Hello All, I'm new here and to the Zone (about a week). I'm very thankful for this board as I feel I've learned a great deal already (ie., just today about combining fish oil and aspirin...). I'm trying to learn (fumbling, though) how to portion and time these meals, as all of you have done, and understand what being in the Zone really feels like in conjunction with this way of eating. (I know I'm not there yet as I'm hungry too often and feel spacey/headachey too often, and haven't added the very important exercise component yet aside from sporadic walks, but I'm moving in that direction.) My reason for being here involve a few imminently necessary goals: weight loss (at least 25lbs), mood and energy control (so I can get off my antidepressant), and hormonal balance/cycle regularity. The big picture plans involve evading a scary back surgery through weight loss and muscle strengthening, and if all goes well, in the not too distant future, having a child. I live with a significant amount of back, neck, and headache pain (following a car accident nearly 2 years ago), which does affect the exercise part of the plan, but it is imperative that I push through it to achieve the muscle strength I need to avoid surgery. I've never joined a message board, so I'm sorry if this is more information than anyone wanted to know. It's kind of scary for me, but I'm honestly trying to make significant changes in my life in a short period of time, and I need to be honest. I suppose this is an introduction as to my situation, if it ever presents itself. Your successes are real motivation for me; true fuel. There are people out there reading these boards long before they sign on--if ever--(like me), feeding off your insights and questions and solutions. So, for what it is worth, there is value here and in your energies. I'm very impressed with the character of the people on this message board. I thank you all for the wonderful information and thought behind each post I've read to date, and for those I keep reading. Kind regards, Annie

to Annie, When those clothes start fitting looser, it's for real! Charlie

Hi Annie...and WELCOME! Prior to beginning the Zone earlier this year, I had been on Xanax and Serzone for anxiety attacks (and the accompanying depression) for almost 10 years. Once I had my insuling / blood sugar levels under control, the anxiety attacks melted away and I've been off all of my meds since March now. Please be aware that you SHOULD NOT be hungry if you're eating correctly! Send along a smaple of one of your meals and I'm sure that one of us would be more than willing to give you our comments. Also...headaches are not all that uncommon the first week. I had a few low grade ones that hung around for a week or so, most likely caused by the release of arachadonic acid which accompanies the beginning weight loss / diet change. Keep at it....it's made a total diffence in my life! Jim

Hi Annie, You've taken a great first step by choosing the Zone. In addition to my 100 lb weight loss and lowering my blood pressure, I've experienced many other benefits from this lifestyle as follows: period became regular almost to the hour (had varied between 2 weeks and 8 weeks my entire life), elimination of PMS, complete elimination of side effects of period (I'd always had the debilitating symptoms of extreme cramping,nausea, and dizziness/spaceyness which would make it impossible to function normally for about 1 1/2 days), TG/HDL lowered from 6.2 to .75 :!: , the elimination of low blood sugar symptoms that had bothered me daily for about 20 yrs, and best of all it has helped me heal and remain strong and fit after several major surgeries, and a few smaller ones I've had in the past 2 1/2 yrs. As you become more familiar with the Zone, you'll learn how to eliminate the hunger you mentioned you're experiencing. Depending upon your previous dietary habits it may take a week or so to adjust and begin to experience some results. As Jim mentioned, headaches occur in some individuals during their first couple weeks in the Zone and are usually due to the release of AA from stored fat, but this will not last long. If you'd like to post meal info I'd be glad to help. I would need to see the specific foods you ate in the meal and the amounts of the foods. If you want to post an entire day of meals and snacks including timing it would give an even better picture of things. I'm sorry about your injury. I don't know if you've had physical therapy or not, but here's what helped me in a similar expericnce. After I had lost the wt and become very fit (activities incl. running, Tae-Bo, weight training) I injured my hip/spine joint 4 yrs ago. 6 mos later I was still in a lot of pain and unable to resume normal activity despite 4 mos of physical therapy. My dr then suggested a physical therapist who combined traditional physical therapy with complimentary therapies, specifically cranio-sacral (CS) therapy. The CS therapy worked to restore normal movement, to eliminate the pain, and made it possible for me to gradually resume all my previous activities. The following year I was hit by another car as I sat at a red light. I received head and neck injuries,and coincidentally found out, from the CT scan they did for my concussion, that I had a brain tumor (benign and totally unrelated to the accident). Again CS therapy allowed me to completely recover from the head and neck injuries, and a month later I had brain surgery, which included removing all the neck muscles from one side of the back of my skull. Again my dr orderd CS along with traditional physical therapy. I'm receiving CS therapy at the present time to resume full range of motion after surgeries for a mastectomy and reconstruction I had during the past yr (After all that other stuff I found out I had breast cancerlast year. :roll: I'm now fine and cancer free). Oops, didn't mean to write a book! You can find out more about Craniosacral thereapy if you do a search of the internet for Upledger Institute. Best wishes with the Zone! Sue