Wait a minute, I thought the whole zone thing was based on proper balance to avoid insulin spikes. What are these clowns talking about? Yet I know someone who lost 80lbs in 5 months with this sugar buster diet, but quickly gained it back. http://www.diet-i.com/diets/sugarbu...s-diet.htm [i:40aa9e8175]The idea that insulin causes weight gain is highly controversial. There can be no weight gain in the absence of a calorie surplus caused by eating too many or burning too few. It's true that high insulin levels increase the risk of heart disease, [b:40aa9e8175]but there is little if any evidence that insulin causes extra fat storage[/b:40aa9e8175].[/i:40aa9e8175] [i:40aa9e8175]Interestingly, a UK study of weight loss published in the International Journal of Obesity (2001), found that the elimination of sugar from weight loss diets made very little difference. Two sets of dieters who followed (a) sugar-free and (b) 10 percent sugar diets, respectively, lost similar amounts of weight.[/i:40aa9e8175]

Hello Picolo- Zone principles tell us that controlling insulin [b:7977f0d13d]allows us[/b:7977f0d13d] to eat a reduced calorie diet [u:7977f0d13d]without[/u:7977f0d13d] experiencing cravings hunger between meals grogginess fatigue cloudy thinking -the things that result in failure for other diets. That is why this diet is successful. The fact that you can stick to the reduced calorie diet without feeling like you're being restricted. It is [b:7977f0d13d]lack of insulin control[/b:7977f0d13d] that causes those things listed above, which results in over-eating, [b:7977f0d13d]which then results in [/b:7977f0d13d]weight gain (or lack of weight loss.) It is an indirect relationship. The article (at least the part you posted) misses the boat :) Michelle

Hi, When insulin levels are in tthe Zone (which is defined precisely as a reading of 5 to 10 on the fasting insulin blood test) stored fat is released to be burned for fuel. When insulin levels are elevated, even slightly above the Zone parameters, the body will not release stored fat from the cells. One of the functions of insulin is the regulation of fat storage. It is precisely for this reason that the "side effect" of keeping one's insulin "in the Zone" is weight loss. Picolo Lepere, I think you may be confusing insulin with blood sugar when you used the term "insulin spkes". By avoiding blood sugar spikes with the correct P/C ratio, the result is a lower insulin level because less insulin was necessary to regulate the blood sugar. Also I'm not sure what your point was by posting the info about sugar. Sugar is not the only thing that will cause the blood sugar to spike. Michelle, you are correct that with insulin control one will not experience hunger, cravings, etc. But you are mistaken about the "indirect" relationship of insulin to weight gain, as I have explained already. Insulin has a direct bearing on one's ability to gain (and lose) body fat. Sue

Hi Sue- Thanks for setting the record straight -and me :) -on the technical aspects of the Zone principles. You have years of experience I can only hope to attain. I am not worthy :wink: Michelle

[quote:697494f1ee="yikerszikers"]Hi Sue- Thanks for setting the record straight -and me :) -on the technical aspects of the Zone principles. You have years of experience I can only hope to attain. I am not worthy :wink: Michelle[/quote:697494f1ee] Hi, Aw c'mon! You know a lot. (You are definitely worthy. :wink: :D ) My only intention was to point out that insulin had a direct relation to weight gain. Take care, Sue

Thanks, Sue! :D Michelle

[quote:70c81745bf] [i]The idea that insulin causes weight gain is highly controversial. There can be no weight gain in the absence of a calorie surplus caused by eating too many or burning too few. It's true that high insulin levels increase the risk of heart disease, [b]but there is little if any evidence that insulin causes extra fat storage[/quote:70c81745bf] To satisfy the 'calorie is a calorie' critics: Elevated levels of insulin result in increased consumption of calories due to blood sugar flucuations and the inhibition of fat to be released from adipose tissue as well as a decrease in calories burned due to such inhibition. A simultaneous increase in consumption of calories while burning less calories as a result of insulin levels being elevated-- Hope that satisfies the laws of thermodynamics the critics like to hang their hats on. [quote:70c81745bf] [i]Interestingly, a UK study of weight loss published in the International Journal of Obesity (2001), found that the elimination of sugar from weight loss diets made very little difference. Two sets of dieters who followed (a) sugar-free and (b) 10 percent sugar diets, respectively, lost similar amounts of weight.[/quote:70c81745bf] It would be interesting to compare the glycemic load of each diet. As it was pointed out, define sugar-free.