest tip for success in the Zone is to approach it with an open mind, and focus on the Zone principles of insulin control and inflammation lowering using through diet and supplementation with polyphenols and fish oil. Keep optimal health foremost in your mind, above weight loss. Many people are drawn to the Zone because they want to lose weight. Maintaining the focus I just described will automatically promote the best possible stored fat loss. Second tip, read TOXIC FAT (the latest Zone book released not quite a year ago). It gives the whole picture as well as a look at how the Zone has evolved with time and new discoveries. It includes an easy to understand presentation of how to change the expression of your genes to achieve optimal health. The book is eye-opening. Third tip, don't allow yourself to think in judgmental terms about your eating behaviors (e.g. being good, being bad, failing, cheating, etc.). Fourth, and maybe the most important of all, don't look back. Do the best you can now and go on from here, one meal or snack at a time.



Dr. Sears Zone Bar article (and BTW, I do great when eating these):

http://www.zonediet.com/tabid/130/itemid/950/New-Zone-Bar-flavors-feature-new-technology.aspx

"New Zone Bar flavors feature new technology
Dr. Sears has developed four new Zone Bar flavors based on his Controlled Release Nutrition™ technology to stabilize blood sugar and to control hunger throughout the day.
What makes these bars unique is the newest technology that is incorporated in them. All of these bars use only pure fructose syrup as a binding agent. Unlike high-fructose corn syrup, which has been the only binding agent available in the past, this new technology gives rise to a much lower glycemic load. What this means to you is greater satiation and more sustained freedom from hunger.
In addition, two of the bars use a totally new crisp technology that dramatically improves blood glucose stabilization. Before the development of this technology, Dr. Sears was not going to associate his name with the markedly inferior blood glucose response of traditional crisps used in standard bars. You are not going to find these new technology developments in standard mass-market bars because it is too costly. However, at Zone Labs our mission is to provide the state-of-art nutrition products to help you stay in the Zone. This is Dr. Sears’ guarantee to you. These new bars will demonstrate that sophisticated nutrient delivery and great taste can go together.
Here is a short summary of the new Zone Bar flavors that will help you stay In the Zone with even greater ease than before. The bars will be available later this month.
Apple Cinnamon
A great partnering of apple and cinnamon for the combination of fruitiness and fragrant spice in a crispy bar.
Iced Oatmeal Raisin
Tastes as wholesome and delicious as a baked oatmeal cookie filled with nutritious raisins.
Sweet and Salty Nut Crunch
Satisfy your salt craving with an ideal fusion of savory nuts and the sweetness of honey in a crispy bar.
Cocoa Crisp
Indulge yourself with a heavenly blend of rich, flavorful chocolate and crispies."










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)
Sue K User is Offline
Posts:8674
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/23/2009 6:08 PM
You're welcome Kathleen!

Add "almost passing out a couple of times when driving" to your list of symptoms, and they become exactly the same symptoms I had each time I ate a Zone Perfect bar. It happens because their ingredients spike your blood sugar, your body then produces a bunch of insulin in response, and that insulin drops your blood sugar a bit too low for you comfort resulting in those hypoglycemic symptoms you experienced. Those are real symptoms, not usually something that's "all in your head". The piece of candy helps because it brings your blood sugar back up quickly. The problem with eating candy to feel better is that it sets you up for the same scenario of a blood sugar spike and drop, all over again. It's a vicious circle of raising you blood sugar to feel better after a drop, only to cause yet another drop. Keeping your blood sugar levels more steady (meaning no big spikes and drops), as you do with the Zone diet, will provide the solution. I wouldn't hesitate to eat Dr. Sears Zone bars if I were you. They have been tested on daibetics inregard to insulin control. I've only heard of one person who claims to have had negative responses to eating them.

The weight loss will come. Here are my tips for new Zoners, that you might find helpful, and after it I've pasted in an article from this site which explains how Dr. Sears Zone bars differ from the bars sold in stores.


Tips:

My biggest tip for success in the Zone is to approach it with an open mind, and focus on the Zone principles of insulin control and inflammation lowering using through diet and supplementation with polyphenols and fish oil. Keep optimal health foremost in your mind, above weight loss. Many people are drawn to the Zone because they want to lose weight. Maintaining the focus I just described will automatically promote the best possible stored fat loss. Second tip, read TOXIC FAT (the latest Zone book released not quite a year ago). It gives the whole picture as well as a look at how the Zone has evolved with time and new discoveries. It includes an easy to understand presentation of how to change the expression of your genes to achieve optimal health. The book is eye-opening. Third tip, don't allow yourself to think in judgmental terms about your eating behaviors (e.g. being good, being bad, failing, cheating, etc.). Fourth, and maybe the most important of all, don't look back. Do the best you can now and go on from here, one meal or snack at a time.



Dr. Sears Zone Bar article (and BTW, I do great when eating these):

http://www.zonediet.com/tabid/130/itemid/950/New-Zone-Bar-flavors-feature-new-technology.aspx

"New Zone Bar flavors feature new technology
Dr. Sears has developed four new Zone Bar flavors based on his Controlled Release Nutrition™ technology to stabilize blood sugar and to control hunger throughout the day.
What makes these bars unique is the newest technology that is incorporated in them. All of these bars use only pure fructose syrup as a binding agent. Unlike high-fructose corn syrup, which has been the only binding agent available in the past, this new technology gives rise to a much lower glycemic load. What this means to you is greater satiation and more sustained freedom from hunger.
In addition, two of the bars use a totally new crisp technology that dramatically improves blood glucose stabilization. Before the development of this technology, Dr. Sears was not going to associate his name with the markedly inferior blood glucose response of traditional crisps used in standard bars. You are not going to find these new technology developments in standard mass-market bars because it is too costly. However, at Zone Labs our mission is to provide the state-of-art nutrition products to help you stay in the Zone. This is Dr. Sears’ guarantee to you. These new bars will demonstrate that sophisticated nutrient delivery and great taste can go together.
Here is a short summary of the new Zone Bar flavors that will help you stay In the Zone with even greater ease than before. The bars will be available later this month.
Apple Cinnamon
A great partnering of apple and cinnamon for the combination of fruitiness and fragrant spice in a crispy bar.
Iced Oatmeal Raisin
Tastes as wholesome and delicious as a baked oatmeal cookie filled with nutritious raisins.
Sweet and Salty Nut Crunch
Satisfy your salt craving with an ideal fusion of savory nuts and the sweetness of honey in a crispy bar.
Cocoa Crisp
Indulge yourself with a heavenly blend of rich, flavorful chocolate and crispies."










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)
Kathleen User is Offline
Posts:35
Aspiring
Aspiring

09/23/2009 8:42 PM
Sorry, I guess I didn't really articulate well...

What I was trying to say, was that on day 3 I was afraid that I wasn't "in the zone" and therefore wouldn't lose weight. Truly 3 days isn't enough to tell anything regarding weight loss. I know my doc said forget about losing weight and concentrate on my heart and insulin control, but after reading through the website, I EXPECTED to, at some point, also lose weight, but I was concerned that I might not be "in the zone" enough that weight loss would eventually occur. Does that make more sense?

Now its been 13 days, and still not lost an ounce, but like I said, I'm exercising daily and building muscle, so I'm sure that accounts for it. Or it could be the stress hormones in my body like insulin, cortisol, epinephrine, etc, which the doc says are "thru the roof" in my labs.

I'm just going to give up bars. I have 3 sons with medical needs, so we have appointments for checkup, procedures, or therapy nearly every week day, some of them 2 hours drive away, so I really like the portability of the bars. Think I'll try some protein powder I can mix with water, plus carry fresh fruit and nuts, which don't require refrig. I know they told me to stop worrying about weight loss, but its just so hard to do. I've wiped out my metabolism by literally years of fasting, partially from months on end at the hospital with no money to buy food, and partially because I really believed it would shed the weight. I really want to just do the zone and forget about the weight, and if it falls, it falls, but its so hard when you're so miserable being fat. Thanks again for all the great advice.

"It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop." -Confucius
Cranberrycat User is Offline
Posts:5313
Zone Expert
Zone Expert

09/23/2009 10:59 PM
Hey, Kathleen!

Oh, I get it, you didn't feel as if you were in the Zone by day 3? Sounded like you were definitely headed there on days 1-2 with your good energy. Just because you were not counting blocks doesn't mean you were not getting there. Many have succeeded using the hand/eye method. And, it can take up to 4 days of solid zoning to really be IN the Zone. But, really, I think you were (and are) on the right track.

You do sound like you have a lot added up against you, but 13 days of no loss while exercising is probably not a huge deal. YOu are doing wonders for yourself already, you already mentioned the lower insulin levels, and so that is HUGE! As long as the insulin levels keep dropping, you are doing yourself good, and you WILL see results. Maybe not right away, but they will come.

About the bars, you could just keep a few on hand for those "tide me over" moments, seems as if you are busy and may need to reach out for something quick here and there.

But, if you are not going to use bars, then you should definitely check out another thread going on about portable protein/snacks. That may also give you some good ideas on getting some snacks while using WHOLE/unprocessed foods.

Hang in there, keep in touch!

Cranberrycat

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


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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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