Hello. I have so many questions. First, I was hoping someone could help me. I don't have time to eat before work (I work at 7am) and usually eat at work. Is the Omega Zone bar my best option? Is that a breakfast or a snack? Also, the calculator says I should eat 12 P. Can it be 3P in the morning, 4 for lunch and 4 for dinner with 2 for my snacks? Insights? thanks. :D

[quote:614e47e6b7="reneebergeron3"]Hello. I have so many questions. First, I was hoping someone could help me. I don't have time to eat before work (I work at 7am) and usually eat at work. Is the Omega Zone bar my best option? Is that a breakfast or a snack? Also, the calculator says I should eat 12 P. Can it be 3P in the morning, 4 for lunch and 4 for dinner with 2 for my snacks? Insights? thanks. :D[/quote:614e47e6b7] Hi, You should eat within an hour of getting up in the morning. Try to have at least a 1 block snack at wakeup. Yes, an OmegaZone bar is an option. Whether or not it's your best is up to you and how you feel. One half a bar would be a one block snack. Each bar contains 2 blocks. They can be used either as meals or snacks. The meal/snack breakdown you gave is for 13 blocks. Maybe the "12" blocks was a typo? It is fine to split them as you mentioned. I eat 12 blocks a day as follows 1-3-3-1-3-1. I exercise between the one block wake-up snack and my breakfast. On occaisional days when I don't exercise first thing in the morning, I have tried a 3 block breakfast and no wake-up snack. When I do this it never fails that I get hungry before lunch, even with the breakfasts that normally keep me in the Zone for many hours. I assume it must be related to fact that I haven't eaten all night. Anyway, my point is that you have to find what works best for you and also falls within theZone recommendations of eating within one hour of waking in the morning, not going more than 5 hr between meals/snacks, and having a bedtime snack (unless you've had a meal within an hour or two of bedtime). Sue

I've heard that the snack bars "balance" are in the Zone. Is this true? Is there other bars that I can use instead of the Omega Zone bars? thanks

[quote:bf0ef48db1="reneebergeron3"]I've heard that the snack bars "balance" are in the Zone. Is this true? Is there other bars that I can use instead of the Omega Zone bars? thanks[/quote:bf0ef48db1] Hi, Yes, Omega Zone bars are Zone balanced. If fact Dr. Sears holds a US patent on the bars because they control insulin levels within the Zone. Some people find other bars work for them. I am carb sensitive, and personally I have only been able to stay in the Zone with Omega Zone bars. Sue

I have tried "Balance" bars, which work for some, but not for me, and "Zone Perfect" which work for me, but not all flavors. I've seen a few others, (Dr. Phil, but I don't want to give him any of my money! :twisted: ) and a new one lately (forgotten the name). It's best to experiment to see what will work for you. If you can, pack a sack with a few sticks of string cheese, some apples and a knife (1/2 apple is 1 C, unless the apple is really small) and do it that way. I've had no trouble with unrefrigerated string cheese as long as its not left out for days on end. Some people do well with 1 cup of 1% milk, but I only do if I'm really inactive (ie: watching the boob tube.) :) Ronica

I eat 12 blocks, broken down as 2 breakfast-2 snack-2 lunch-2 snack-1 snack-2 dinner-1 snack. The reason I eat this way is that (1) I find my metabolism stays higher when I eat more frequently several larger, more balanced throughout the day meals, and (2) I can make a 4 block meal (which many of the recipes in the Soy Zone are) and break it in half for a 2 block meal. Then I only cook once, and get two meals from it.

Can you do that? Make all your meals more equal...instead of three bigger meals and two snacks? I will be starting on Monday (I needed to read the books and figure out my grocery list).. any suggestions? Also, the calculator says I need 14 blocks since I am very active...should I go less if I want to lose weight? thanks.

Yes, you can break them up. It's called grazing, and some prefer it. I don't have the opportunity due to my job, but do well with a 3-3-1-3-1 schedule. You should eat the blocks you are told to eat. You should lose weight this way. If you eat too little, you may not lose at all (I think it's something like starvation mode). However, if you feel it's too much to eat (I do have trouble choking down 9 cups of broccoli in 20 minutes!), try mixing your carbs; in other words, doing a combination of low, medium, and (maybe) high glycemic carbs in one meal. As an example, I might eat 3 cups broccoli, 1/2 apple and 1/2 piece of whole rye bread, along with 3/4 cup cottage cheese and some almonds for lunch. I find this will hold me five hours, no problem. Plus, it's easy to pack and take with me to school (teacher). You will probably be surprised at how long you can go without eating (I was!) because eating the right kind of carbs helps control cravings. (Ever notice how starving you are one hour after a huge stack of pancakes?) I find that I eat plenty, last 5 hours on a meal, and have energy. I've even given up Diet Coke after school--this was big! :lol: Good luck with your beginning! It's great to see you doing research before you start! Let us know how it's going. There are many friendlies who will help, whenever you need it. (They sure helped me!) :) Ronica

Thank you very much. Making a different type of grocery and figuring out breakfast ideas is very difficult. I hope that by Monday I will have my action-plan done and ready to start. any ideas for breakfast and lunch? I leave my apt. at 6:45am....therefore, something portable would be preferable. I just don't see myself making eggs before going to work!! (although I would love to). Dinner won't be a problem since I get home around 4pm. Thanks for all your help! I can't wait to get started in my new way of life.

This works for me being I am always in a hurry: 1 cup 2% milk 1P, 1C, 2F 1 heaping teaspoon protein powder (I use Strawberry flavored protein powder) 1P frozen blueberries to equal 1 block (check label) 1C 1 packet splenda Blend in a blinder until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy. NOTE this is only 2 blocks. You can easily make this 3 block. P.S. I take 2 fish oil pills with this which adds more fat being the above only contains 5g of fat which is a little under 2 blocks.

thanks. I've marked it down and I'll be ready to try all my new recipies as of Monday.