Any tips to get along with this news life experience???

Hi carolina,

Take it one meal at a time and keep things simple. You can read a Zone book to get started. "A Week in the Zone" is a good book to begin with. It's loaded with basic info, recipes and tips. Have fun with it!

Take it one step at a time. Sometimes change is easy, sometimes it is more difficult. Personally, when it comes to diet, I do better if I just make a few changes at a time, and then add on as time goes on. The Zone is not difficult, but there are some significant changes that could potentially be made to one's lifestyle. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Be successful in changing things one step at a time, and then add on new changes when you feel you are ready.

Thank you for your suggestions!!!!!! I am eager to learn all I can about this.....I am looking forward to losing about 40 pounds and need also to lose about 25% body fat.....I live in Mexico and went to a certified Zone diet Nutritionist......I'd love to have a bit of yogurt in the morning just for a change...but I don't know if it's just because it's my first week or not...but she banned ALL dairy and cereal from my meals....

The Zone does not ban any food, just some that are moderated. I don't know why your nutritionist would ban dairy, except that perhaps she wants to get you on a very low glycemic start, and then possibly work it back in.... in any case, Barry Sears does not ban dairy products. However, the more veggies you can eat, the better your results will be because you will have better results in lowering your insulin levels.

There is the possibility that she might be "Paleo" leaning as well as Zone Certified.
Paleo and Zone eating have a lot of overlap and some differences.
A combined Zoned Paleo is stricter in some areas.
A "Strict" Paleo is no grains and no dairy (except grass-fed sourced organic butter),
concentrating on Good Quality (Grass Fed) protein and organic vegetables and nuts, with some fruits and tubars.
(Paleo does nor shy away from "good" saturated fat, where-as Dr. Sears Zone avoids all Saturated Fat.)
So a Zoned Paleo is stricter (more restrictive) both in Paleo and Zone.
And technically, Paleo does allow grains, as they were before modernization, IF they are fermented - but they (fermented grains)
are not found in stores, and not worth the trouble to make fermented grains at home.
.
P.S.:
I've had success with mostly Zoning for the past 8 years (WOW - 8 years now!).
However, my wife struggled a lot.
It wasn't until the past 8 months or so, since I suggested going (mostly) grain-free and
not just Gluten-free nor Wheat-free; but, (mostly) grain-free, that she has finally been able to consistently keep-off the weight,
lose more weight, and maintain her now lower weight.
(Along with joining me in mostly sugar-free eating - but she now more diligently has embraced sugar-free more so.)

Hi Caroline, I returned to the Zone recenlty and I'm starting week three. I lost 4 pounds the past two weeks, which does not sound like much, but for a menopausal woman who's metabolism has slowed to a snail's pace, that's pretty darn good. As they said, one meal at a time. Mine are not always perfect and not always balanced, but have been good enough so that I'm not starving 2 hours later. I did buy some soy protein powder last week to help bump up the protien in my oatmeal breakfast and smoothies. That's one thing I wish I had in the 1st week.

I also have to thank the two "regular" posters here. I've been lurking and had some constipation problems last week. Every time I've upped my protein I run into this problem. They kept saying "fish oil" tablets. And someone referred to page 188 in the "Week in the Zone" book. Well, there it was. A clear explanation as to what is causing me to have this problem every time I up my protein. So I took the fish oil tablets that I have for my husband's cholesterol problems and that did the trick!!! Feeling much better going into next week.

Pam

Oh, and I just found the pdf for a food journal! Wish I had that the last 2 weeks! :-)

Hi Pam,

Sounds like you're doing great! Please keep us updated and keep up the good work!

Pam, I agree, you are doing great! (and I am glad that you were able to resolve that "other" problem). Keep up the good work!