So, I'm a carbaholic and I'm having a hard time walking away from cookies and ice cream...hence the whole reason I'm trying to adjust my life toward the Zone eating method (not a diet...lifestyle change). Anyway, I am also training for a marathon, and I need to lose weight, too. This seems like a problematic combination in addition to being a vegetarian. It looks like I should just invest in the tofurky and protein powder for now, but this doesn't seem like a long-term solution. I also don't know if I should eat extra for training, or try to stick with the blocks (I'm supposed to do 11 for now, based on my current weight). I have a feeling that my carb-cravings are due to the extra energy expenditure, but I know I should aim toward some better choices...the chocolate Zone bars are an excellent substitute, but still...I can hear the bakery from here. Any ideas, solutions, tips? I was thinking about tofu jerky as a way to have some extra protein handy at all times, but I don't a good brand and I don't want to waste money testing it out...so. I appeal to the greater community for ideas.

Thanks everybody!
Amy

Hi Amy!

If you've never done the Zone before you’re going to be very surprised once you see how well it will help you with your concerns (support marathon training, eliminate your cravings and lose weight in the form of excess stored body fat). Having some soy nuts on hand will provide a balanced P, C and F whenever you need it.

Here are my suggestions. Eat the amount of blocks to support your current activity. As your training runs become longer recalculate with a higher activity level, as well as add more monounsaturated fat to keep up with your increased energy needs. The extra fat will not hinder you fat loss. Try to do as much reading as you can in Zone books for the best understanding of how to make it work for your particular needs. Good luck to you!

Sue K,

Can you please explain soy nuts for me? I don't know, maybe it is just me, but I see a problem with soy nuts

1. They are quite high in fat
2. There is not sufficient carb per block of protein
3. Only a 1/4 cup per block? or is it 1/3 cup? Either way, not really enough to make a tummy feel full!

I haven't looked that close but it seems most legumes have a high carb/protein ratio. I have difficulties adding enough protein to most meals unless I add protein powder. It can be whey or soy.

kpo

Yes, either is fine.

what is the servong size on that soy nut snack? like 1/4 a cup is 1f 1p 1c?

Heidy, go by the nutrition label on the package. A 1 block snack contains about 7 g P, 9 g C (that's total Carb minus total Fiber) and 3 g F.

Need some new vegeterian zone meals... any good ones out there I am bored need help

Barbara, you might like this lunch I had today. You can skip the chicken stock, or substitute vegetable stock.

Lunch: Nasoya Lite Silken Tofu seasoned with TJ’s 21 Seasoning Salute and S&P ,heated and lightly browned on a well seasoned crepe pan in a tiny bit of olive (browning silken tofu is tricky) and topped with TJ’s Steamed Lentils, heated with a tiny bit of chicken stock, and peanut sauce (TJ’s crunchy peanut butter, Braggs and water); TJ’s mixed berries for dessert (the one w/o strawberries). SHP and supplements. 3P/2C/4F

This lunch might sound like it took forever, but it was very quick and easy; ready in less than 10 min. When I open a package of TJ’s lentils (one package contains about 10 blocks or so) I keep the unused portion in the freezer so it’s easy to use a block or two at a time. Same with chicken stock; when I open a carton I freeze the unused portion in an ice cube tray. Makes it easy to just grab a cube to use for a single meal.

Hi Barbara - tonight I cooked the Zone-friendly Vegetarian Pad Thai. You can find it in the vegetarian meal planner under 'Eating'. Absolutely delicious - although I couldn't find water chestnuts so will need to find an alternative.
Sue - I saw your post in another section re spicey tofu so will have to give that a go!

Hi,

Tofu is an easy protein for spur of the moment meal. I've tried all kind of spice combinations with it (pan browned in a littel oil). Don't be afraid to experiment!

Hi
Im new to the zone diet and would really love someones help. I am a yoga teacher and the vegetarian diet is not working for me because I also run and do quite intense training besides from yoga The rpoblem is, my doctor said my liver is in need of a detox for at least a month (as I have not been eating enough protein for the amount of sports I do) and most liver detoxes only allow oily fish and eggs. That's okay, but theres only so much eggs and oily fish I can eat! Does anyone know why Dr Sears does not consider green lentils a protein? He says to count it is a carb block. But when I look at my packet of lentils, it says that per 100g there is 28 g protein and 40 g carbs. Being new to the diet, Im really unsure as to why he doesnt consider 100g of lentils 1 block of protein too? Please help me with this as I cant eat 6 eggs every day and I dont like soya based products as I am allergic to soya. Thank you!

Alexia, Dr. Sears explains in his books that he doesn't count the protein in most veggie foods, some exceptions being soy and gluten "meats", because some of the protein in plants is trapped inside intricate structures of insoluble fiber. Since unsoluble fiber doesn't break down in the human digestive tract, the trapped protein never becomes available for absortion. This makes most plants and unreliable source of protein for humans.

Okay thanks so much. A friend of mine suffers form candida and reacts to almost every carb she puts in her mouth. I have Dr Sears "Enter the Zone" book and noweher does he mention that you can lower the amount of carbs if you have candida. Do you know anything about this?

You're welcome Alexia. The acceptable Zone P/C range explained by Dr. Sears in THE ZONE (aka ENTER THE ZONE) is from .6 to 1., .6 being adding 1 C block to 3 block meal, and 1 being dropping 1 C block from a 3 block meal. It wouldbe good for your friend to get most all of her carbs from Zone favorable veggies.

Thank you! Do you think that for the first two to four weeks of the candida die-off period I can keep the carbs slightly lower? say 3 protein blocks for 1.5 carb blocks? and maybe add more fat? and "free vegies" such as greens.
just so I can at least walk out the house without looking like I have Kwashiorkor?

s a tip for anyone with candida: my doctor advised me to take Super Colostrum and I have found huge amounts of improvements just by supplementing this! I also take loads of preprobiotcs because dairy reacts on my candida, as well as 500-600g vit C and fish oils. I have started all of this only a month ago and have already felt a huge improvement. I also would like to advise that being a yoga teacher, I have recently studied that damage to a nerve at the SI joint can cause recurring bladder infections which could be the cause of any yeast infections in this area. Just a thought for anyone suffering form this who is trying the zone diet

Alexia,

I wouldn't go lower than that with the carb. As you described it, that will give you a bit over a P/C ratio of 1 (too much P to C for the Zone), but if you add some lower density veggies toit, you should be pretty ok. Keep fruit out of your diet for a while, too. Another thought is to consume a plain yogurt (with active cultures) to provide some of your carb.

Omega Rx would be an excellent addition to your diet.

(PS...I practice yoga almost daily....love it!)

Alexia,

I wouldn't go lower than that with the carb. As you described it, that will give you a bit over a P/C ratio of 1 (too much P to C for the Zone), but if you add some lower density veggies toit, you should be pretty ok. Keep fruit out of your diet for a while, too. Another thought is to consume a plain yogurt (with active cultures) to provide some of your carb.

Omega Rx would be an excellent addition to your diet.

(PS...I practice yoga almost daily....love it!)

Thanks Sue, and glad to hear you also practice yoga! Its so completmentary to the zone
Im just finding it difficult as in South Africa there isnt a huge variety of fresh vegetables. Its basically broccoli,asparagus,onions,tomatoes,carrots and butternut every day. So im going to incude at least 3 fruits a day (low sugar:berries,grapefruit,apples etc) and a tiny but of oatmeal and wholegrains. how unfavourable is butternut and carrots? because at least these are a little starchier than the others? Its just that if i cut everythig out, im worried about the high intake of oxalates and hence kidney stones-which ive had before too. So its really tricky for me.
this is why so many carb blocks is really a struggle for someone with candida- too much of a good thing is also not too good.

if anyone has any other ideas of which vegies/fruits can be eaten, id love to know.

Go light on the butternut and carrots. You can find tons of info on candida diets when you google it.

i do have little butternut and carrots-all this reaearch of mine is through googling. problem is that ive also had experiences with kidney stones due to high intake of oxalates. thus i keep my oxalate content in food at 60mg a day max. the prob is that that limitits me to a lunch of broccoli, asparagus and onions and then im not sure what to have for dinner? at least for bkfast i can have some oatmeal or green apples which are said to be okay for candida.
im really worried about this becasue its been over a year that i have been suffering from yeast infections/kidney stones/bladder infections and no doctor has ever been able to tell me why. i eat mainly vegetables and fruits and so it ust be an imbalance or something in my system of minerals. i love food but eating nothing agrees with my system way more than eating anything....thats the sad truth that im trying to fight

Alexia, it might be fine to include the butternut and carrots, to avoid the problem of overdoing it on the other veggies, which sounds like is putting you at risk for other problems.

Just keep in mind that you will need to stick with the zone ratios on how much you use, for best results in the Zone.

Alexia, there's info on DrSears.com about all of your issues. I just did a few searches and all of them came up with hits.

You'll find more with the following searches of that site:

urinary tract infections
candida
kidney stones
yeast infection
yease infections
bladder infection
immune system