my husband is a winemaker and we drink wine every night. I don't mind being moderate (well, I kind of mind)but I really want to zone and drink wine daily. Is it possible? (I really believe wine is good for you). jane[list:38387d6e4f][/url][/list:u:38387d6e4f]

I believe 4 oz. wine is considered 1 block C, and can be a part of the Zone. You need to treat it as a carb, and balance your other blocks appropriately. Wine has many health benefits, and Dr. Sears does include it in his plan. I don't drink it daily, but once or twice a week, and it fits in very well. If drinking when it's not supper time, you can easily balance it with a piece of lowfat cheese. You may want to do a search on the site for more specific information. :) Ronica

Welcome, Jane. Ronica is right: 4 ounces is considered one block of (unfavorable) carb. Sears suggests no more than one glass of (preferably red) wine per day, as more alcohol increases bad eicosanoids. (ETZ, p 148) One glass per day? Ha! I'm sure you and your vintner hubby will join me in crying: [i:18676a3f28]Dream on, Barry![/i:18676a3f28] Seriously, I've found moderate wine consumption (2 or 3 glasses at a time, once or twice a week) doesn't take me out of the Zone provided that I drink it with a (4-block) meal that contains no more than one additonal block of favorable carbs. So a piece of meat or fish and a small serving of broccoli or salad dressed with olive oil is an enjoyable supper with a couple glasses of wine. I also try to drink an extra glass of water before eating.

Being in Wisconsin, it is very tempting to enjoy the local brews (beer, not wine), and I tried to zone a beer once by adding protein and fat and calling it a meal. Didn't work at all! :lol: So, another experiement failed. I don't partake as much as I used to, but do occasionally use it as my monthly carb blowout! :shock: On the bright side, being 13 lbs. lighter causes one drink to feel like 2 or 3 used to--I guess I am now a lightweight! :wink: Enjoy your wine! Ronica

I am glad this topic came up. I've been wondering what the heck is going on. Usually over the weekend we have friends over to play cards.... last weekend i ended up positively smashed off of 3 small cocktails over a period of 5-6 hours. Usually i would end up giggley and stuff like that not bombed off my butt!!! whew what a releif to know what is going on!!!! I guess I'll need to drop it back a bit!!! :oops:

Great thread! My favorite bedtime sback is a string cheese and a nice 4 oz pour of Shiraz. What about all the new low-carb beers emerging? Michelob Ultra, Miller Light--now Skyy has a malt beverage called Thin Ice. Most have 2-3.5 grams of net carbs. How would they stack up?

[quote:afdfe98f7d="tenorGJ"] What about all the new low-carb beers emerging? Michelob Ultra, Miller Light--now Skyy has a malt beverage called Thin Ice. Most have 2-3.5 grams of net carbs. How would they stack up?[/quote:afdfe98f7d] Most beers are about ~ 5%-6% alcohol. The alcohol must also be counted as an unfavorable carb. (Wine is about 12% alcohol.) ~jdp I still ahve a 12 oz beer once in a great while. Remember you're never further than the next meal or min-meal away from getting abck into the Zone! What used to kill me was the beer and the chips on the tables at Mexican restaurants. This last time we went (for my wife's B'Day), I had an 18 oz beer instead of a 12 oz. But had far less chips, only a small few. So, instead of gaining 4-5 lbs and taking a week to get those back off, I only gained about 1/2 lb and only a few days for water retention to get lost! P.S.: ((I'm now only 12.8 lbs away from IDEAl of 179 lbs (5' 9.5") from a high of 222 lbs in 5.5 months! Its been since I left U.S. Air Force in 1988 that I'd been below 200lbs!!!))

I tried the Michelob low carb one time, and did feel better physically, but it tasted like water. If you are used to drinking beers like Miller Lite or Rolling Rock you may be fine with it. I am used to more flavorful beers (my favorite is a porter that is so dark you can't even see light through it!), so to me it really wasn't worth it. If I want a beer, I will have a good one, try to balance it as best I can, and deal with the repurcussions. It's not something I do every day, so I try not to feel guilty. Happy news--I am at the weight I have been lying about on my driver's license for years! (3 lbs. LESS than I was in High School.) YAY! Must be working! Ronica

Hi, Congrats on the wt loss! :D Sue

Thanks, Sue! 8)