I know they will cost more due to what they "do" to change the make up of them but really... Do they really sell enough at the prices they charge to make it worth while to still produce them? Do people really spend a small fortune to buy these?

I, for one, do not. I spend my fortune eating whole foods, not processed!

Oh Lord, I'm not suggesting you eat processed foods. geez... I think it is a genuine, realistic question to ask.

What Cran meant, is that the ZONE foods are processed.
And, yes, expensive.
Though they come in handy for my annual business trip to LasVegas.
But then, they are paid for by my allowable expenses - otherwise i couldn't do it.

Oh, ok, I totally read it wrong. Sorry, cran, about that. I get it now.;)

LOL! no problem!

Hi becky,

Yes, lots of people (including me) buy them and enjoy excellent results. IMHO all things considered, they're a bargain!
:cool::cool::cool::cool:

I must say that I wouldn't have started the Zone 2 years ago if it was advertised then like it is today. 2 years ago, it was all about natural ways of eating, creating meals knowing the principle, trying to teach yourself of what is good and what is bad for you.... Now these principles seem to be forgotten, at least not as visible as they were, and that was what convinced me to start. Now the site suggests that Zone diet is actually a selection of very expensive products which you need to buy (paying a lot of money) to replace you everyday foods. It suggests that to be healthy for life and lose weight you need to keep on byuing these special products. Zone not longer teaches you to live your life healthily but live your life same as before, with all the bad habits etc but replace certain foods with miracle foods you can buy here. It is sad really.... I liked the philosphy... now I feel cheated.

Bozena, I couldn't have said it better than you. Totally agree.

I do realize that some people may feel differently, that maybe they were drawn to the Zone by the new breads/pasta. But, it would be really nice to see more of a balance of classic/traditional Zone and the miracle foods.

Re "forgotten" principles, au contraire Bozena. Zone foods provide superior inflammation lowering (they don't contain AA) and excellent hormonal control, which have been the two most important principles of the Zone diet and lifestyle since its inception.


________________

sue

Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate

The Zone Foods are here to help anyone who needs, wants help in a quick and easy forum. Some people use the Zone Foods exclusively while others mix them in with the classic Zone, and still some may not use them at all. It's up to the individual: we are here to help you control inflammation by balancing your hormones with a balance of macronutrients in a way that makes it doable. That will be different for different people.

I personally enjoy the mix of Zone foods with "classic" Zone. However, the new Zone website doesn't provide enough information nor prominence to the "classic" Zone approach. It appears primarily sales-oriented, and that, in my mind, diminishes its credibility. The Zone website leaves the impression is that the Zone is about making money from its products, as opposed to having our health and well-being as its number 1 priority.

Sorry if this seems harsh -- it's just my perception, but wanted to share it as an FYI to the Zone team.

Laurie

I've been zoning since before these foods were added. I recently ordered the starter package when there was a 25% of deal - just to see what I thought. Even with the discount, too expensive. I have no problem staying in the zone without these products. I don't care for the emphasis on these products. I miss the good old days. All that being said, I thought the products tasted good. But not good enough to justify their price. I find it hard enough people buy at this price for Sears to continue to sell these products. I'm just happily zoning along as I did when I began some 5 years ago.

Linda, if I had a "LIKE" buttun, I would click it on your post! GO CLASSIC ZONE!

To what you said about the taste, I would agree. But, I find I can stay in the Zone better with zoned whole, unprocessed foods. I was also tempted by the 25% off deal, just to have some products on hand... but I agree, I still don't have that kind of money sitting around.

Linda - exactly my thoughts... I like the Classic Zone. All makes sense to me. New zone foods - to me it is yet another "miracle" offered to poeple. People should start living real lives, take responsibilities for what they put in their mouths rather than to depend on miracle products. We need to re-educate ourselves and our children of what a good, healthy food is

Another LIKE! Well said, "real lives", taking responsibility, no miracle products.

Again, we all lead different lives and must do what works for us. Good for you and good for others.

I tried some of the new Zone foods about a year ago....they were good, but way too expensive. I would love to try the new bars, but when I can buy bars for a least half of what these sell for....I just don't get it....I'm sure if the price was more in line with what we all see in the retail stores, I'm sure the Zone food would fly out the door. Of course I say that and I realize that they are keeping the prices the same, so it is working for their business module. Ahhh, I just wish the masses could enjoy the Zone food!

Well, I would agree. It would be nice for the food to be accessible to more people. I personally feel that the obesity epidemic has hit the less fortunate much worse, and those people are eating lots of convenience foods and processed foods, rather than whole foods. Certainly, the prices put these foods out of reach for many people who could benefit.

My two cents, I consider the price of the Zone foods a bargain. In my experience, the hormonal response that results from eating Zone foods far surpasses that of even the best Zoen balanced meals I've been able to put together, and teh numbers of my past two years' lab tests bear that out (I've been posting my lab test results in the Weight Loss Forum).

Our local newspaper had an article, yesterday, Friday on Obesity, and how it increased in all but one state, Connecticut. But Connecticut only dropped 1/10 of 1 percent. and not to be left out, though, Diabetes also increased in all states, and Connecticut was in the top 10. So, YES, IF these foods were more available to more people at more reasonable prices.... The article also stated that obesity rates tends to be highest among the poorest.

To be fair about it, i guess one has to consider that the products contain all of the protein needed, and good protein is not cheap. But, you do have to consider what works best and what you feel is good for your body.

I got an email to say that the Zone Products had free shipping. Sorry, I dont remember the end date as I lost interest when it said that the shipping was free only to USA customers. I thought this would be a good opportunity for John and others who are USA residents to try the products if they hadnt done so already. I was going to put an order in but unfortunately I am not a USA customer .....

We get those offers, too.
Thanks.

I saw the offer, too. Not interested. I can't afford to place a $100 order, and the foods don't work that well for me, anyway.

I read Enter the Zone and Mastering the Zone in the nineties and lost 81 pounds. I went back to my old ways and put it all back on and then some. There were no Zone foods back then and in the books Dr. Sears said that you really didn't need any supplements other than a multi-vitamin. I'm back on the Zone and have yet to buy any of the foods or supplements. I may try some of the foods at some point, but I can do just fine without it. The trick this time will be to not go back to my old ways :hehe:

[quote]
Posted By cranberrycat on 12 Sep 2011 08:48 PM
I saw the offer, too. Not interested. I can't afford to place a $100 order, and the foods don't work that well for me, anyway.
[/quote]


Hi cranberrycat... It has been a while since I have been back here. Can you tell me why the food don't work for you?

Thanks, Becky

I have gotten myself back on The Zone. I originally started back in 1996 and had great results. Many years older I am finding my resolve is not the same yet it is so much more important that I do this. I am going to try the pizza crusts as bread is a real down fall for me. I figure if I eat zone products for pizza it will be much better. We shall see.

If you just can't give up bread, I would agree that you'd do better with zone foods than with traditional bread.

The products didn't work for me for 2 reasons
--I felt hungry
--I didn't lose any fat

...so basically the products didn't keep me in the Zone.

Hi folks;
.
Back from a (rare) business trip. The importance of this is that without a lot of homemade food available,
eating out, even very carefully for a week, is very difficult - to stay in the Zone. But, with a business trip, with an allotted per diem allowance, it is one of the few times I can afford and justify the high cost of the Zone 1-2-3 food products. The amount i spend per day, even with grocery items, is less than the allotted per diem for most cities. So, the Co. pays for my Zone foods, and saves money on what i would have spent to eat out for every meal. Though I prefer whole natural foods and classic Zone, the Zone 1-2-3 foods provide a good alternative while at a hotel. So with a small refrigerator in my room (and a bonus unexpected microwave) for no additional fee, a trip to the local (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) grocery store, and an order of Zone 1-2-3 foods frozen before loading into the suitcase, I was able to eat well and stay in the Zone for the week.
.
A note as brought out earlier in the year, on the forums, and what I forgot about, is that eating mostly Zone foods, with no oven and prep available, as in a hotel -- the additional grocery items are limited, and so there is a lack of fiber, as well as other nutrients. I normally take a very good set of vitamins and minerals, even at home with real food, so that is not a problem. I did forget about the lack of fiber in Zone 1-2-3 foods, but after a couple of days, and a trip to the drug store for a 1 tsp serving size container of Inulin with 3g fiber, no problems there-after.
.
I will, say that because I am limited in a hotel, either with or without a microwave, and also avoided ordering the way TOO sweet zone foods, the foods I used to sustain me -- they did hold me for four hours! BUT, the bread products, probably because they are so dense are very, very, very DRY! (The rolls, bagels, and pretzels.) The granola, though a bit on the sweet side, is not as sweet as the other "sweet" products, and is acceptable and also tasty. (Could be a bit less sweet, but no where close to as sickeningly sweet as the cookies I tried last year on a business trip.)
.
Even though it is already Fall, in new England, the brownies were still not yet available for me to order for this business trip. In summary, if you prefer the classic zone, the Zone 1-2-3 foods have their place and can be useful to supplement. if you want or need to extremely reduce your silent inflammation (AA/Omega-3 ratio), then consider the Zone 1-2-3 foods, or consider them for a short time before going to classic Zone or a combination of both.
.
BUT, be aware of other nutritional needs, which must be met apart from the Zone 1-2-3 foods.
.
Here is an example of what I do on a business trip:
Breakfast: low-Fat, organic if available, plain yogurt. (1 block P & C, but protein a bit shy). Protein powder added in to make full 2 blocks P.
1 small orange (1 block C), Olive oil added in to make 1 blocks F. One Zone 1-2-3 bagel with 1 block Olive Oil. Total breakfast = 4 blocks.
.
Lunch: 2 slices Zone 1-2-3 bread. A touch of Olive Oil for 1 block (to help with the eXtreme dryness), 2 slices organic turkey breast deli meat (1 block P), a handful of grapes, or a small apple, or a small orange for 1 block C. Total Lunch: 3 blocks.
.
Dinner: Small salad from hotel or local restaurant, dressing on side (negligible C), with chicken breast or salmon (if I can verify wild and not farm raised). 1 Zone 1-2-3 pretzel, dipped in Olive Oil with herbs added. ( I bring an Italian mix spice with me, too.) And another pece of fruit or vegetable I can eat raw from the local supermarket. Total 3 blocks.
.
late night snack: A glass of wine or a piece of Dark Chocolate, with a piece Low-Fat (or sometimes high-fat) cheese for 1 block P & C, and a little additional Fat. (I do well with some additional fat while maintaining Zone.)
.
Other snacks: Depending on my schedule, and amount of exercise I can squeeze in, and availability of gym or not, I added one or more additional snacks with the Sweet & Salty Zone bars or the Zone 1-2-3 Granola, as they (Zone bars) were on sale at a (for once) reasonable price of 1/2 off. I do bring exercise bands with me, so I do not have to rely on a gym as much, and I do mostly body weight exercises, for both strength and intermittent peak (aerobic & anaerobic) cardio.
.
Worked well for me, even with the long airplane rides, and the usually resultant effect of air travel and time zone changes resulting in retaining fluids, I still maintained my weight through-out the trip.
.
One NOTE: the last time Zone bars (Apple something) were on sale at 1/2 off, and for an extended time, like the Sweet & salty seem to be, they were discontinued. Though the Sweet & salty are a bit salty (no need to be that salty!), at 1/2 off, they fit into my per diem limits, and helped supplement as well. Though they did NOT hold me as well as Zone 1-2-3 foods, and it seemed that there are a couple of other Co. balanced bars, that hold me the same as the Zone bars, even though the Xone bars are supposed to be hormonally insulin balancing??? .

I have been getting the oatmeal raisin bars since last December. They went on sale and fortunately the price was a "locked in" price at that time. I was suspicious that perhaps they were selling out, too. Although not my favorite bar, I keep this shipment coming because they make a good "emergency" back up plan and the rest of my family doesn't eat them up as fast.