Hi Everyone!

My tip for the day, Thermos vaccuum insulated stainless steel food jars,the ones that say "TherMax MAXIMUM INSULATION", are great for carrying a hot Zone lunch just about anywhere. I use them a lot. They're designed to keep food hot for 5 hours, or cold for 7 hours. I usually put hot food into one around 7 AM and it's still nice and warm at lunch time. Today I had a doctor appt. in Boston, about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs away. I brought a heated pasta sauce and sausage lunch in one, and some cold, sliced strawberries for dessert in another one. They fit easily into a large purse or any sized tote. You can see them here: http://thermos.com/product_catalog....ewAll=true

Delicious tea (decaf): Celestial Seasonings' "Sweet Coconut Thai Chai". I drink it wth a dash of soymilk added.

The classic Zone snack of hard boiled egg whites filled with hummus are a favorite snack at our house. I have a serving scoop from Pampered Chef that holds 1T and makes it very easy. It’s the type of scoop where you squeeze the handle and the contents of the scoop drops right out.

Two things I had such a hard time finding...for one reason or another. You need them to get started!! - lol

Easy to use chart:
http://library.crossfit.com/free/pd..._May04.pdf

Calculator:
http://www.zonediet.com/BodyFatZoneBlockRequirementCalculator/tabid/159/Default.aspx

Hi brandy! Take care when using the list at that address. Page 3, which appears to be what the author(s) of it consider to be favorable Zone foods, contains a lot of poor Zone choices. About half of the fat choices listed on page 3 should actually be avoided for the Zone, as well as a fair amount of the protein choices. Also there are some unfavorabel carb foods included on the list on that page.

Those TherMax thermoses are pretty snazzy!

I've been wanting this one for my salads:
http://www.amazon.com/Aladdin-Lunch...B001CRBTQY

I use a Fresh & Fit container which is ok.

I have been using the CrossFit PDF block list as my daily reference, along with this site/internet. Being the health nut I already am, I already avoid those bad fats listed on page 3. If most people have common sense and have read the books, they know that lard just ain't food for ya! In fact, I didn't even know which fats were being discussed here, so I had to look at my sheet. That's how much I've not even considered them.

Love mine! Shannon, I was looking at the Lunch and Go photo and thinking if they switched the pita for some chicken, it would make a nice Zone lunch. I want someone to make it for me, lol!

Hi
was wondering if someone can help I live in New Zealand and I have not heard of "string cheese" can some one explain what this is?

In USA, pre-packaged cheese (RE: Highly processed) into individual (virtually tasteless) tubes about 1/4in in diameter and about 6 inches long. It can peel off in bits, like string, the length of the tube. At least, that's the form I am familiar with. Though as a snack for American kids, it does beat potato chips and such. And we in USA wonder why our health costs are so high . . .

Thanks John
New Zealand makes alot of cheese for our size and processed types are usually almost rubbery and are pressed into slices for sandwiches (and MacDondalds Burgers ) to my liking it is not very nice full of emulsifiers and colouring.

Our regular cheeses like cheddar. edam, tasty, colby don't have any of the addeds so will stick with them. Here they are widely available in 1 kg (2.24 lbs) blocks about the size of a large brick, and about NZ$7 - 10. This is why we are getting fatter, plus no exercise etc

Due to my hate of exercise and love of reading...one of my co-workers suggested audiobooks. I only hear them when I'm on the threadmill or bike and it really helps. You get into the story telling and before you know it..you are done. If anyone has other tips regarding this, please share.

I listen to podcasts.

At one time I use to walk on the treadmill and read a book. But I can no longer use the treadmill because of back problems. Instead I use DVDs by Leslie Sansone ("Walk at Home") in which I can walk approx 2 miles in 30 minutes. It gives me a good workout - and strength training is also included with the walking. She has numerous DVDs available so I don't have to get bored watching the same DVD everyday. If anyone is interested, you can check it out on her website.
Marge

Posted By FlaSk4o on 2/10/2008 3:44:48 PM
Subject: RE: Have a helpful tip?
Message: 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 <img src='desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/wink.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Wink' align='absmiddle'>

Hello all, thanks for making this forum so useful. I am "newborn", just a few days old. Trying it keep it simple for now but reading through many of the forums. So this comment was very interesting to me. Do others have similar experiences with the diet when eating their blocks in a specific order. I know about the effect of fat on the satiety response of the brain and for me eating a little bit of peanut butter first (as an example) really triggers it.
Laura

Welcome Laura!

It helps me if I start with the protien. I don't necessarily eat all of the protein portion before the carb, and many of my meals consist of protein mixed together with carb (stir-fry, salads, etc.). Incidentally Dr. Sears writes in his books to being your meal with protien for the best results.

I was reading about sequential eating on another website recently. There was a Dr. who did research on the length of digestion of certain foods. He recommends eating the opposite of the Zone. It's weird. He says that you should eat fruits first since they digest the quickest, because if you eat them last, then they have to stay in your stomach and wait until your meat digests, and while waiting, they ferment and cause gas and bloating. Here's a link talking more about it. It's interesting, but I don't think its accurate, at least not for everyone.

http://drbass.com/sequential.html

My tip of the day: I found individual packets of guacamole. They are 8g of fat each. Six to a pack. Made by Wholly Guacamole. They are so perfect for Zone meals. I love making Mexican Zoned meals with chicken breast strips that are virtually fat free, so adding the individual packets of guacamole are perfect.

I love that stuff (Wholly Guac.), and use it a lot! :-)

Thanks Sue,
After a few days of reading I'm now feeling very overwhelmed, the more I read in his books the worse it gets. I'll have to trust this becomes second nature. Since I started, I haven't been feeling hungry at all and find myself almost not wanting to eat the snacks, ( and I have been a chow hound ), and definitely not the amount of food which would represent the whole volume of the carb blocks. I'm not used to feeling this way! Do regular grocery stores sell "Wholly Guacamole" sounds good for my purposes. Shall use the protein suggestion.
Best, L

Becki-
I am very familiar with the system of food combining. It is based on the idea that proteins and carbs require different chemical mediums to be broken down. For instance, fruit is not digested in the stomach at all, but passed quickly into the GI track, but proteins like meat are broken down in the stomach, so if fruit is eaten at the same time it gets caught up and is
believed to ferment there. I have eaten this way and while this may be correct in relation to optimal digestion but one would not necessarily be getting the benefits of the protein/carb/fat. I don't know Sears commment on this if any...
Best, L

You're welcome L. Yes, it becomes second nature, easy in fact. You're doing very well by the sounds of it. Try to take it one day at a time. The more experience you have eating in the Zone, the more the info you read will sink in. To keep it simple you can use the plate method. It works very well. It's the way I lost the 100 pounds.

Yes, I've bought that guacamole in regular grocery stores.

Good luck!

I have tried this because it is so easy. Do you like mashed potatoes and miss them because of all the carbs the really don't go with the zone diet. Well, I found an awesome way to replace them. I know it may sound weird and I was very skeptical at first but when I tried it I really loved it. Try making mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes. They come out way smoother and taste the very similar. I eat them all the time now. Here's what I do, and the process is very similar to making mashed potatoes.
Boil head of cauliflower
Strain and then press with a plate in the colander to get the excess water out. (Very Important)
Place Cauliflower in food processor or mash by hand or whip with whipping machine really doesn't matter.
Add just a little low fat milk and a little bit of what ever you use for butter. Just a little of each no need for a lot.
Then blend however you like.
Serve.
You will not be disappointed and they are some much better for you than mashed potatoes. Enjoy.

Great tip Kelly! We eat this at our house and love it. You can also dress it up with all kinds of things, like chopped turkey bacon, garlic, shredded cheese, scallions, etc. Makes a delicious side, and a good substitute for a "loaded" baked potato.

Thanks for the mashed cauliflower and other tips. I am wondering if anyone uses a web site like formulazone.com to help plan meals, etc. Seems like it could be helpful. If so, what sites or programs? I am new to the Zone approach to eating and feel like I need some help getting a handle on it.

I think there has been a few comments about Formula Zone, both recently and in the past.
Try a search on the terms.

<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Steve on 02/07/2008 9:09 PM

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 a question. Can you use grounded flaxseeds with the Zone Diet if so what block is it and how many?