Hi All

I just started the Zone diet. I was skeptical when my trainer told me to do it as I don't like eating a lot of meat but after reading the books, I have come to see that this is a great program...and TRULY a lifestyle. I like that I don't have to eat meat on it too and can have soy if I want. I also like how Dr. Sears says not to obsess over any of the program- it make things seem much less intimidating.

I have gained back 13 pounds from two summers ago and it has taken a big toll on my confidence. I realize now that WW is not a program I can stick to as it almost helps keeps my cravings consistent.

I will admit to having an extra food block last night so today I am feeling really tired but I have already learned from that and know that I never want to eat too much again- even if it was fruit with almond butter and protein powder (in the form of a shake)

I am debating between the block system and the one where you count out your grams of carbs, fat, protein. I would love to hear your stories, advice, tips etc if you have them :). Also, have any of you noticed a change in the SHAPE of your body while doing the zone? I carry weight in certain area's and am hoping that since the zone helps you to lose fat rather than anything else, it may help with these hard to lose spots. I workout and everything also but was just curious

Also, I was thinking about buying some of the bars and cookies for when I have a sweet tooth. Is it okay to plug these 'treats' into any zone system?

Many thanks and hope to hear back soon.

Happy Zoning :)
:D

Hi Summer,

Nice to meet you! You've made an excellent choice with the Zone. Say good bye to your cravings. They'll quickly become a thing of the past.

I'll begin by answering your last question. Yes, Zone foods can be combined with any Zone method you choose. One of the many pluses of Zone Foods is that they are virtually free of Omega 6 fat, meaning they are excellent for lowering inflammation, better than most any Classic Zone meal. The more successful you are at lowering inflammation, the better your weight loss result will be. Over the past 2 years Zone foods have become the basis of most of my meals and snacks each day, and I continue to enjoy excellent results.

If you're not doing Zone fast 1-2-3, I highly recommend the plate dividing method of the Classic Zone (see "Zone at a Glance" here: http://www.zonediet.com/tools/zone-classic). It works great. I lost 100 pounds with that method about 17 years ago and have maintained it ever since. You see regardless of which method you choose and whether or not you'll need to adjust for hunger, in the end you'll be eating basically same amounts of P, C and F anyway so why not do it the easier way.

After a 100 pound loss I definitely changed shape (an understatement, ha ha). As for those areas where a person tends to gain first, in my own experience those areas are the last place I lost the final excess stored fat once I got close to my ideal weight. I've heard from many others with this same experience.

The Zone has changed by life for the better and the weight loss is just the tip of the icerberg.

Summer, feel free to ask questions. I'll be happy to share!

Summer, good to meet you!

I use the block system. What I like about using blocks is that it helps to keep me organized and on track.

I have used the plate method, but sometimes my eyes get "too big" and I misjudge my protein. I don't over-obscess the blocks, but I do measure and ration. It seems to be easier for me to assure that I am not overdoing the carb, and since each block is approximately 100 calories, it just keeps me in check for where I am calorie-wise throughout the day. Just so you are aware, the Zone is not about calorie-counting, but I feel that it is important to stay aware of calorie counts, as excessive calorie consumption will result in weight gain regardless of the Zone.

I do not use any of the Zone products at this time, other than a monthly order of zone bars. I do keep some on hand for "emergencies" but I don't rely on them for any meal or snack, and mostly my family eats them up. I tried the cookies and the other products, but they don't keep me zoned very well (and I felt that the cookies were much too sweet anyway, not for my taste).

Thanks so much to you both! I am so so excited to get started. Today is the first day since I began that I feel SOOO tired. I am not sure why that is but perhaps I have to have less fruit in the day. I have the 7 day diet book and plan to give that a shot this week I am looking so forward to this all becoming second nature to me. I will post again soon asI am sure I will have many questions. Thanks so much for your support thus far- means the word

You're welcome, Summer. The tiredness might actually be a good sign. Some peopel experience tiredness during the first coupel weeks of the Zone diet from the release of an overload of AA that caon happen the body first begins to burn its stored fat. If this is what's happening with you, temporarily increasing your Omega RX dose will help. The EPA in Omega RX dilutes the excess AA. The better you control inflammation with diet over time, the less Omega Rx you'll require.

Hi Summer,

if it can help I can share my experience. Two years ago I started the Zone using the blocks method, which I still follow now. I am the "pear" kind of woman, very mediterranean, with large hips. With the Zone, apart from the incredible feeling of beian healthy, I lost weight in the places where it had been impossible to lose with other methods. My shape changed considerably, allowing me to wear the right size also around my hips. I remember I lost 5 cm.of hips. I had never been able to reach such a result even being a sporty person...