Hi everybody, I have been following the discussions and looking for updates as well as tips from this forum for quite some time. Today I FINALLY registered myself and therefore just wanted to say hi to everybody. I have read the the very first Zone book and I am definitely ready to follow the diet as it just happens to make so much sense. And it just makes you feel so good, but I guess you all know that already :D So just a quick hello to ya all and more to come later! Leena

[color=darkred:250e0db196]Hi. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you as you begin the Zone. I've been eating this way for 10 years and love it. 8) [/color:250e0db196]

I started the Zone yesterday and am very motivated to keep going. I've been doing the week in the zone recipes for my first week through. However, I felt pretty hungry by the end of the day yesterday and ate an extra meal. It probably threw me out of the Zone a little, but I have to say I woke up very energized. I'll need help through this, but would really like to keep at this way of eating. I think it's great. Plus, I'm even more motivated because I'm going to have my first wedding dress sizing in a couple months. I'm getting married next March!

[quote:d2ffcee1a0="payne2001"]I started the Zone yesterday and am very motivated to keep going. I've been doing the week in the zone recipes for my first week through. However, I felt pretty hungry by the end of the day yesterday and ate an extra meal. It probably threw me out of the Zone a little, but I have to say I woke up very energized. I'll need help through this, but would really like to keep at this way of eating. I think it's great. Plus, I'm even more motivated because I'm going to have my first wedding dress sizing in a couple months. I'm getting married next March![/quote:d2ffcee1a0] [color=darkred:d2ffcee1a0]Hi, Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. My daughter is getting married next year, too (in Aug.). After a few days of eating Zone balanced meals and snacks your hunger should begin to disappear. If not simply post in these forums and you'll find plenty of help. :D [/color:d2ffcee1a0]

[quote:050e47868c="Slknorr"][quote:050e47868c="payne2001"]I started the Zone yesterday and am very motivated to keep going. I've been doing the week in the zone recipes for my first week through. However, I felt pretty hungry by the end of the day yesterday and ate an extra meal. It probably threw me out of the Zone a little, but I have to say I woke up very energized. I'll need help through this, but would really like to keep at this way of eating. I think it's great. Plus, I'm even more motivated because I'm going to have my first wedding dress sizing in a couple months. I'm getting married next March![/quote:050e47868c] [color=darkred:050e47868c]Hi, Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. My daughter is getting married next year, too (in Aug.). After a few days of eating Zone balanced meals and snacks your hunger should begin to disappear. If not simply post in these forums and you'll find plenty of help. :D [/color:050e47868c][/quote:050e47868c] I'll be married in March. I'm hoping the hunger will subside. That's the hardest part. But, I was also sick at home yesterday. Now I'm at work and I'm sure I can find things to keep my mind off of it. Did you watch the Today show this morning? They mentioned the Zone diet, but said that it's difficult to follow because you have to be so accurate with your meals. Is that true?

[color=darkred:27572f3adf]Hi, No, it's not difficult at all in my experience. You really shouldn't be feeling too hungry. Once in the Zone for a few days, the average individual won't feel hungry. If it continues you're most likely doing something incorrectly. I'll be glad to help. I won't be here much next week and the week after, but I'm sure others will help you , too.[/color:27572f3adf]

[quote:63e4640bbe="Slknorr"][color=darkred:63e4640bbe]Hi, No, it's not difficult at all in my experience. You really shouldn't be feeling too hungry. Once in the Zone for a few days, the average individual won't feel hungry. If it continues you're most likely doing something incorrectly. I'll be glad to help. I won't be here much next week and the week after, but I'm sure others will help you , too.[/color:63e4640bbe][/quote:63e4640bbe] Well thank for the encouragement. I appreciate it. I'm already having a better day with the eating. With everything it takes some getting use to.

Hi there! I saw the Today Show as well, this morning and I wouldn't worry about them saying the Zone was difficult to follow because they also said that this was a high protein diet which even I know (after only 1 week on the Zone) is not the case. Their information came from Consumer Reports which from what I read in previous posts has not been very accurate when examining the Zone! Gina

[quote:26625e7732="GinaB"]Hi there! I saw the Today Show as well, this morning and I wouldn't worry about them saying the Zone was difficult to follow because they also said that this was a high protein diet which even I know (after only 1 week on the Zone) is not the case. Their information came from Consumer Reports which from what I read in previous posts has not been very accurate when examining the Zone! Gina[/quote:26625e7732] Thanks Gina. That helps. That frustrated me to hear that about the Zone. It's not a high-protein diet! It's not a diet in the first place. So, this is your first week also. That's great! Or is it your second? What motivated you to look into the Zone diet?

[quote:2168bb69a7="leena81"]Hi everybody, I have been following the discussions and looking for updates as well as tips from this forum for quite some time. Today I FINALLY registered myself and therefore just wanted to say hi to everybody. I have read the the very first Zone book and I am definitely ready to follow the diet as it just happens to make so much sense. And it just makes you feel so good, but I guess you all know that already :D So just a quick hello to ya all and more to come later! Leena[/quote:2168bb69a7] Leena, Good for you! I started yesterday. I'm very excited to see how it's going to change my energy level.

Hi! Yesterday was one week and so I guess today is the start of week 2! I have been on a million diets and I am just fed up with never feeling healthy. I got married in October and between the starvation pre-wedding and the binging post-wedding (honeymoon) I gained more weight than I ever thought I could. I also quit smoking in November so I totally used that as an excuse to eat whatever and whenever I wanted. :oops: I wanted something that I could stay with my entire life and not feel sickly. I think what really sealed the deal for me was the fact that pregnant women, children and animals can be on this diet. I figured if it is safe enough for them then it really is a lifestyle and not a fad. I'm lucky because my husband (still love saying husband!!) is doing it with me. We even went away this weekend for a family function and were able to stay in the Zone! I was so nervous before we left but we just planned ahead and I carried snacks with me. I am still getting the measurements down and I have a terrible time trying to get all favorable, mostly vegetable carbs in at dinner but I know that it will eventually come easier. I am excited and I definitely already notice a difference in my energy and hunger levels! Most people on the forum seem to agree that it is all much easier after the first couple of weeks...so we'll see!! How about you? Gina

Sorry it took me so long to respond. I was at work and had to get some things done. That's great that you and your husband are doing it together. My fiance opted out. I think he thinks its interesting, but doesn't want to put forth the effort. We're both pretty small people, however, I'm always trying to find a way to stay lean. I got interested in the diet after picking up an US Weekly. It mentioned that Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson have been using the Zone for quite some time. They both look terrific, so why not give it a try! But, once I started reading the book, I realized how healthy and beneficial it would be to begin eating this way. I am getting married next March and my first wedding dress sizing is coming up soon. So I want to make sure I'm in really good shape. Hopefully they will have to take an inch or two in. I think my biggest worry is doing this on the weekends. I don't want to give in to temptation. But, like Dr. Sears said, if you get out of the Zone you're only one meal away from getting back in. So, that's a comfort. I

That is so funny! I know exactly what you are talking about with the US magazine article. That is what originally led me to this site! I was totally too embarassed to admit that! :lol: I'm so glad you were brave first! Don't worry about the dress fittings! My first one, the dress was too big so they had to take it in (very good) then my second I couldn't even zip it up (very bad). I cannot even begin to tell you how traumatizing that was. In the end they let it back out but man it was some very scary, lean months! Just know, no matter what, you will be beautiful on that day because that is every bride's right! Plus you have ten months! I have noticed a difference with my energy level already after a week and that will be very helpful to you if you are planning a wedding (it was like a 2nd full time job for me!!). This is your third day, right? How is it going? Gina

Very well. My energy level is so high! However, I haven't gotten back into exercising yet. I figure one step at a time. I have a question though...I have to go out on Friday and the place where I'm going only has buffet food: meatballs, wings, pizza, salad, bread. What should I eat? I know the salad, but is pizza preferable?

I weighed myself this morning and I have lost my first lb. on the Zone! I'm so excited! How often should I measure myself?

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am sticking with every 2 weeks on the measuring because I have a tendency to be a bit obsessive. I would never make it a month and I feel like weekly isn't giving it enough time. As for your pizza question, I was really hoping someone else had chimed in because you know I am new with you BUT I have read that if you are going to eat pizza then you get three slices with lots of veggie goodies but only eat the toppings off the 2nd and 3rd slice plus a salad! Good luck with that and please let me know if you were able to stay in the Zone on pizza!!! Oh and CONGRATS AGAIN!!! You can't beat that for 4 days!! Gina

Gina, I drank way too much on Friday night...but I don't feel too bad about that. It was a birthday party and I needed a night out. However, I decided to eat really really poorly yesterday. Dr. Sears said to do that once a month. I my gosh! I feel terrible this morning. I'm finally losing my headache...I had nightmares all night long. However, I am in the Zone now and feel great about that. I think I'll measure myself after this week. I'm starting to exercise too. I'm taking the Self.com challenge. Check it out...it looks great!

How does this recipe look to you? I got it off of the self.com website: Challenge Feel-Good Frittata Vegetable-oil cooking spray 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper 11/2 cups fresh baby spinach, loosely packed 1 whole egg plus 3 egg whites 2 tbsp crumbled feta Coat an 8-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat on high. Add pepper; cook about 5 minutes or until just tender. Add spinach and sauté 2 minutes or until leaves are wilted but still bright green. In a small bowl, blend egg and egg whites with a whisk. Stir in feta and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over vegetables. Cook on medium heat until eggs set. Remove from heat. Place a plate on top of skillet and invert so frittata falls onto plate. Spray skillet again and return frittata to it to brown other side. Cook 1 minute. Serve with an orange and 1 piece whole-wheat toast. Serves 1. Nutritional analysis per serving: 387 calories, 12 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 46 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein, 8 g fiber

[quote:c1b59b8718="payne2001"]How does this recipe look to you? Serve with an orange and 1 piece whole-wheat toast. Serves 1. Nutritional analysis per serving: 387 calories, 12 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 46 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein, 8 g fiber[/quote:c1b59b8718] Protein = 4 blocks Fat = 4 Blocks Carb = 5 Blocks I would remove the extra carb block of unfavorable toast. Dennis

Thank you! What would I do to make it 3 blocks?

Hey! I just wanted to check in with you. I am going to be away until after Memorial Day for work. This is the end of my third week and I am still feeling great. I measured today and I have lost more than an inch off my waist and hips-I cannot even believe it! I re-measured like 5 times to be sure, then I had my husband measure. How are things on your end? Gina

[quote:3e772cf19c="payne2001"]Thank you! What would I do to make it 3 blocks?[/quote:3e772cf19c]Give 1/4 of it to your dog. 8)

[quote:a14caa7c69="gofish"][quote:a14caa7c69="payne2001"]How does this recipe look to you? Serve with an orange and 1 piece whole-wheat toast. Serves 1. Nutritional analysis per serving: 387 calories, 12 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 46 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein, 8 g fiber[/quote:a14caa7c69] Protein = 4 blocks Fat = 4 Blocks Carb = 5 Blocks I would remove the extra carb block of unfavorable toast. Dennis[/quote:a14caa7c69] By my computer/gram method, I get Protein = 3.1 blocks Fat = 7.4 blocks (assumes 1 Tablespoon of oil (13.5 g fat) and 1/8 cup of feta has 4 grams of fat according to the USDA database plus 5 grams of fat in the whole egg) Carb = 0.4 blocks (without the toast or orange) Challenge Feel-Good Frittata looks like a good candidate for the Atkins diet. Just substitute 3 whole eggs for the egg whites.