Welcome Lynda -- Moosie
you have made a good choice to your life... stick to the zone. Eat breakfast.. do not skip your snacks.. on the berry first week or two, count your blocks, measure yuor meals and evaluate your energy levels... be strick by observing the zone rules... once you get to know what beeing in the zone feels like... and how does lunch and snacks should go.. it is easier to follow... a little difficult to adapt on the beginning, but this is because we - humans- are reluctant to change... but once you get to know it... and know your body reactions, you may be more flexibe with food choices... believe, try... give it a chance.... and you will love it .... Welcome aboard.

Hi Bernie,

About my friend, she has started the Zone about 5 years ago, because she wanted to, after seeing how much it had done for me. But she didn't keep doing it for very long. Very recently, just a few weeks before her heart attack of 12 days ago, she started the Zone again, this time practicing very sritct adherence. She lives alone and at the moment is at a rehab facility regaining her strength so she can return home. Unfortunately they are not offering here Zone friendly food choices at the rehab place, nor is she taking fish oil there.

Sue K....I am so sorry about your friend...it is hard to watch someone you love go through so much. Hopefully the rehab will be successful quickly so she can get back to the Zone and lead a much healthier rest of her life.

Bernie...you make good points...once you know the Zone feeling it is much easier to decline the foods that you know are going to take you OOZ. I made some bad choices over the weekend and am still getting back ITZ because of it.....BUT I'm coming back because I love the way I've felt over the past couple of months and I want to feel like that ALL of the time.

Thank you so much, Bernie. I know there is a right plan for me that I can do well, and I believe the Zone is it. I'm so exhausted trying to follow different plans and failing. Me and sugar do not get along at all and I have to make the decision to give it up. I want so much to feel good and lose this weight. Is there a way to count blocks in frozen meal like Healthy Choice if you are in a pinch for time and have to use one? Thanks again so much for your reply, Bernie. - Moosie

Hi - I am new and wondering how you finally solved your emotional eating problems? Today is my first day in the Zone and I want to stop my emotional eating so much - I go for sugar every time and it makes me feel so awful. - Moosie

Lynda, this is not an official answer, as I am not an expert, and I sort of disapprove of frozen meals, but some Healthy Choice meals come pretty close to the zone. You have to read the macronutrients on the package, the protein, carb and fat. It might work. If it gets you over the hump......

Hi Lynda... interesting question... how did I solve my emotional eating?? First is to realize what is the emotion that is moving you to eat. I found that I felt very confortable with a lot of grease arround my waist and butt because no man will turn and look at me. I came from a very painful divorce, and I decided not to marry again.
I wanted no to suffer again, so I didn't allow any men to be close to me.. not even men friends. This happen for years.. then my daugher said I will dye for been not healthy, for being obese. So I had to work on me. I sit down and talked to myself... what do I want to do with my life?? I decided I can still kick men away, but I needed to become healthier... .. I acepted the problem, I accepted myself with the problem and I decided to overcome the problem.
I have another emotional problem.. when I feel unprotected... I eat cream of wheat !! I need to work on that. But Ice cream... I still do not know why I eat Ice cream... it should be releated to an especific emotion..
But anyhow... starting on the zone.. may be difficult.. changes, as all changes do, generate reluctance to change.. you suffer a change... but once you are in the zone.. emotional eating is easier to control.. since you will have more clarity of mind, less cravings.. and most of the time will feel satisfyed... (my spelling is awful)
STart the zone.. stick to it... and you will receive benefits very sooonnn.... believe. regards

Hi Bernie, if it's not too personal would you care to share how much weight you lost and how long it took you? your before / after pictures are very encouraging!

Thank you Deborah...
actually I was thinking on taking those pictures away... but I've received many compliments that encourage me back !!!
I've lost 20 kgs... it took me a little more than 8 months.. plus 3 I've been steady ... I will celebrate 1 year in the zone on July 3.... (my daugther b-day jijijii).... since I can not remember the exact date.
Believe on the zone... you life entirely will change... a better quality of life... trust. regards

Bernie, please keep the photos here for a while! They are such an inspiration to everyone! If you don't want to be alone, I'll put my before and after photos back up here. I don't know if you remember them; me wearing the black sweaters. You can see them in the photo album in my signature. Should I put them back here as my avatar for a while?

Ohh that's ok.. I will keep it... for now. But I appreciate your support.

Great! Thanks! :-)

Hello Everyone - I'm just starting the zone diet and had a question. I'm sure the first of many Is the only place I can get the zone bars is by odering them here or are they available in local stores?

Welcome Rhonda!

Yes, here. They're not available in stores.

Hi Sue - I've order some things from the web site and am exicted to start. Are the products sold anywhere or must they be ordered? Thanks for yours and CranberryCat's feedback and I hope so much it will be different this time for me. I am Zoning my kitchen tonight. - Moosie

Bernie - Thanks so much for your post - it helps a lot. I have ordered some things and am Zoning my kitchen tonight. I know I can do this, I just have to get control of things. I have some of those same issues - wanting to keep most people at a safe distance. But I don't want to be like this anymore and I believe in Dr. Sears. Have you heard anything on Manuel Uribe lately? I think it is wonderful he has accomplished what he has. Ice cream is a BIG downfall for me - any sweets are, too. Sugar does a terrible job on me and I just have to accept I am different, not like folks who can eat that stuff. My father died of brittle diabetes and lost both legs and had numerous health problems before he did. My sister-in-law (who is like my own sister that I never had) has serious diabetes and many health problems and won't stop eating junk/sweets. She won't even check her sugar like she should. I think her body is just finally breaking down. I don't want to be like that, I want to be active an wear pretty clothes and most of all, feel good - not have joint pain and be tired all the time. Can I write you for support from time to time? Thanks again - Moosie

Any time Moosie... It is my pleasure to help and support.. and I get support back from you...
We have more or less same weakness.. but when you enter the zone.. they will start vanishing.
I am sory to hear about your father.. but at the same time, it a courage for you.. to overcome diabetes.. you can do it.. you can have your genetics controled and avoid this disease...
Keep posting your achivements... you have taken so far a great big one.. decided to start and got the courage to clean and zone your kitchen... that makes things easier... You can also post you meals ...
Be brave !!! and here come an applause to you!!! congratulations for starting.. Believe -- you won't regret doing this for you. REmember we are more than body... we are soul and energy.. work on loving you. Remember to tell you good and positive thinking.. accept yourself... and that willl help to melt pounds away... (happen to me)

Hi Bernie - Can I ask what you usually have to eat in a day's time? I'm a grab and go person in the morning, as I have 3 "four-legged kids" to take care of. Lunch I usually have time for, but I don't get home until late because I go to the gym after 5, so we end up eating at 8 p.m. or so. There's not much time to cook unless it's on weekends. Any ideas you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks - Moosie

Hello Moosie...
4 legged kids... that means dogs?? sorry...to ask..
my day starts at 6:30, prepare kids to school and day care and breakfast. We eat together at 7 am. I usually eat cooked breakfast - 2 eggs (1 yolk) - 1 cup zuchinni, 1/2 cup asparagus, 1/2 cup onios and pepper. 1/2 fres tomato as side.. and 3 slices of avocado.... and a cup o coffee.
But also smoothie is good -- 1 cup milk, 1 scoope protein powder, 1 cup frozen strawberry and almonds on a side.. that easy, fast to prepare.
Lunch at noon.. I use to eat at the factory cafeteria, protein (what ever is preared meat, chicken, fish) and the rest of plate with salad and veggies... and some fruit as dessert.
5pm snack time.. 1/2 cup straberrys, 1/4 cup cottage cheese and sliced almonds...
8pm dinner at home... never know.. ja !! and snack before bed 11 pm.. is yogurt "heladito"..
Try with smoothies.. there are several nice recipies.. even for "green smoothies" you should try.. there is a threat "ACCOUNTABILITY.... " has a long name.. but there --Jana --- posted the green recipies from Meri (the Finnish girl" ... and I will try them this week... I also challenge you to give them a try !!