I've tried everything... But this. Please tell this is the last eating plan I need to get results.
I'm 54, high blood sugar and 70 pounds overweight. I want to know from those of you who have had success,
How many grams of starchy carbs can I eat in a day and still be successful in losing a pound or two a week?
It's only been two days and already my sugar cravings are gone. Will this "calm" feeling last as long as I do the program?
I'm so afraid setting myself up for disappointment. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

Hi Mary Kay,

About 18 years ago, right before I started eating the Zone Diet, I was 100 pounds overweight and had high blood pressure that was not being controlled well with blood pressure meds (and I'd been on various BP meds for over 6 years). I had debilitating low blood sugar symptoms on a daily basis back then. I has tried evetything, too? And nothing worked for me. The Zone diet and Omega Rx literally changed my life egrn I started it 17 years ago. I lost 100 pounds by the end of my first 2 years in the Zone. My low blood sugar symptoms disappeared. Within a couple weeks of beginning Omega Rx my doctor took me completely off both of the blood pressure meds I had been on at the time. My blood pressure had returned to normal, actually became excellent, and has been ever since, without meds. Yes, that calm feeling and all the other benefits of the Zone remain, as long as you follow the Zone diet and lifestyle.

I'm here to help. It's been sort of a mission for me to pay it forward and help others experience the life altering positive benefits of the Zone. If you have any questions, just ask! :D

Sue, thanks for your reply.
So what about starchy carbs?
How many do you have. Especially while you were losing weight?

The Zone is fairly flexible, but you also get out of it what you put into it. So, basically, if you want to have starchy carbs, then no more than 25% of the total carb in your meal should come from them. Even better, limiting them even more!

Hi Mary Kay,

I rarely eat any. I Can't stay in the Zone with them.

25% sounds reasonable. I will do that or less. Thanks ladies.

Mary Kay,

Your personal tolerance to carbohydrate will be the deciding factor in whether you can handle 25% starchy carbohydrate in a meal. If you're hungry and don't have good mental focus 4 hours after the meal it means the carbohydrate in the meal stimulated too much insulin production. In that case you'd drop a block of carbohydrate from the meal the next time you make it. The starchy (unfavorable) carbohydrate would be the best to drop.

Just adding to what Sue said,

If you are incorporating the starchy carbs into a meal and it is not keeping you in the Zone (as Sue described in her post), then I would recommend eliminating the starchy carb from the meal entirely and replacing them with favorable carbs BEFORE dropping your carb blocks out. I always side on making sure your are truly eating a Zone meal with favorable carbs before making other adjustments (adding or dropping blocks).

In he past I have always tried to follow the old Weight Watcher plan which gives you 3 starchy carbs.
I can see now why it didn't work. I wasn't eating balanced. I will keep starchy carbs at a minimum.
You don't get much anyway. I can tell my body is responding to this eating plan. I feel amazing.
My joints aren't hurting as much. I feel more alert. Even though the scales haven't moved yet I can tell my body is shrinking.
I really like the Zone bars. I would rather have real food but the zones bars keep me legal until I can get to a balanced meal.

Fantastic! My wife had so-so results until I convinced her to try going Gluten-Free and then Wheat-Free, and finally mostly Grain-free.
This has helped her more than anything else! Even though we cut sugar completely several years ago, she still struggled with cravings.
Now, she's doing as well as I have been.

That is good news, Mary Kay! That awesome feeling is a big help to get over the starchy carb hurdle. My best advice, don't turn back!

John, that is great about your wife, as well! I know you have mentioned it before, but please pass it along to her that we congratulate her!