Hello everybody! I'm new on the Zone Diet, just from few days, but I already can see and feel a difference. I know breads are not favorable carbs, but I'm eating Ezekiel bread, 2 pieces a day. Is that too much? Glycemic Index is 36. This is pretty low. I will appreciate any help with info, Thanks!

Hi Christina,

You'd treat Ezekiel bread as you would any unfavorable carbohydrate.

__________________________

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

Certified Zone Affiliate

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

 

 

My wife and I like Ezekiel bread, too. Though I only have one slice with breakfast just a couple of times per week. Treat it as unfavorable, no more than 25% (1/4) of Carbs from unfavorable at each meal.

Christina,

I am in agreement with John, treat it as an unfavorable carb.   It is one of the better choices among breads, but still unfavorable. 

I know they advertize a low glycemic index, but there can be a lot of variability based on who tested, and what it was compared to.  I usually rely more on glycemic indexes using the same data source. 

Thank you so much for all the posts, I really appreciate it. I've noticed when I eat 1 piece of Ezekiel and 1.4 oz low fat part skim mozzarella, (140 cal alltogether) I tend to get hungrier faster than ususal. This may be because of the unfavorable carbs or it's just because it's less callories.

I decided to use it sparingly though and just to make sure: what is the right block protein for 1 piece of ezekiel bread (80) cal - 2 oz mozzarella ot less? Thanks again in advance, I love your forum, everybody is so helpful and kind. I really appreciate it!

A slice of bread is approximately one block, so you would match it up with 1 oz of the cheese for one block of protein (and I would assume that there is enough fat in the cheese). You could consider adding more fat, too, especially if you are noticing more hunger from it. If you use more protein than that, it is probably not a huge problem, either (since the slice of bread is a bit over 1 block). And, good choice to go with it sparingly, because you will probably struggle to stay in the Zone if it isn't working for you.

Hi Christina, you're welcome.  For better results, especially since you're having difficulty with it, consider 1/2 slice Ezkiel bread to be 1 carbohydrate block.  As I mentioned earlier in this thread, it's unfavorable carbohydrate, so remember not to use it for more than 25% of all the carbohydrate in any meal.  For best Zone results, avoid it altogether.  Zone 1-2-3 breads are an excellent choice, both for controlling insulin and for lowering inflammation.  BTW, a typical Zone carbohydrate block contains about 40 calories, much fewer than the 80 calories you mentioned for 1 slice of Ezekiel bread.

_______________________________

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

Certified Zone Affiliate

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

 

Thank you so much to all of you, I am so grateful I found this forum, thanks to all your help and advices I am already improving my diet. And seeing results with it! I'm very exited!

Ok... I will cut the bread for sure... not alltogether at once but hopefully I will get there. And I don't want to waist space here in the forum, so I will just ask here another questions

I decided to switched from mozzarella to goat cheese (Trader Joe's) since I noticed my face was getting irritated from (Im guessing only) the mozzarella cheese. I tend to see this result every time I go back to cheese so I hope goat cheese will be easier on my face. (I used to have acne and from time to time my skin break up if I eat unhealthy foods)

I will be thankful to any advise about the goat cheese, and also about the portion size. Is it 1 oz per block? And if I decided to combine it with Ezekiel bread how much that would be? (half piece? 3/4 piece?)

Thank you so much in advance and I wish everybody a wonderful and healthy day, and week!

Hi, I'd go very easy on the goat cheese, using itonnly once in a while, because even the lower fat versions of it have a bit too much fat to be Zone friendly.    One block would be the amount of cheese that contains about 7 g protein (you can easily figure this out from the nutrition label on your product; it's usually about 1 ounce per block).   I'd stick with 1/2 slice of Ezekiel bread. 

Thanks Sue,

I appreciate it.

I'm afraid I will still need to add some Carbs and Protein to the half piece bread and 1oz goat cheese.

I'm using www.livestrong.com MyPlate to figure out and make sure I stay in the 40:30:30 ratio and not slipping out of the Zone.

So far I get Protein 7g (20 %) - Carbs 8g (27 %) and Fat 7.25g (53%). You are right, the goat cheese adds up too much of fat. I will need to think about some other option of Protein except cheese. So far I'm eating salmon and eggs mostly, since organic chicken comes a little expensive for me.

I know cottage cheese is great option.

But I'm afraid it has hidden MSG in it, since every time I eat it and I'm getting headaches.

How about Yogurt? (Plain, Non Fat) Is it a better option than cheeses and cottage cheese? I'm mainly worries about the sugar they put in it and I've heard some bad things about cow's diary so I'm really confused and thankful to every help that comes my way.

Thanks.

Yogurt is a mixed carb/protein, just like milk is.  So, if you had yogurt with the bread, you would have too much carb.  On the other hand, if you use Greek yogurt (unflavored), then you would have a decent ratio.

Other ideas... sliced deli meat (you can find it without nitrates/nitrites, but I am not sure about the MSG, hopefully none in there)... another idea-how about some tofu? 

By the way, you don't have to be exactly on the money with your ratios.  The zone is a "zone", like a parking zone.  Not an exact spot, so you have a little leeway.  If you don't come out perfectly at 40/30/30, you can still get in the Zone. 

Hi Christina,

Considering the early hunger you posted about, you would not need to add more  carbohydrate to a 1 block snack containg 1/2 slice Ezekiel bread.  

Plain low fat yogurt contains Zone balanced proportions of protein and carbohydrate.  One half cup yogurt with peanut butter, almond butter or olive oil and vanilla flavoring mixed in is a very good Zone snack.  You would not need to add more carbohydrate to this snack.

________________________________

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

Certified Zone Affiliate

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

 

Hey Christina,

I agree with you on some of your comments about weight control. I did the diet and most people change their eating habits afterwards anyway instead of going back to eating fast foods and foods that have lots of added sugar. I had to cut out sugar and gluten after figuring out some food allergies a year before I started this diet. I ended up losing quite a bit of weight just by doing that. The week I gave up refined sugar was awful! I had the worst sugar withdrawal. I felt pretty crappy that whole week and then I felt great afterwards! When you don’t eat those foods for a week or two your body gets rid of the cravings for them. On the HCG diet people are basically eating high protein meats, fresh fruits and veggies. I ate mostly fish, vegetables and apples, in addition to egg whites once in a while and some Ezekiel sprouted grain bread.

I didn't have a chance to log in and write in this forum, just to say Thank you for all the help I'm getting here, it is wonderful to know how many people will go out of their way just to help with advise or say encouraging word to somebody else!

I love this forum and I already recommended it to somebody, just because I know how positive my day is after I've been here! I wish everybody a wonderful day and I'm looking forward the day when I will be knowledgeable enough to help people with my advice as you do now!

Thank you, Christina!  It means a lot to hear that, just to know that it is appreciated!

I also remember the day way back when I first ventured out onto a zone message board/forum, and I was hopeful at that time that I would eventually learn enough so that I could return the favor to others who are just starting out.