:laugh:
Today I have made up my mind to lose this 50 pound anker I am lugging around. I am in my early 60's and when I was younger it was a breeze losing weight when ever I needed to. I am now at my heaviest ever and I want to be healthy again. I want to be active with the energy I use to have. Anyone out there with any suggestions to be successful with this plan?

Annie

Ann, yes.

1. take your time - rome wasn't built in a day.
2. as some wise person said, do this for your health, thin will follow.
3. take small steps. learn about protein, carbs and monounsaturated fats first. once you get comfortable, you can learn about glycemic index and other details of the plan. there is plenty of time.
4. only use a scale to get the initial meal and snack amounts down, then use the eyball method and just come close to the zone ratios. if that doesn't work well (it likely will!) then you can dial it in later. you have time.
5. don't quite. come back here and ask questions if something isn't right.
6. start simple. get simple proteins lined (chicken breast, 1.5% cottage cheese, low fat sting cheese, low carb chocolate protein powder mix, low carb natural protein powder mix) up. buy lots of fruits and veggies (carbs) and get some good fats (almonds, peanuts and olive oil are staples for me).

i got trader joe's italian organic olive oil it tasted buttery on the front of my tongue and it tasted peppery on the back of my tongue - the sign of good olive oil. i purchased a lentil soup and added som plain pan cooked chicken to it and added a bit of olive oil - it was quite quick and tasty. :-)

7. learn to read labels. a block is 9g C, 7g P and 3g mF (1.5 is often assumed to come from lean protein so 1.5g is often mentioned as additional fat. if you eat fat free meat, add the full 3g). you total meal consumption is likely 27g C, 21g P and 9g mF.

read the product labels and add missing macronutrients to balance out your meals.

8. use your extra energy to do lots of walking and drink lots of water.

good luck!

remember, you have time. don't be impatient. feeling good with extra energy while losing 1 lb of fat a week isn't disappointing - it is a miracle! most folks losing weight are miserable. not on the zone. gaining weight causes the miserable feelings.

Jeffery, thanks for the tips and encouraging words. I will certainly use them on this journey to good health.

Ann

Hi Annie,

You can be successful with the Zone whatever your age. One great thing about it is the built in flexibility to adjust to your needs at any given time. I'm 55, and have been eating this way for over 12 yrs. I've been changing things along the way as the need arises.

If you haven't already, take a look at Quick Start (in the Zone Living tab above). It's the way I lost about 100 lbs 12 yrs ago (took me 2 yrs to lose it).

Here are a few of my suggestions for success in the Zone.

Listen to your body. It speaks volumes. Don't hesitate to adjust the Zone, within the guidelines, to support your specific needs.

Eat mostly favorable veggies for your carb. You'll get the best results that way.

Remember to always add fat to meals and snacks, for the best insulin contol. It's worth it to splurge a little on good quality monounsaturated fats. They make a positive difference to one's overall health.

Have fun with it. If you have qns, I'll be glad to help.

Oh, BTW, my daughter lives in MD.