has anyone investigated this technique? www.proteinpower.com
I found out about this in Appendix A of Mastering the Zone as recommended reading. I've signed up on that site but haven't posted much yet. In MTZ it talks about how they suggest a higher protein to carb ration that Dr. Sears. The authors are colleagues of Dr. Sears and the science is similar and eventually they want to introduce more carbs to achieve good long term health.

What I've found with the Zone is that I've dropped the amount of protein that I was eating and increased the amount of carbs (probably significantly) and probably dropped the fat but it is better fat than what I was eating before the zone.

I'm losing weight but not feeling all that great doing it. Not much mental focus and more anxiety for sure.

Anybody have any experience going this route or similar circumstances? Thanks.

I saw a reference to them some time back.
If you go to Amazon and look up their books,
and then read the reviews of some of their books,
you will probably get a better feel for whether it or their book
is something you want to consider.

Hi Brian,

Some people don't feel the best during the first couple weeks of eating the Zone diet due to the initial release of AA from their fat cells as they begin to burn stored body fat. If your feelings are related to this it should subside soon. Temporarily increasing your Omega Rx dose will help. As you already know, lack of focus can also be due to a less than optimal P/C ratio and/or not quite making the carbohydrate choices that best to satisfy your particular needs.

Be sure to eat enough protein to maintain your LBM, and also keep tweaking your carbohydrates if needed. It's also important to be sure to add enough fat to you meals, especially when you choose a fat free protein source such as eggwhites protein powder and fat free daily, to name a few. Give it a couple more weeks as you continue to learn more and adjust, adn then see how you're feeling. If you're not currently using Omega Rx and Sea Health Plus, they would be good additions. They are both key parts of the Zone and could help you feel better.

What's getting me is the constant hunger and the increased hypoglycemia and anxiety since I've started. It really doesn't matter whether I have a good Zone eating day or not.

I've been on for three weeks now today and have cut out egg yolks over the past couple of weeks. I'm losing weight and can feel my body processing fat which is great. Just don't feel all that great doing it. I have always felt (even before getting on Zone diet) that I need more protein.

While I'd like to do the additional Zone supplements I simply can't afford them as I'm already on a supplement protocol that costs me at least a couple hundred dollars a month. One is meant to boost my metabolism and I've cut down on it a bit ( the supper pill) because I'm waking up in the mornings very hungry. I have some fish oil here that I used to take but it has been several months since I've taken fish oil. Should I try it to see if it makes me feel better?

Also, there are other less expensive, just-as-good fish oil supplements available aside from Dr. Sears Omega-RX.

Thanks, John. I think I'll give mine a try to see if I notice any difference. I particularly want to be thinking clearer and fish oil should help with this... correct?

I was just checking the Protein Power website forum... ( I don't have a book yet) and they talk about starting out much lower on good carbs and working your way to more good carbs. They also talk about having more protein and more fat... of course, not going crazy... but this is the way I was eating (by accident) before the Zone. It does have many similarities to the Zone though and I like the science behind it. Hmmm...

Also, before I checked out the Protein Power site I had a heavier protein meal last night with not as much carb and a small amount of extra mono fat and felt better than I had with earlier Zone meals. I think I'm extremely carb sensitive. Too many and it sends me out of whack!

"I particularly want to be thinking clearer and fish oil should help with this... correct?"

Brian, the balance and composition of your meals and snacks, especially the amounts and types of carbohydrates eaten, will usually have the greatest impact on maintining mental mental clarity and focus.

I see... I just really want to find the right balance and combination. I think Carbs is definitely the trigger for me. I also want to reduce the amount of supplements I'm taking and let the foods be my drug.

Try more vegetables, no unfav carbs, and fewer fruits. Stick with lower Glycemic fruits when you do have fruits, like berries - also full of anti-oxidants. Maybe an apple or an orange. About 3/4 cup of (frozen, thawed) blueberries or strawberries 1 block of carbs. (Check the package.)

Hi Brian,

As you have probably read in your Zone book(s) maintaining optimal health is about balance. You can learn more about the importance of combining the Zone Diet, Omega Rx and polyphenols here (on this page it's presented in the the context of the 1-2-3 plan, but it's the same for the classic zone):http://www.zonediet.com/WeightLoss/...fault.aspx

Incidentally, the 1-2-3 foods do not contain AA, making them an excellent choice for lowering inflammaton.

had a strange day yesterday experimenting... I'll try to summarize.

Tried to do more of Protein Power approach with is to go with significantly less carbs than Zone and significantly more protein. By their calculations I should have a minimum of 40 grams of protein per meal and total for snacks and only 7 to 10 grams of carbs during this initial intervention stage. Still not sure on fat but of course, they're talking the right kind of fat and depending on what my goals are, etc. The next steps are to continue to increase carbohydrates accordingly... haven't read book completely.

So... for morning at 7 am I had 35 grams protein and about 16 grams of carbs with 2 T Olive Oil. Was hungry by 10 am... I mean really hungry. Had two oz cheese and a few almonds that made me feel better until 11:30 ish. My hunger was mostly focused or I didn't notice as I was out making sales calls and I was "on a roll". I like to talk to people!

For lunch I figure I had over 40 grams protein and between 7 to 10 grams of carbs plus two spoonfuls of sour cream. Ate this at 11:30 ish. Work out of my home so took a nap for 1/2 hour over noon hour. Needed an anxiety pill at around 1:30 ish. By 2 pm anxiety helped but still unfocused hunger. Had a couple salted almonds and things seemed to get more focused. At 4 o'clock had 1/2 protein shake with large spoonful of lf plain yogurt. Felt better. Went and played disc golf with son around 6 to 7 pm. Ate a super high carb meal - four gluten free pancakes with butter (mono fat), regular yucky syrup, a couple small pork sausage patties, and two whole eggs. Felt the best all day after that and slept really well.

About the only fruits or veggies I had all day wee some blueberries in the morning and some raw spinach in a salad for lunch... not much though.

I'm trying to make sense of that!

Thanks, John... that matches up with what Sue had mentioned in another thread. My problem is veggies... how does one get the amount in without having a massive plateful of food that I can never eat all of? Any tricks to eating all your veggies?

I knew that when I hid my veggies as a kid when my mom wasn't looking that it would someday come back to haunt me.

Hi Brian -- in one word -- beans! 1/4 cup = 1 block carb. I often add 1/2 C beans to my salad just to get the carb blocks in. Hummus is also good -- 1/4 cup = 1 block carb.

If you cook veggies (asparagus, zucchini, green beans, peppers, onions), they reduce and 2 cups = 1 carb. But check the Zone Food Blocks guide for more exact block counts -> http://www.zonediet.com/Tools/Quick...fault.aspx (click Zone Food Blocks tab)

Hope this helps!

Laurie

That makes a lot of sense, Laurie. I'll check it out and work on cooking veggies as well. Looks like you're well on your way to making your goals. Congrats!

Thanks Brian! For me, maintaining my weight-loss is really the challenge ... I've been on too many diets and then promptly regained every pound plus. I'm finding the Zone is the only program that I am happy to follow for a lifetime -- I've never felt better :-) .

Laurie