To prepare my "accountability" and "reliability" test for the Superzone products that I expect to receive, I thought I would go ahead and post a few days worth of meals, so that you can all get an idea of what I am eating leading up to this trial. I don't want there to be any questions of whether or not I was solidly eating in the Zone or not, or any insinuations that what I ate the day before affected my results with the superzone meals.

I haven't received my shipment yet, so I am eating traditional zone food today.

1/19/10:
B-steel cut oats-2C, cottage cheese-3P, sliced almonds-5F (I am not going to go into detail with measurements, but they are available upon request)

L-turkey Italian sausage-3P and 3F, sauteed veggies(onion, zucchini, mushroom, shredded cabbage, a few pieces of tomato for flavor)-2C, additional olive oil-2F

S-blueberries/cottage cheese/sliced almonds 1C-1P-1F

D-repeat of lunch

S-a block of zone cereal, splash of milk

Beverages throughout the day:
rooiboos tea, 16 oz
decaf coffee, 12 oz
iced green tea, 12 oz
rooiboos tea, 16 oz
small soda at mcD's
seltzer water, 2-12 oz glasses

I really didn't have any significant hunger today, although I did have a gassy feeling (cabbage likely) and some bloated feeling.

Kind of disappointed. My shipment has not come yet. I ordered 5 days ago, and I thought perhaps it would come today. So, that means tomorrow is another day in the traditional zone.

1/20/10:

B-oats/choc protein powder/peanut butter

L-Italian turkey sausage, Italian veggie mix (has some beans mixed in), dash of olive oil

S-blueberries/cottage cheese/almonds

D-orange roughy, mixed veggies, apple, peanut butter

S-zone cereal with splash of milk

11 blocks total

Beverages included rooiboos tea and green tea

OK, shipment arrived today, so I will be preparing to start this tomorrow.

I must say, not very impressed at the present time. From the pictures on the website, I was expecting something a bit larger than what the cookies really are. There are 2 cookies per package, and each cookie is about the size of those little cookies that the Girl Scouts sell. Well, hopefully these will be better than GS cookies, but I am a bit disappointed.

Also, someone told me that the bread is 2 slices per serving, and there are 7 servings. Well, looking at the package, there are 14 slices, including the heels. The heels are sliced quite thinly. I would not count that as a serving!

I want to start this on a positive note, and I was really excited to see the box on my doorstep. I waited until after supper and then tore open the box, but I will tell you, it was all downhill after that.

In any case, I will be reviewing the contents and thinking of my menu for tomorrow. I see a few discrepencies between what is online and what is on the literature, and I don't know which one to follow. I will post the questions, hopefully some of you are out there tonight to help me out.

Kind of disappointed. My shipment has not come yet. I ordered 5 days ago, and I thought perhaps it would come today. So, that means tomorrow is another day in the traditional zone.

Glad your shipment finally arrived. Mine took that long to ship also. I was disappointed since it was supposed to be 2 day shipping!

Yes the cookies were small! They are very dense though, and actually held me longer than the cinnamon roll did! They were very sweet to me, and I still don't know how they can molecularly bake the already prepared chocolate which contains sugar. If I were to order more products though, it would probably be the cookies. Anxious to hear how the bread fares with you.

Well, then, Sue--you should send your slices to me!

Mari, good to hear about the cookies. I know, size does not always matter, and I will try to keep a positive outlook on this. I don't want negativity to be the blame here, in case this doesn't work out.

I didn't get any answers from the questions posted on another thread, I am a little disappointed, but will try calling zone labs this morning to clarify.

For now, will start out with a sz bagel with peanut butter.

1/21/10
DAY 1 OF SUPERZONE TRIAL

0630: multigrain bagel, 1 tbsp natural peanut butter

Initially, I felt that this would work, I had an initial feeling of satiety. But, that only lasted 1/2-1 hour. I soon developed a sickly feeling in my stomach, not really sure how to describe it. I wasn't hungry, but definitely did not feel well at all.

1030: Lemon hummus avocado sandwich: 2 slices of multigrain bread, hummus spread on the bread, avocado slices added to the sandwich. Also had 2 tomatoes, chopped.

This was my lunch, I didn't feel that the breakfast was going to pull me through, so I ate early. Initially, I felt really good with this sandwich. I was full after eating it. And, that ill feeling was gone for awhile after eating, but then it came back after about 2 hours. Again, not really hungry, but just didn't feel well.

1430: chocolate chunk cookies, one green pepper, sliced

I was beginning to feel a slight hunger, not significant, but didn't want to push it any longer and be OOZ (if I am even there). My opinion of the cookies, too sweet and too rich. They are more fulfilling than what their size may suggest. 2 hours after eating the cookies/gr pepper, feeling like hunger is returning (and not home yet, so snack not yet available); kind of an uneasiness, also feel flushed in my face.

1730: toasted multi-grain bread, no additions

I had cub scouts coming up, so no time to really make a meal. Just toasted the bread and ate it, no additions at all. Just to comment on the meal above, the symptoms did not get any worse and my tummy feeling seemed to get better again after I had another beverage. I did not have significant hunger at this point, but did feel some hunger, so I knew I needed to eat at this time.

2030: 1 cookie

Really didn't feel "satiety" from the toast, yet I also can't really say I was hungry, either. Ate one cookie, saving the last cookie for bedtime with a glass of milk.

2200: plan on 1 cookie with a glass of milk, then bed.
I am finishing up on this post and going directly to bed. At this point, the ill-feeling has returned again.

Ending comments: I wanted to stress that the 2 days previous to this day, I have not had any hunger, and have eaten zone-favorable foods. I have not experienced the symptoms that I experienced today. But, this is day 1, and I will continue with this experiment tomorrow and until the food runs out. From what I learned today, hopefully will build upon that and am hoping that tomorrow is better. I think I will rearrange the day so that I space out the meals a bit differently, as I don't want to be eating lunch at 1030!

Cranberrycat, I know the feeling you are talking about. I have felt that a couple of times, had a snack and it went away. I don't feel that way a lot but I have experienced it a few times. I thought it was because I was hungry or at least I felt hungry when it happened.

Yes, I was thinking that you mentioned it the other day. I was not really sure how to read it, if it was a hypoglycemic symptom, or ??

I suppose, since this is my first day, that it could also be a bug, but I doubt it, seems too coincidental.

Hi Cran,
What you were experiencing was hypoglycemia. I had it again today. I started out with a power pancake, left me feeling great. I had to do some errands (had day off) and was in a hurry, so I had a Superzone bagel with some real butter and a big glass of water for lunch. By the time I got home which was only 3 hours later, I was feeling headachy and kind of spacy and sweaty - and my husband can attest, very grouchy. I knew the feeling well and HAD TO EAT. I waited about an hour because I thought 3 hours was too soon to have dinner and had a dinner of grilled salmon with pineapple (not favorable, but I do have it every now and then) and sauteed zucchini and onions. Instantly I felt better. I am sure this works for a lot of people, but in all honesty, it just doesn't seem to work for me. I have been clinically diagnosed with hypoglycemia and even protein powder or deli meats sometimes do not work for me for protein blocks, so I am not surprised. I do much better with whole meats and not processed.

I also agree that the cookies are very rich. I am going to try one with a cup of 2% milk next time to see if there is an improvement over just simply consuming the whole pack of cookies with water. Milk always makes me feel better, so will give it a shot. I really, really am trying to make it all work since it is getting such rave reviews. Actually, the cookies have not induced a sugar craving, so I will probably purchase more of them for an occasional treat - and they were the 1st thing to disappear from my order! I really love the taste of the cinnamon rolls but they just don't work for me. Maybe half of one with milk, also, to see if there is an improvement. Might just try that tonight!

Mari, interesting. I think it was hypoglycemia, too, especially since it seemed to be better after I ate lunch.

A comment on the cookies, they didn't give me the ill feeling, and seemed to satisfy, but the satiety feeling was not as long as with the sandwich earlier. However, I would not describe it as significant hunger, either. I think they would go better with milk, too. Probably more palatable, as I don't really like the overly sweet taste.

I will continue with the rest of the day's meals on the meal post that I started earlier.

1/21/10:

I started out the day with bagel and peanut butter. However, at 3 1/2 hours I am getting hungry.

I may have to call off the "trial" and try again another time. I ended up driving my daughter in to the ER for what I thought was appendicitis, but looks more like a kidney infection. In any case, I didn't bring any foods with me, I just kind of grabbed her and left home. I have not been able to leave her to get something to eat, and so I guess I will be OOZ because of early hunger from the bagel, and not being able to get some food in me now.

Despite the early hunger, I will also say that I didn't have the sickly ill feeling today. Or, maybe I am just distracted and not noticing. Either way, I was curious to see if this would turn itself around, but I don't think I will have a meaningful trial of the food and will have to consider starting over with the food trial.

I will finish up the products that I have, but as far as this food trial goes, like I said, probably won't be meaningful results if I can't control the hunger right now.

I may continue posting, and if I have more negative results, I will not blame the food at this time. If this all turns around and I am able to get back in the Zone, then that may be more meaningful... will see.

Hi Cran -- hope your daughter is feeling better!

Thanks for your careful testing of the SuperZone products -- you and Sue have both shared a lot of useful information! Personally, I like the SuperZone products that I've tried (bread, rolls, bagels and granola), and they have worked very well for me in terms of satiety. However, there are so many other Zone-favorable foods that I enjoy just as much (if not more) that I usually only have one SuperZone food per day (or every other day).

Laurie

Funny you should mention that, but yesterday I was thinking about how much I was missing my veggies! And, my meat! You would not believe the thoughts that went through my head about should I have a sandwich, what should I put on it, don't need the meat, used up all of my condiments, etc. Blocking it is much easier!

Thanks for the well-wishes!

Hey CranCat! good for you for trying the superfoods! I'm all ears! However, I wonder if you might be sensitive to wheat or gluten (as I am) so keep watching your digestion, since you mentioned not feeling well. I don't get immediate symptoms but soon start wheezing. But many folks have tummy issues. I can't eat wheat, so I won't be trying the superzone foods, but am still pretty interested.

Janet, thanks for the input. I don't know, but I am not aware of a wheat or gluten problem in the past. Today, the symptoms from yesterday are gone, but I have a bloated feeling now after lunch today. It was as if I were full from eating, but yet I still wanted more. This is a feeling that I can't even remember ever having before in the past. But, since I had that long span between lunch and dinner, it would be difficult to assign blame--was it the late lunch and being OOZ, or was it the food?

I am going to finish up the products, and then do this again when my next shipment comes, start out with a clean slate.

So sorry to hear about your daughter and hope that everything is well. Will wait for more results from your trial of Superzone, although I do know how it is for me, and I do love and miss my regular foods while eating Superzone. I am kind of like Laurie and will use it about the same, once every day, or every other day. I did brush up briefly on my original Zone book this evening where Dr. Sears says to eat several meals throughout the day. After reading that, i don't think it was ever intended to go 4 hours between meals. I think that every couple hours even if it is only 2 blocks at a time is better for me. For some reason, I was hungrier today than usual, and I was still busy with being gone 12 hours today, so being pre-occupied was not an issue for me.

It was as if I were full from eating, but yet I still wanted more. - - I had that exact same feeling! You did a good job of explaining it. It was as if I just wasn't satisfied!

I just can't quite put my finger on it. I do feel different with these foods, but I am not sure that the feeling is enjoyable. I suppose it could be an adjustment phase, that is why I don't think that this will count as a fair trial of the foods, because of the problems today and the questions that I still have regarding the grocery additions.

Tonight, I am just eating regular food. I really wanted to cook up some chicken breasts and have a southwest chicken salad!

DD is doing fine, although still running a fever. She slept most of the day after we finally got home. I took a power nap with her. Now she is up and watching a movie.

0630: Breakfast
Smucker's - Natural Peanut Butter - Creamy, 1 tbsp
SuperZone - Multi-Grain Bagel, 1 bagel
(hungry at 0930)


1230: Lunch
Tomatoes - Roma Tomato, 2 Tomato
Whole Foods - Roasted Eggplant Baba Ghanoush, 1 Oz.
Homemade - Guacamole, 1 tbsp
Hormel Natural Choice - Oven Roasted Deli Turkey, 2 slices (56g)
Super Zone - Multi-Grain Bread, 2 slices


1430: Snacks
Super Zone - Chocolate Chunk Cookies, 1 cookies

1530: Snacks
Super Zone - Multi-Grain Bread, 0.5 slices
Philadelphia Cream Cheese - Fat Free, 1 tbsp

1800: Dinner
Fresh Express - Spring Mix Seasonal Blend of Mixed Greens, 1.5 cups
Chicken - Chicken Breast, 3 oz
Newman's Own - All Natural Chunky Mild Salsa, 4 tbsp
Great Value - Canned Black Beans, 1/4 cup
Avocados - Raw, 0.25 avocado

2030: Snack
Super Zone - Chocolate Chunk Cookies, 1 cookie

1/23/10

0930 Breakfast:
SZ multigrain bagel with ff cream cheese
(I woke up hungry, DD still running high fever; I went back to sleep after settling her, and now eating. I will share that I RARELY wake up hungry, and so I don't really know why I woke up hungry now. Also, after eating this bagel, I still feel hunger, and so will be heading back to the kitchen for an additional block of SOMETHING)

1000 Snack:
cottage cheese, blueberries and almonds
(tummy still growling at 10:40, hmmm wonder if it is going to be one of those days...)

1300 Lunch:
Sandwich on SZ multigrain bread, sliced avocado, baba ghanoush, deli turkey.
(I did this for lunch yesterday but added tomatoes, so will see how it goes without tomatoes added. After I posted about the earlier snack, the hunger seemed to settle down)

1630 snack:
2% milk
(I was feeling some hunger after the lunch meal above, I think it lasted me better when I added the tomatoes. However, didn't have that full/bloated feeling, either)

1830 Dinner:
Qdoba naked grilled chicken taco salad, with picco de gallo and some guacamole
(This has held me really well until this point at 2245, so will be having a 1 block snack before bed)

2300 Snack:
1/4 cup zone cereal, dash of milk

Breakfast
Strawberries - Frozen, unsweetened, 1 cup, unthawed
Yoplait - Fat Free Plain Yogurt, 0.5 cup
Cottage cheese - Lowfat, 2% milkfat, 0.25 cup (not packed)
Bertolli - Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 68 oz, 0.66 tbsp
Biochem - Whey Protein Powder, Natural Flavor, 0.33 scoop

Lunch
Super Zone - Multi-Grain Bread, 2 slices
Sargento - Natural Baby Swiss Deli Sliced Swiss Cheese, 1 slice
Cucumber - Peeled, raw, 1 medium

Afternoon Snack
Super Zone - Chocolate Chunk Cookies, 2 cookies

Dinner
Wendys - Chili Large, 1 container
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I had things under control pretty well, until I had those cookies again. I do not get any benefit at all from those cookies, and I will not be ordering them again.

The sandwiches are going ok, as long as I am adding things to it. The bread alone will not cut it. As well, the bagels alone will not cut it, and I barely get 3 hours from adding peanut butter to them (I think they advertize 4-6 hours of meal satiety from this combo).

I have a few items left over, and I am considering saving them for the next trial, or consuming them now? I will have to call in and get my autoship order changed so that the cookies do not get shipped again, and I can perhaps try another product instead. Any recommendations? Was thinking of the brownies, but I don't want to run in to the same problem with them being too sweet, and not truly fulfilling.

I will tell you what WAS fulfilling today, that Wendys chili! I don't know, maybe just got more beans or something, but I couldn't even finish it. And, that is rare for me not to be able to finish a meal.

Interesting. The other day something dawned on me.
Two of my usual breakfasts are almost identical, except that one is a smoothie form, and the other is not. I took note after having them on back-to-back days. And the smoothie form lasted longer than the non-smoothie form. In addition there was another variable. The morning I had the smoothie form, we went snow shoeing, more active, yet it held me longer.
.
1/3 cup (lo-fat, organic) milk, 1/3 cup all-bran extra fiber, evoo, water, strawberries and blueberries (frozen, thawed) 1/4 cup lo-fat, organic, plain yogurt, some unflavored protein powder. All in a 4P, 4F, 3C combination.
.
I had the smoothie before we went snow shoeing to save some time.
Otherwise I have the mixture shaken and poured over the bran and berries and eat like a cereal breakfast. Exact same, and smoothie form held me longer. Go figure.

Interesting, John. I would say that the same is true for me. If I were to eat my smoothie with the ingredients separately, I could not imagine that it would hold me as long as it does.

And, I think that all foods seem to control my hunger better when I am busy.

And, I have also noticed that meals seem to satisfy and last me longer with exercise. I wonder if there is something in the way that the body is handling the energy needs, that the exercise moderates the insulin response. Just some thoughts..

Do you put all of the ingredients all together for your breakfast?