They have a whopping amount of sodium on a daily basis. For me, taking in 1500-1700 of mg per day WITHOUT the "condiments" is making it hard for me to lose. I "lost" 5lb the first week (only b/c I had to finally take a diuretic my hands were so swollen) and the lack of fiber in the program is a great concern to me. Other than that, the foods taste good, but I am not too sure if I am going to keep my autoship going. I have had to switch to no sodium added products to top things with, but so far even that is not helping much. Right now I am on week 2.... bloated and constipated. Am wondering if I should jump ship to traditional zone where I can control the show, and the salt and fiber. It's a shame because 123 was making it easier for me to handle, but I don't know what to do at this point - and yes, we are taking fish oil.

How much water are you drinking each day? I regularly drink between 80-120oz of H2O and have been on the ZoneFast 1-2-3 for about a month and haven't had any problem with bloating. Infact, i feel "lighter" on my feat, considering my weight, than I can recall ever really.

Right now I am averaging 84 oz, working my way up to 100+ When I was on Six Week Body Makeover I used to drink 140oz a day, so that's what I am working toward even though its more than 1/2 my body weight. I just think these foods contain a ridiculous amount of salt. I am thinking of stopping my autoship and going to alacarte so I can combine traditional zone with 123, and see how that works, because I don't cook with added salt or salt my food.

Hi Sharon, one thing I've learned coming to this site is that one way does not work for everyone. Knowing the ground rules of the Zone and then fitting it perfectly to your needs seems to work the best. If, after giving it enough time and following suggestions from the pros, you still feel like it's too much salt for you, then by all means, do what it takes to make it better for you. It's as easy as that!

Claire, Thanks! I was thinking maybe I should incorporate my Breakfast, lunch, snack and eat a dinner I make myself... I will give it two more weeks (because I have weeks 3&4 food already) and see if I still feel bloaty.

Sharon, I tried the foods last Februrary on a trial basis, and I noted the same concerns as you... the bloating, the lack of fiber, and the inability to lose any weight while using them. I don't understand why there is so much sodium and so little fiber, either. Personally, I do much better on traditional foods rather than processed foods. I guess you and I were meant to eat REAL food!

Hi SHARON, hope you soon find a happy medium.  You might try the Peanut Butter Granola for breakfast.  One package contains only 95 mg sodium.  Have a nice 4th of July weekend and please keep us updated.

Sharon, that sounds like a great plan. Whatever works the best for you and keeps you "in the Zone" is the plan that will be the most comfortable, and therefore, the easiest to follow and stick to.

I just googled low sodium diets and found lots of interesting info.   The recommendations range from 2400 mg sodium a day to as low as 1500 mg.  Next I checked the sodium intake from Zone foods for the average woman's day in the Zone with the ZoneFast 1-2-3 plan (the recommended 4 selections per day) and found that it falls well under these limits, depending on food choices, from about 900 mg to 1400 mg daily.  The exception would be if one eats a whole pizza crust for a meal, which adds about 200 mg more, changing the range from 1100 mg to 1600mg.  You could technically go even lower than 900mg daily with Zone foods, such as 380 mg a day if you ate granola for all your meals and snacks (obviously not something a person would usually do).

 

Also, I once read a reply from Barry Sears to a question that was asked about sodium and fluid retention.  He wrote something to the effect that the mechanism(s) by which sodium causes fluid retention are disarmed (for lack of a better word on my part) by the lower insulin levels of the Zone, so using sodium it reasonably is not a big concern, though it is also not a license to go crazy with the salt shaker.  

I guess it boils down to the individual. Just like some people are sensitive to carbs..or sugar..etc, some are just a little more sensitive to salt. A girl I work with really watches her salt closely, not that she has a problem, she just likes to keep her numbers low.

Your info Sue is very informative. I'd like to see how much I tend to get in a day. I don't really add much salt to foods, but sodium levels already in the foods I eat would be interesting to caluculate.

I've always watched it too Claire, just because it makes sense not do overdo any particular food.  We don't even keep a salt shaker at our house, though I will add a little salt or Bragg's (it's an unfermented low sodium "sort of" soy sauce) to some dishes when cooking .

I counted sodium yesterday and included some of my dinner. I got up to about 1000 mg. It was surprising to me that I got there fairly quickly. Olives on my lunch salad 120mg, 1/2 cup roasted red pepper 120mg, 1/2 Italian turkey sausage 335mg, 1/4 cottage cheese 180mg etc... If eating well can get me to 1000mg in the blink of an eye, I can see how poor eating could really pack those mg on!

Wow Claire! Now you guys have me interested. I'm going to count up the sodium from tomorrow's meals and see what I come up with.

As of 6/15/2010 the USDA states daily intake for a healthy adult to be 1500mg of sodium. Every body is unique and if you are having swelling problems I would utilize the classic Zone & Zone123. That's what I do. I love the convience of Zone 123 but I like my whole foods as well. I buy Zone 123 ala carte and choose my favorites.

Thanks everyone! My husband is doing phenomenally (-11 lb) and only had about 18 to lose - but he is habitually a saltaholic and salts EVERYTHING, so this is not affecting him. I on the other hand am 75lb overweight, but do not typically use salty things. Go figure. Am on my 3rd week and only have lost an additional .5 lb - Not at all happy w/results thus far, but I am monetarily committed to another 3 weeks already, so we will see what happens.

Sharon. I know it can be disappointing when you don't see the scale move. If you look at some of the threads here you will see that it's something most of us think about when starting the Zone. The desire to lose weight.

But if after 3 weeks you leave the Zone for another diet choice, where will you go? I had been trying WW (noted to be one of the "best") before coming here and am actually a "lifetime member". My last attempt with them was not good. I felt so deprived, trying to adjust my lifelong eating times to try to make my points last. It was awful. When I started the Zone, just out of curiosity, I counted the points of a Zone eating day, and it was within the WW guidelines, but what a difference!

I've always said that if you really stick to a weight reduction plan exactly, most likely you will lose weight. But what happens is we don't stick to it exactly, and then wonder why the scale is not moving. Been there, done that many, many times!

I know you can do this! It is an amazing plan, don't forget it works on many different levels, and should be making you feel good physically and cutting back on cravings! Check to be sure you are eating the right amounts. Are you walking, or getting some other exercise on a daily basis. That really makes a difference. Are you cheating? That is a BIG problem with me. I'm great for a few days, start to see the drop on the scale, then cheat and wonder why the scale went up again! Hang in there Sharon....we're all in this together and will help you get to where you want to be...it's just going to take some time!

Sharon,

You might want to consider reading Toxic Fat over the next few weeks.  It will give you valuable info and insight into the Zone, and could very well clarify for you where you need to go from here to successfully lose the excess weight.  A tip that might help you, inflammation is at the root of (is the cause of) obesity.  In Toxic Fat you'll learn all about the mechanisms at work in an inflamed body and how to overcome them to successfully lose the excess stored fat.

Good luck!

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sue

Lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil. ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

Consultant of Zone Labs

View my Zone fast 1-2-3 meal photos here:  http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/

View my classic Zone meal photos here:  http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0