We’d like to hear from our faithful Zoners about their tips and tricks to stay In the Zone. The top entries will be published on the site as a reference for others. Please feel free to post your tips as a reply to this post.

Thank you for your participation!

Wow, all of us zoners out there can't come up with one tip?

I'm amused by that, too. :)

The one thing that has really helped me & my family stay in the zone for the last 9 months was variety.

We have the old stand by meals that are easy to make and everyone has enjoyed but we like to mix it up. We are always trying different recipes and experimenting with different creations of our own.

Keep it simple with as much variety as possible is the best tip I could give.

Matt

Thanks, Matt! I was worried for a second that no one had any tips!

I have one that's helped me - Planning. If I don't make a plan regarding what I'm going to eat for the week then I easily get put off course. I've learned to take 1/2 hour before I go grocery shopping to create a chart of what to eat. I'm not specific to the tablespoon in regards to a recipe, but rather I think through what I'll need on hand. Of course I end up buying about 5 times as many fruits and veggies as other shoppers in the store - a good thing.

A part of that is I 'talk it up' with friends and family. I tell them what I'm eating. It makes me feel like I need to follow through. Perhaps this is why they've stopped calling? j/k...

I have lots of tips! I could write a book on them-LOL!

I will try to think of a few really GOOD ones to share here.

I like the "planning ahead" tip, I think that is really important, especially in my busy life.

One neat thing about the Zone is that I can adapt different types of food to fit into the Zone. One week, I decided to make "Chinese" one night, "Mexican" another night, "Italian" on a third night, and so on. Was really nice to keep the variety going!

I also agree with the planning. I normally plan out at least 3-4 days in advance. We often go away on the weekends and I always plan out all our meals for the entire trip. So I don't have to take the entire kitchen with me I measure everything out and put in ziplocs. It works out great and helps us to stay in the zone even when away from the comforts of home.

CCat - I'm liking the sounds of those meals. If you have recipes with pictures we should get them up in the recipe section asap. Ok, before I offer up my second tip a quick note on my situation. I'm 6'1, 230lbs, 39.7452 yrs-old. I want to get under 200lbs which I haven't seen since college.

My second tip - I Focus on Energy. I think about how good I feel when I'm in the Zone. When I eat three slices of pizza, a bagel for breakfast, a sub at lunch, I feel awful, and I try to remember that feeling and compare it to how I'm feeling at ANY point in the day when I'm Zoning. When I'm Zoning I'm a happy camper. High energy, focused, less of a jerk to co-workers, etc... Energy is important to me. This is the thing - for me, focusing on weight is NOT a good enough motivator. Don't get me wrong, I realize the serious chronic illnesses lurking around the corner awaiting folks that are obese, but for whatever reason ENERGY motivates me more.

Oh, absolutely! I will obviously have to prepare them, but then I would be happy to take a snapshot! I also have pictures of some other meals that I have made, would be happy to submit those, too!
:blush:

Steve, I forgot to mention, but I like your tip about energy. VERY important. Most of us forget that weight loss is really just a side-effect from being in the Zone. And, there can be so many different factors involved in the reason why we may not lose weight, and it is easy to lose motivation if we are focusing solely on the scale, rather than on how we feel!

Here is another tip: sometimes I find certain times of the year make great "excuses" to renew my commitment to this healthy lifestyle. I look to the New Year as one of these times (being honest, but I will admit that if there is a time of year that I stray just a bit, it is during the holidays!). Renewing my commitment is kind of like renewing vows in a marriage. Of course, I am happily married, but renewing vows is really a nice thing to do to remind yourself and your partner of the love that you both share, how special it is that he/she is in your life. Well, with the Zone, it is the same thing. I already practice the Zone (for 3+ years), but taking the time to "renew" my commitment to myself is telling me that I am special and that I am "worth it".

Another time of year that I think about it has just begun--Lent! Lent is a religious event, but anyone can participate. Many people choose one thing to "give up" during Lent, but I don't think of it as "giving it up". Rather I think of it as "improving my healthy lifestyle". So, at this time of year, I analyze what I am currently doing, and whether or not it is working for me. If there is something that I can improve on, I may choose to commit myself to that change for at least 42 days (which is the amount of time Lent lasts, leading up to Easter). Then, after that amount of time, whatever I have been doing usually has turned into habit by then.

Steve

This just happened today .
A salesman walks into my store that I have not see for 6 months.
First words out of his mouth "wow! you look great, you have lost some weight, What have you been doing?".

We had 30 minute conversation on Zone nutrition before he got to the reason he came in.(sell me something)
I gave him Dr Sears web page and the food block chart.
I told him i was not the expert but was excited about what this new nutrition plan was doing for me.
He said " you are a savior, I have been looking for something to do to lose 25 pounds, and my wife has tried so many differant diets, that have all failed".
I laughed and said "I am not a savior just a believer and i am happy to pass on this information to you".
Talking it up gives others hope.

Dave

I've talked to a lot of zoners who say they tend to grab a quick snack or meal that's way out of the Zone because they're in a hurry, no time to find Zone favorable food. This will sound like a no brainer, but at our house we only buy the foods that fit the Zone (and a little Ben and Jerry's now and then). Makes it easy to grab a quick meal or snack that's in the Zone, as long as you're careful to take P, C, and F. And don't over look those unfav carbs with health benefits, things like the very high cocoa content (74% to 87%) OG chocolate, pineapple, pomegranate juice, etc. Just remember that with those, a very little goes a long way.

Another tip. When we buy fresh chicken, fish, etc., we cut it into 3 block portions, and freeze it. No tedious weighing is needed. Simply judge by sight (easy enough to do once you've been eating this way for a little while). When it's time to make a meal you take out one serving for every person. The 4 blockers get a glass of milk along with their 3 block meals.

My last tip, think out of the box when it comes to meals and snacks. Use a little imagination and creativity. If creativity in the kitchen just isn't your thing, grab a Zone book and skim through the recipes. They contain lots of veggie sides. You don't have to make an entire recipe verbatim. Use the recipe as your inspiration and make it your own. I've found lots of new and easy veggie and salad ideas in Rachel Ray's cook books too.

Oh yeah, and one more. Colorful unique plates, bowls, and glassware can add some fun to your Zone meals.

Sue, those are fantastic tips! I'm going to give this string a little more time and then try to tie it up in an article that we'll keep persistent for other folks to check out. Credit will go to all involved.... Thanks! CCat, I'm loving the commitment ideas - times when we can reflect on nutrition and get back on track. David, all good salespeople will say that you're losing weight ;-) j/k. Seriously, this company grows by word of mouth and when the Zone changes a person's life it's worth sharing!

I have another tip...

NEVER FOCUS SOLELY ON THE SCALE! (hope you don't mind the caps, but I think this is one of the biggest tips I can offer)

First of all, the Zone is about much more than just weight loss. It is about maintaining health and well-being. Weight loss is really just a "pleasant side effect" of being in the Zone (I think Barry Sears actually said that).

Secondly, the scale may not even move (or it may go up) if one is adding LBM. Additionally, if one is losing bodyfat at the same time that he/she is gaining LBM, it may appear to be a plateau (but it is not).

So, the best advice I can give here is to judge your fat loss on how your clothes fit, and not on the scale.

David, re: the salesman, wait until people you've known for years walk by without even recognizing you. That happened to me a lot for the first year after I'd lost the bulk of my wt (13 years ago I lost 100 lbs over 2 yrs time).

Sue, That would be interesting if it happens. The salesman i have know for 24 years and see 2 times a year.
My silver hair (27 years worth) will have to change for that to happen I think...lol.
I am close to my same weight as a freshman in college within 4 lbs. At 57yrs this is very exciting.
Your weight lose was fantastic you are a perfect "poster-person" for what a person can do in the zone.
Thank you for your inspiration.

David,

Ah, we're about the same age. I'll be 56 in 4 more mos. Coincidentally, Dr. Sears and I share the same birthday, June 6. (and yep, that's my real hair color, no dye job here, hehe!)

You're welcome, and thanks for the compliment.

Your Freshman in college wt, wow, pretty cool.

My husband has enjoyed an equally successful experience. He lost 67 lbs and has kept it off (down to 14 -15% body fat, his wrestling weight in high school). Then last fall he ran in and completed his first marathon, at the age of 58! To that I say...go Frank! More power to him. (and hopefully he won't decide to run another one, lol!)

a really easy one is to buy some stuff that is premeasured, like chicken sausages, or whaetver, then cube up some cheese... you know exactly what you're getting and can put a meal together really fast.

I'd love for anyone to share specific suggestions to avoid grabbing the wrong foods while on the road & in a hurry. I don't eat fast food- too gross.

On the road foods, lets see...

You can buy those tuna packages. They are a perfect 3 blocks of protein. I have also seen them come in little plastic tubs. Since they are packaged, you don't have to refrigerate. You can keep them in your car, in your desk at work, etc. At lunch, add some fruit and some almonds.

Soy nuts are fairly well-zoned. You can buy them in bulk and then divide them up into block sized servings for a quick snack.

String cheese comes individually wrapped, and keeps relatively well for a few hours without refrigeration.

Carrot sticks are also a good alternative for carb, I buy baby carrots in bulk and then divide them up into ziplock bags. Again, they keep well without refrigeration for a few hours.

Almonds are always good to keep around, too. Same thing, buy in bulk and divide up.

And, lastly, there are always Omegazone bars!

Great ideas Cranberrycat. I always forget about carrot sticks (in my mind they are still a not so good choice). I often carry an Omegazone bar or string cheese with an apple and nuts in an insulated lunch bag in the car-- it would melt or get gross without that. Tuna in the car may not be all that easy to eat and I'm not sure I could work with that warm/hot. This week was crazy and I just never could catch up...yes, better planning would be a more reasonable goal. Remember, all that sunshine I'm hoarding for my vitamin D keeps my car pretty hot even this time of year:-))) when it's only 75*!! Tonight, I noticed that Designer Whey Protein has singles packets at the supermarket, like crystal light and that stuff, which can be added to water for on the go protein. I may have to check into that as an option this weekend.

I've noticed that when I eat my carb blocks at the end of my meal I feel full for a loooong time. 4 blocks for 5 hours ;)

Cheril, Thanks!

Up here, I can't even leave my lunch bag in the car because it will freeze!

You could keep that tuna in your insulated lunch bag. They have come out with these new tuna cups, a perfect 3 blocks of protein. Of course, you would still need a spoon or fork. Another idea with tuna is that you can mix it with hummus for a quick meal. Of course, if you aren't a tuna fan, that is fine, too!

Thanks for the snack and meal ideas everyone. I posted on a different string and was searching around the other ones, when I found CC and Sue again! Yeah!
:laugh: