I am almost afraid to post this for fear of getting flamed by committed Zoners, but is anyone else on a diet similar to the Zone, but not actually the Zone? I am on a plan called the Insulin Resistance Diet that is similar in that you stick to a certain ratio of proteins/carbs for each meal, but it is not the Zone. I also know folks who take a liberal approach to the Zone in that they TRY to follow it, but are relaxed in their approach, and it still works for them. I ask this because although I started on the Zone, I drifted to my new eating plan that I am very comfortable with. I'm just too lazy to change my log-in name "Zonieforlife", but I feel my eating plan is close enough, so I can keep it! So, I guess I'm writing all this, because I hope there's room enough on the boards, even for those who are not strictly Zonies, but close enough! That said, I do buy all the Zone books, 40-30-30 nutrition books, love all the recipes and Zone bars of course. They all fit in so well with the way I'm eating now...so please don't chase me off...I'm ALMOST one of you!!!

[quote:508fca3727="zonieforlife"] I am on a plan called the Insulin Resistance Diet that is similar in that you stick to a certain ratio of proteins/carbs for each meal, but it is not the Zone. [/quote:508fca3727] Hi, I'm curious about how you eat. How does your eating plan differ from the Zone? Could you tell us more about it? Thanks ahead of time. Sue :D

Hey, Zonieforlife-- I didn't mean to flame you earlier with the teasing about your login name. :) When you first signed up, I thought "wow, that's brave to take that name on your first day." When I started, I was going to give myself 2 weeks. (Which now is closer to 11 months!) So, I was attempting to just give you a _mild_ hard time about the name choice. Still friendly? Ronica 8)

[quote:6a0a6c8e6b="zonieforlife"] So, I guess I'm writing all this, because I hope there's room enough on the boards, even for those who are not strictly Zonies, but close enough![/quote:6a0a6c8e6b] Heya Zonie. Course there is room! It's your life ya know? your choices, your eating plan. Don't ever feel as if you can't post here. I'm sure there is quite a range on these boards of those who follow to the Tea, and those who approximate. I'm a bit of both :D Plus, nobody really knows what the best thing out there is for you... but the Zone is definetly high up there on the Healthy scale! good luck with everything!! keep on truckin Susan :wink:

Thanks guys! Naw, I don't think you were flaming me, I was just having a sensitive day, I guess. Basically the Insulin Resistance Diet links proteins with carbs, you can't have more than 30 grams of carbs and must have 14 gm. protein with it, per meal or snack. It's called linking and balancing, fully explained in the book. The authors are kinda strict with their lowfat mantra, and while I don't go out of my way to pig out on fat like some Atkinites do (I'm not picking on them, they must keep their fats high when they cut out carbs), I must admit I do like my full-fat cheddar and I hate nonfat milk. Still, I find if I eat a meal or snack with a good ratio of protein to carbs, my energy stays high and I feel good, even if I eat more fat than the authors would like. I think Bill Phillips has a new book out called Eating for Life, which follows similar principles of always linking a carb with a protein. Honestly, I think they all "borrowed" the concept from Barry Sears anyway, and while there are enough variations to make these plans unique, Barry Sears is the genius who first promoted the basic idea of always combining fats/carbs/proteins. I hope I explained this enough, I just came home from seeing the Passion and I am exhausted from it and not thinking too clearly. Oh well. Goodnight!