I know The Zone works. I just can't seem to follow the diet for more than one week in a row. Two years ago, I weighed 450 pounds. A little over a year later, I weighed about 350. Most of that weightloss was due to the Zone diet and weight training. But, another year has passed. I ate randomly, poorly, and have re-gained it all. I know it's posible to lose weight, to alleviate aching joints, to ease asthma and allergic reactions, to brighten my mood - and make many other wonderful changes through proper nutrition. I've experienced it. I cannot convey, how much it pains me, that I have such a clear answer to my problem which I fail to pursue. I am miserable. :( Any thoughts? I need a spark, a kick-start.

WALK. Even if you do it 15 minutes at a time, walk for 2 hours per day. C.

Good Morning..... A year ago I was 100 pounds overweight....having anxiety attacks.....constantly afraid that I was going to drop dead from a heart attack...and living with constatnt various aches and pains. I, like you have accomplished in the past, have now lost darn near 100 pounds. I feel tremendous and I KNOW that I will never go back. I feel so good that it over rides any inclination that I might have to return to my old eating habits, especially when I'm stressed. You need to think hard about how tremendous you felt when you lost that weight. What was it that caused you to fall back into your previous life style? You know that you did it once.....both you and all of us here know that you can do it again. If you need to chat with someone about this...if I can be of any help at all...please email me at soonipi1957@aol.com Remember..you can begin with the very next meal. You know that you'll feel better! Jim Fenton

I have been dealing with the same problem...was doing great, fell off the wagon, and now am having trouble getting back on track. Last week was better though, and what helped was setting a small, manageable goal. Thinking about all you want to lose is just overwhelming. I set the goal of staying on plan for 1 week, and then seeing how I felt. Well I did it, and of course at the end of that week felt so good I am continuing on. You know you can do it because you HAVE done it. Jim's idea is great...think about what worked in the past. Good luck!! Keep us posted please!

Jim here Again.... There was a time not so long ago that if someone had told me that I had to loose even 25 pounds in a years time, I would have gotten depressed...brooding that it was imposiible and a ton of work. You know what? Forget about looking at this as though you have to loose weight. Why not simply Zone yourself to become more healthy overall so that you FEEL BETTER? We all know that the Zone is a wellness lifestyle and that you loose weight as a result of getting your insulin under control. Don't make getting well and thinner a stress on yourself. It should allow for a positve outlook...not a negative one. Now that I feel the way that I do after becoming much healthier and haviong lost a ton of weight, I don't understand how anyone who has experienced this positive life change can allow themselves to fall back. we're all gonna screw up from time to time but remember....they aren't kidding when they tell you that getting back into the zone is as close as your next meal. If I knew years ago what I've learned this past year, I never would have gotten that unhealthy in the first place. Jim

Thank you all for reading my note. I was in a very bad mood when I wrote - very down on myself. I am normally more upbeat. I sat down with a few Zone books & noted a few mistakes I am making. 1) no exercise 2) not eating enough - I am so desperate to diet again, that I was eating approximately 1/3 of what someone my size should eat. This was leaving my tired & frustrated by week's end. 3) not eating at the right times - Breakfast several hours after waking, several meals clustered 1 or 2 hours apart throughout the day, then nothing for 8 hours until a large meal at bedtime 4) wrong # of blocks per meal - 1 block breakfast, 3 block snack, 6 block lunch, 6 block supper 5) bad carbohydrates - small portions, but high glycemic carbs Not every mistake every day, but enough to keep losing momentum until I quit. I have a long history of not controlling my eating habits. I often eat 3 or 4 days calories, then not eat anything for 1 or 2 days - or will eat one meal per day. I need the Zone's regementation. I am hoping that posting on this site will "keep me honest" and motivated.[/quote]

Ideal W8, stick around, friend! Your comment:[quote:270a21c859]I cannot convey, how much it pains me, that I have such a clear answer to my problem which I fail to pursue. [/quote:270a21c859] ...reminds me of the story of the Fisher King, who is slowly dying of a wound that won't heal. The Holy Grail itself is sitting right there next to him, and all he has to do is drink from it., but he has forgotten the miracle cure has always been within his reach. ([url]http://www.inspirationalstories.com.../url]) I too fall off the Zone wagon for periods of time. Don't feel bad: Remember that depression is very much a chemical condition that can be corrected simply by eating right. I shouldn't admit this, but the Zone has worked for me even though in four years I have never gone an entire week without at least one insulin-stimulating binge. Stock your home with the proper foods, and lock out the stuff you know you shouldn't eat. Don't fret about how much you eat as long as your food is Zone-friendly. Deprivation is definitely not what the Zone is about. And eat more frequently, of course. You've acknowledged that alternating binge-eating with days of starving is greatly to blame. Read these two articles titled "So Your Ambition is to Become a Circus Fat Lady?" [url]http://www.superslow.com/articles/f...;/url] [url]http://www.superslow.com/articles/f...;/url] Your eating pattern is identified as the preferred method for getting the job. This website is a gr8 place to visit for inspiration. Never hesitate to ask anything.

I can wholeheartedly agree with the "Forget about looking at this as if you have to loose weight" statement. I have never been really, really overweight, but a couple of pounds every year adds up and I was noticing that my clothes were getting tight last year and I refused to buy bigger ones, and my doctor commented on the cumulative gain :-( Having watched my mother "do" one diet after another in all my years of growing, I refused to buy in to that culture - or any of the books! However: I have had heart palpatations all my life, and last year, they got much worse. So I went through several rounds of testing to find out that it was not life threatening, but "if it bothers you enough, we could put you on beta blockers" said the doctors. After reading possible side effects, I said no, thanks! I was talking with a friend about it and he told me about the Zone. I read through a bit of the origininal Zone book while in his office and it made sense. I decided to give it a try and see if it helped. I thought I'd just buy the paperback "Week in the Zone" because it was cheapest. I have to say I'd never have picked it up on my own because it shouted "MOST POPULAR DIET IN HOLLYWOOD" on the back :( I started the week before Christmas, 2002. My mindset was that this was a lifestyle change, not a diet. The second weekend, I laid down for my 2 hour nap and realized that I wasn't tired. (I ALWAYS nap on both weekend days, and was usually asleep on the couch by 8 or 9 at night). By April I had lost 20 pounds and felt better than I have in years. I had much more energy and dragged my Nordic Track ski machine out of storage and began using it daily. I'm now down 26 pounds and am awaiting my one year blood tests. While I love the weight loss, I really don't think I could have done it if that was my motivation. And, too, the weight loss is so gradual as to not be much incentive to many people (until you reach the goal of course). But feeling better is pretty immediate - and feeling worse after a carb binge is also pretty immediate reinforcement! Something that helped me to quit smoking many years ago might help you to stay in the Zone. Put your list of your mistakes or things that cause you to fail up somewhere you will see it every day - more places that one if you want and put a big red DON'T at the top. Then put up a list of the opposites: 1) Exercise 2) Eat enough food 3) Eat all your meals at the right times - put the times! 4) Know how many blocks you should eat and when - and then eat them! Write your block requirements specifically 5) Eat good carbohydrates - ditch the white stuff! And put a big green DO! on the top of that list. You could even put the skull and crossbones on the side of the pasta box or draw it on your banana or potato (or whatever your poison is) if need be until you can get them out of your house :lol: Set yourself up for success. If the only thing you have in the house is healthy food - good carbs, low fat proteins, good fats - then that is all you [u:4c83f32174]can[/u:4c83f32174] eat, even if you're feeling bingey. Don't go to places that you know will cause you to eat badly - that restaurant that serves your favorite pasta or dessert, to friends houses that you know don't eat healthily - instead find a new favorite healthy restaurant, gather like-minded friends to have a Zone-friendly progressive dinner. Keep a food diary - write down what you eat and when, that way when you feel icky, you can go back and see what caused it. And as several others have said, keep in touch here. This is a great support help. :) Robbin

Aren't these forums great for motivation??? Way to go, guys! I agree with everything they've said. Many of these tips have helped many people--and you can do this, too. And YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! I find that setting small goals is very helpful for me, but I also make sure they are positive goals, and not too restrictive. Example--eat more fish. Eat more salads. (Ok, that's easy enough. Even 1 more serving a month is more.) Also, I set up little "rewards" for myself--such as a cup of herbal tea and an hour of reading (not folding laundry!) if I make it through the day with no cheats (especially tough during Christmas season when the teacher's lounge is full of goodies and candy). Another one is playing some really silly music in the car, cranked to full volume, and singing along with no embarrassment (of course, at 65 mph, who would see?) Even an hour of wandering in Barnes and Noble and browsing (browsing is free!). It may seem silly, but it keeps me going and keeps me positive. I don't plan carb binges, as some people do, but use these when I am in a situation where it's really tough to zone. For example, beer culture in Wisconsin makes it tough to always stay in the Zone. So, a few beers with friends is my blow out, and I don't worry about it. The next Zone meal is always right around the bend! Please, keep writing. It has saved me and many others. You can do this, and we will help as much as we can! Congratulations on making a positive move for you! You deserve it! :D Ronica

[quote:846f03b51d="angelrob"]I thought I'd just buy the paperback "Week in the Zone" because it was cheapest. I have to say I'd never have picked it up on my own because it shouted "MOST POPULAR DIET IN HOLLYWOOD" on the back :([/quote:846f03b51d] I keep waiting to see a post from the Pope, or Jennifer Aniston, or some other Zone Celebrity :wink: I have a doctor's appointment on Monday & I don't wish to give him a laundry list of symptoms - especially not if eating properly can alleviate them. Concerns regarding my physical health are causing me a great deal of anxiety. Anxiety is feigning a few (most) of my physical problems. I'm sure of it.

Did I say I was not the pope? Or Jennifer Aniston for that matter? How do you know I am not heading to bed with my hubby Brad Pitt right now? (As some of the old sharks used to say, we could be lying about everything!!!) :lol: We may not be splashed all over the cover of the Star, but many on this forum have been here a while. Hmmm.... do you think this means Harry Winston will be sending jewels my way??? :? somehow, I doubt it... Ronica

LOL Ronica, um, I mean, your Pope-ness! It's true. Could be any one of us hiding behind the anonymity fo the net. Now, if only you celebs could get the word out more! I was getting kind of irritated with the lack of Zone information in all the diet splashies on the magazines and news and finally realized that it's because quick fixes sell, and although the Zone is quick, it's not very sexy to say "balance" and "moderation" and "lifestyle". I can't believe the number of people that I talk to (one of my sisters included!) that say "Well, that sounds good, but I think I'll check out [b:af10a0b8f2]HeadlineDiet#8,329 [/b:af10a0b8f2]first. *sigh*

GROAN!!! I can relate... well, it takes a long slow turn to move an ocean liner, right? We can be positive examples, and educate our friends, but it is frustrating. Perhaps we should start a letter writing campaign to magazines and papers that misrepresent the Zone. I have read many articles recently about these new "fad diets" and how nothing works except cutting calories. Well, if that were true, we wouldn't be the fattest nation in the world. There is more to it!!! So, here's my call::idea: [color=blue:3c87494ade] if you read an article, blurb or anything that mentions, or even hints at, the Zone, please post it here, with an email address to the editor of the publication (dates and pages would be helpful). I will send a letter, and I am guessing others will, too. If enough people write, they will print something.[/color:3c87494ade] And, someone else will try the Zone and find the answer. And they will tell a friend... One step at a time... Ronica

Great idea, Ronica. I'm watching Dateline right now and they took 6 people from the Class of 1978 who were attending their 25 year reunion this year. Starting in January they put them on their choice of Atkins, Weight Watchers, SlimFast, hypnosis, exhaustive exercise, and a personal weight counselor. Where's the Zone???? No mention of health or longevity, of course, just "losing it", which we all know is the icing on the cake!! I'm going to wait to see the outcomes of each (and hope they talk to them now, 3 months after the reunion to see how they've held up) and then drop a note to Dateline. Robbin

I just watched that, too! (Great minds think alike? :wink: ) Wow, it was so hard to see the Slim-Fast guy--I felt so sorry for him. I wish someone had tried it!!! I will check websites also for Dateline and drop them a note. So here's the call everyone!!! DATELINE NBC!!! Ronica

I went to the local book store at lunch time today to pick up the newest Zone paperback and found it...buried in the diet section with all of the other Zone books. There were litterally hundreds of other diet books out front in the store as soon as you walked in...absoilutely everything currently written EXCEPT FOR ZONE BOOKS! I said my piece politely to the store manager and think I may have made enough of an impression that he seemed willing to get some of Barrys books out there as well. I've only done a quick glance but the books seems full of info...a combination of Enter the Zone, The 100 best Zone foods and a full food data base broken down into P,C,F. Not bad for $8.00! Jim

Hi Jim. What's the title? I'll keep an eye out for it! Thanks, Ronica

Guess what.....we're going to have to bust Oprah....just now recieved a newletter that bunches the Zone in with fad diets. Says high protein- low carbs. Also says to red flag any diet that claims to control hormones or eicosinoids. Written by a Dr. Katz. Go to Oprah.com. Let's go get her.

Hi Ronica.... The book is titled: What to Eat in the Zone (Originally published as Zone Food Blocks). It's published by Harper Torch / Regan Books. I've shown it around to all of my fellow Zone converts in the office and they love it...everyone is picking it up on the way home tonight. The price is $7.50

With respect to the Oprah comments, any advice that tells that diet has no impact on eicosanoids is seriously flawed. Any comment that suggests that the Zone is simply about pushing protein and cutting carbs is plain wrong. You can't talk about diet without talking about hormones because its likely that food was the driving force behind the evolution of such hormonal systems. Omega-3 have favorable effects on health because of their impact on eicosanoid production. Excess insulin contributes to the disease it does because of its impact on eicosanoids. Excess cortisol wreaks the havoc it does because of its impact on eicosanoids. The major pharmaceutical companies newest drugs either inhibit eicosanoid production or block eicosanoid receptors. I could get more detailed, but you get the point. Here are Dr. Katz recommendations: http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/13/72588.html [quote:632a98c880]Katz: There are a number of very important things wrong with the typical American diet, and they include problems of both excess and deficiency. One of the major distractions of the popular weight loss diets is their suggestion that just one nutrient class is important to weight control or health.[/quote:632a98c880] Last time I checked, the Sears recommendations stressed the importance of all three macronutrients. [quote:632a98c880]The truth is, it is the overall dietary pattern that matters to both. Here are the things we should change: Increase our intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Increase our intake of fish, beans, and lentils as alternatives to fatty meats. Decrease our intake of saturated fat and trans fat found in processed food. Decrease our intake of refined starches and sugar in processed foods and sodas. Increase our intake of healthful oils from nuts and seeds. Making these changes would lead us all toward a dietary pattern conducive to a wide array of truly dramatic health benefits[/quote:632a98c880] Interesting that you can criticize someones dietary recommendations and then recommend the same. Why would such changes lead to dramatic health benefits? What happens physiologically when one consumes fruits/veggies versus refined starches? Why fish versus fatty meats? Why nuts and not trans fats? If weight mainetance is function of calories in/calories out, why focus on these foods at all?? No one seems to want to be bothered by answering these questions-- The nice thing about adhering to the calories in/calories out approach is that you are always guaranteed repeat customers. When you don't address the underlying hormonal mess that a bad diet contributes to it is very difficult for the average person to "eat less" and "exercise more".

I don't know how they go about finding them, but apparently they have an annual "People who lost lots of weight and how they did it" article. Zone is not one of the diets mentioned. Can we get someone from here whose lost lots of weight to call them and ask to be featured next???? :roll:

Can we pummel WebMD with requests to have Dr. Sears interviewed???? :wink:

I tried to contain myself, but... [b:223b9d5716]Why[/b:223b9d5716], people, [b:223b9d5716]Why the "heck" :D [/b:223b9d5716]--- would [b:223b9d5716]any[/b:223b9d5716]one take diet advice from Oprah Winfrey?! Who are these people? Now, I loved the girlfriend in [u:223b9d5716]Color Purple[/u:223b9d5716], and she's certainly successful in TV, the richest woman ever, yadda-yadda-yadda. And G-d knows nobody would [i:223b9d5716]ever[/i:223b9d5716] read Steinbeck again if she hadn't put [u:223b9d5716]East of Eden[/u:223b9d5716] on her shamelessly self-serving Book Club list... But come on. The woman is literally famous for being a self-confessed bloated, commitment-phobic sugar-addict whose weight has ballooned up and down for decades before our very eyes. The similes are endless, but taking diet advice from Oprah is like hiring Michael Jackson to babysit, like asking Ted Bundy to chaperone your daughter, like electing Howard Dean for President... So it is this better judgement of mine against which I took Parksville's advice to visit Oprah Dot Com. Here's the above-referenced fad diet "red flag": (Guess what doctor they're talking about, Dr. Atkins? Dr. Sears? Dr. Cordain?)...[quote:223b9d5716]Watch out for a diet guru who professes to understand nutritional science but rejects it, contending that prevailing views on weight control are misguided. Posing as an unconventional genius who perceives truths mere mortals can't see is an easy way to get attention.[/quote:223b9d5716] Did I hear anyone answer "Doctor Phil Pantload McGraw"? Anyone? No? And here's the actual page Scott refers to:[quote:223b9d5716]Beware of any regimen suggesting that the key to weight loss lies not in controlling calorie intake but in tinkering with the body's level of a single hormone or chemical, such as insulin (Atkins, Sugar Busters, Carbohydrate Addicts) or eicosanoids, a class of hormone-like substances involved in many body processes, especially the production and prevention of inflammation. In reality, the regulation of weight involves the complicated interaction of many hormones and chemicals. It also rests on a simple truth: You gain weight when you take in more calories than you use up. If a fad diet works, it's because the dieter lowered her calorie intake.[/quote:223b9d5716] Did you get that last part?! [i:223b9d5716]"You gain weight when you take in more calories than you use up."[/i:223b9d5716] (!) This statement continues to be proven patently wrong, by hard science and by every success story in the Testimonials section. (I've referred often to the fallacy of the 'theory of thermodynamics approach of calories-in/calories-out') Mercy.

[quote:8dd3bf4e55="jfsoonipi"]Hi Ronica.... The book is titled: What to Eat in the Zone (Originally published as Zone Food Blocks). It's published by Harper Torch / Regan Books. [/quote:8dd3bf4e55] I thought their newest book is: "[b:8dd3bf4e55][size=18:8dd3bf4e55]Zone Meals in Minutes[/size:8dd3bf4e55][/b:8dd3bf4e55]"? AND NOT: [u:8dd3bf4e55][b:8dd3bf4e55]"What to Eat in the Zone"[/b:8dd3bf4e55][/u:8dd3bf4e55]

[quote:0abc26a018="jaydpiii"][quote:0abc26a018="jfsoonipi"]Hi Ronica.... The book is titled: What to Eat in the Zone (Originally published as Zone Food Blocks). It's published by Harper Torch / Regan Books. [/quote:0abc26a018] I thought their newest book is: "[b:0abc26a018][size=18:0abc26a018]Zone Meals in SECONDS[/size:0abc26a018][/b:0abc26a018]"? AND NOT: [u:0abc26a018][b:0abc26a018]"What to Eat in the Zone"[/b:0abc26a018][/u:0abc26a018][/quote:0abc26a018] I meant SECONDS and not Minutes. MINUTES wa a previous (1997) book. Newest book, is only in HardCover (until out about 1 year, then paperback), Cheapest price at OverStock.com, as follows: Zone Meals in Seconds (Hardcover), by Sears, Barry 18% off Amazon, Amazon Price: $18.17 (as of 01/03/2004 16:38 Mountain Time, excludes shipping) List Price: $25.95, OUR PRICE: $14.99 You Save: $10.96 (42%) Edition: Hardcover Catalog #: 393889