It's been several years since I was on the Zone. It started when we found my husband was diabetic. The American Diabetes Association diet did NOT work. A friend told us about the Zone. I lost a lot of weight and body fat, but over the years fell away from healthful eating. :roll: I have a friend now on South Beach and beating herself up over eating. The phases and the allowed foods are quite difficult. I couldn't do it :? . I've lost 5 pounds so far getting started again on the Zone. I love this lifestyle. :D The blocks are easy to use and it's easy to stay inside the framework. I have 40 pounds more to lose before I am at my ideal weight, then another 15-20 if I decide to really get in shape. I'm trying to motivate myself to get to the exercise! :oops: I have a track-walker and want to use my pilates DVD's along with the Zone. Just need to get that motivation. :arrow: I'm looking for a Zone Pal to get encouragement from and give encouragement to. My interests are gardening, computers and fiber arts (such as spinning, weaving, crocheting, knitting, bobbin lacing, and tatting). My kids are mostly grown, but I do have an "almost" 18 yo at home still.

[color=darkred:855c51bcd8]Hi, Glad you came back to the Zone. If you have the So. Beach Diet books, you can actually "Zone" a lot of those recipes by manipulating the P/C/F and eliminating the unfavorable ingredients or keeping them to a minimum. There's a really good pistachio encrusted chicken breast, and a nice pork dish with garlic and chick peas (also includes mussels). Try not to think of the total amont of wt you want ot lose. Rejoice in every few lbs of wt . loss and before you know it they'll really begin to add up. That worked best for me. Another tip I have is to fucus on insulin control rather than wt loss. If you keep that focus when rereading your Zone books, you'll pick up a lot of info which will enhance your zoning and ultimately result in the most wt. loss. We have some common interests besides the Zone and our wt losses. I've been involved in "needle arts" for many years (40 yrs or so....I'm 53), my favorites being quilting, sewing in general, knitting, and crocheting, although for the past 5 yrs or so they've taken a back seat to other pursuits. After I lost all the weight and became more physically active, my interests changed. But I'm currently doing some interesting knitting (called intarsia) in which the resulting piece is a two layer reversible item (actually a patern wher one siode is like the negative of the other side) in which the two parts are held together at the places where I change the yarn color (two colors in my piece). Difficult to explain in writing, but the piece I'm knitting is a throw, similar to the two color woven cotton throws that are so popular today. I used to have my own quilting business with the focus on refurbishing very old quilts. I have three children, the two oldest (28 and 26) grown and on thern own, and our youngest (19) about to begin his second year of college. BTW, how you're determining your wt loss goal? To find a good wt to shoot for (22% body fat) divide your current LBM by 0.78 to give your total wt. at 22%. Keep in touch. :D [/color:855c51bcd8]

I think I'll give those SB recipes a second look. Thanks for the idea of "fixing" them. The pistachio encrusted chicken sounds divine! I'd love to get into quilting. I have two family quilt tops I'd like to finish...someday...before I can't. The tops need some repair before I can finish them. I started a "teapot/cup" quilt. Don't know if I mentioned that in any posts to anyone on this site or not. It's from a dress I picked up at a thrift store and cut the bottom border which was perfect for quilt squares of 4" x 4" and has teapots on them. I'm putting a backing on them, and bead-quilting around the teapots and doing some extra bead-quilting on a bit of the design in the teapots. It's really pretty. Almost looks 'mary englebright'. The background is black. Looks really rich when the piece is done. Tatting is probably my favorite. I'm also tatting some teapots to put on a contrast for between the other squares. Good to know I have so much in common with someone else on the board! Kids, age, needlearts, and weight loss! Thanks for the warm welcome! thelady...

I LOVE your signature!! Went to the site and got me one too. Thank you!

[quote:fd942dafaa="Slknorr"][color=darkred:fd942dafaa]To find a good wt to shoot for (22% body fat) divide your current LBM by 0.78 to give your total wt. at 22%.[/color:fd942dafaa][/quote:fd942dafaa] Hi Sue! I'm a bit dense when it comes to math....if I multiply my current LBM (112) by .78, I get 87.36. How do I add the 22% fat? (I know this must be obvious, sorry I'm overlooking it).

[quote:d7f3d90f43="theladyluvslace"]I have 40 pounds more to lose before I am at my ideal weight, then another 15-20 if I decide to really get in shape. I'm trying to motivate myself to get to the exercise! :oops: I have a track-walker and want to use my pilates DVD's along with the Zone. Just need to get that motivation.[/quote:d7f3d90f43] I'm in a similar boat :oops: I have 50 lbs to lose before I'm at the high bracket of my ideal weight (Metropolitan Tables), but 10-15 less would be ideal. [quote:d7f3d90f43="theladyluvslace"]I'm looking for a Zone Pal to get encouragement from and give encouragement to. My interests are gardening, computers and fiber arts (such as spinning, weaving, crocheting, knitting, bobbin lacing, and tatting). My kids are mostly grown, but I do have an "almost" 18 yo at home still.[/quote:d7f3d90f43] I'd like to be your pal too :wink: Although I don't know what it entails--don't think I've had one before. But I know we could encourage each other since our goals are similar. I started the Zone back in the middle of June. Have lost a total of 11lbs and 6in (3 from waist, 3 from hips). Although I'm trying hard, I don't think I'm in the zone 100% of the time, at each meal, every day....perhaps I'm being over-analytical, but I don't think so because the measurements have stayed the same for two weeks. I am exercising, because I really have to. I have very low HDL and extremely elevated C-Reactive Protein levels, so the doc wants me doing 45min cardio 5 days/wk. I'm doing that plus weight training/body toning 2 days/wk (lucky to have a gym at work). As far as interests...I used to crochet but hardly have time anymore--I have like 3 or 4 half-finished projects put away. I have two daughters, one is almost 20 and going to college in AZ and the other is 12 (going on 17) entering the 7th grade this year. Love computers; like to read, research on the 'net and study the Bible. Check my SIG!! thanks to you :)

Hi Babs- Glad I could steer you to a signature tag. I thought it was fun to have. The information actually came from the SB group, but it's available to anyone, so I thought I'd take it with me! I'm not sure how the "Pals" works either; it may just be being a part of this forum. I'm sure Sue will let us know! There is also the possibility of the email or the private message at the bottom of the screen when you're reading the posts. I'll wait for hopeful information. In the meantime, congrats on your weight loss so far. I always knew when I was in the Zone; I had infinite amounts of energy and could go on forever. As soon as I was out of the Zone, I crashed. I know it's really important to stay in the Zone for proper metabolism during the day, but it can be hard. It's all in the 40-30-30 on a constant basis. Another reason you may not be losing as you'd like is your exercise. Exercise builds more muscle and muscle is denser than fat, so the weight may not come off as fast. I think it's the kind of exercise you do. While aerobics/cardio burns calories and fat, the toning exercise builds muscle mass. You'll get there, just hang in there. Follow your dr.'s plan. I know what you mean about the 12 yo being 17 yo. My 17 yo wanted to do all the things her sister (4 years her elder) did. It was hard at 12 to keep her there. It started straightening out when her sister moved out two years ago. She was 20 when she moved out and my now 17 year old sees mistakes her sister is making and has slowed down some. She doesn't want to make those same mistakes. This one has high goals, very high goals. thelady...

[quote:0b088d29ac="Babs"][quote:0b088d29ac="Slknorr"][color=darkred:0b088d29ac]To find a good wt to shoot for (22% body fat) divide your current LBM by 0.78 to give your total wt. at 22%.[/color:0b088d29ac][/quote:0b088d29ac] Hi Sue! I'm a bit dense when it comes to math....if I multiply my current LBM (112) by .78, I get 87.36. How do I add the 22% fat? (I know this must be obvious, sorry I'm overlooking it).[/quote:0b088d29ac] [color=darkred:0b088d29ac]Hi, The difficulty you're having is because you multiplied. Take a closer look at my post. You need to divide. To add 22% to your LBM, to arrive at your ideal weight for your current LBM, you'd divide your LBM by 0.78. In your case with 112 LBM that would be an ideal weight of 144 lb (112 lb divided by 0.78 equals 143.59 lb , which rounds off to 144lb). 8) [/color:0b088d29ac]

[color=darkred:2f0c45df9f]Hi, There really isn't any kind of Pals thing that happens here. It's simply a forum where you can share info with your Zone friends on this site. I'd love to be "Pals" with you both! And if you come up with any interesting Pals challenges or things to do on here count me in. :) Have a nice weekend![/color:2f0c45df9f]

I like the idea of daily accountability. When I went to the 40/40 board, I could see that is basically what is happening there. It's more like a list I was on for tatting. You quickly become friends with a lot of people and it sort of becomes an 'extended family'. From that list, people found others they had more in common with and privately emailed them, stricking up new personal firendships. This seems to have the 'extended family' thing going and I assume the private message or email are used for more personal contact. I'm also assuming they can also be used to send the same message to more than one person, creating a less than 'extended family'. Where the board is the perfect place for chatting about just the Zone, I would be interested in private messaging or emailing with a few who shared my interest in other things, such as needle arts, gardening, etc. I'm afraid regular posting on the board would become too cluttered if we shared these other things. That's not what I see the purpose of the board being. If either of you are interested in combining 'Zone' chatting with 'interest' chatting, send me a private message or email, that is if they are unlocked and allowed. thelady...

I should retract and edit the 40/40 board...it should have said the "Pals" board. :oops: :oops: thelady...

[color=darkred:8009ead3b2]Hi, the private messaging feature was disabled, as I understand it, due to some [/color:8009ead3b2]

Sue- I have sent you an email through the forum option to see if the feature works. I will add you to my regular email also and email you from there. Thanks for the trust; I won't abuse it! Joy

[quote:9d54ec72e0="theladyluvslace"]Sue- I have sent you an email through the forum option to see if the feature works. I will add you to my regular email also and email you from there. Thanks for the trust; I won't abuse it! Joy[/quote:9d54ec72e0] [color=darkred:9d54ec72e0]Yes, it works. I checked after I posted, and it's the private massaging feature that is disabled, not the email feature.[/color:9d54ec72e0]

Sue- Great, then I will use it instead of regular email! That will also encourage me to keep up with the forum and not just get side-tracked in email. thelady...

Sue- I have a question about the 22% body fat. I used my fat-calc from when I first figured it and using the LBM / 0.78, I got 138 pounds. Figuring it today with my weight loss, I'm getting 141 pounds. Why the difference? Shouldn't it be the same ideal weight all the time? If not, with the increase in ideal weight with the more weight I lose, my ideal weight might be where I am right now! :shock: I have a 1 1/2 inch loss in my waist! :lol: , but no loss in hips :cry: thelady...

[color=green:91654f75c9]Hello ladies- In my quest for meal planning for this next week, I devised a table to use. It's "My Day in the Zone" which holds one days worth of foods and blocks. I'm hoping it will make recording my intake easier. I find I have several pieces of paper (mostly sticky notes) laying around with conversions from grams to blocks. :roll: Total disorganization, and I hate disorganization. It came out really nice, at least I think so. If I could figure out how to attach it as a file here, I would, so I could share it; but, I don't see an option. Also, I like Sue's idea of colored text. It is so easy to read through the messages and know which is from her. I'm going to go with her idea and try green text. thelady...[/color:91654f75c9]

[quote:69f4fab741="theladyluvslace"]In the meantime, congrats on your weight loss so far. I always knew when I was in the Zone; I had infinite amounts of energy and could go on forever. As soon as I was out of the Zone, I crashed. I know it's really important to stay in the Zone for proper metabolism during the day, but it can be hard. It's all in the 40-30-30 on a constant basis.[/quote:69f4fab741] Thank you, and you on yours as well :) I've noticed I am more sensitive to carbs now (or maybe I always was and never paid attention), but I can tell when I overdo the C's because I get sleepy. [quote:69f4fab741="theladyluvslace"]Another reason you may not be losing as you'd like is your exercise. Exercise builds more muscle and muscle is denser than fat, so the weight may not come off as fast. I think it's the kind of exercise you do. While aerobics/cardio burns calories and fat, the toning exercise builds muscle mass. .[/quote:69f4fab741] That's one of the first things I learned on the Zone--forget about the scale. I need to learn p-a-t-i-e-n-ce! One thing I'm doing is keeping a diary in an Excel spreadsheet tracking my progress in measurements, body fat loss, LBM gain and weight. It keeps me encouraged. Let me know if you want a copy (it's a very rudimentary spreadsheet, but it works). Belinda

[quote:a0bf979dae="Slknorr"][quote:a0bf979dae="Babs"][quote:a0bf979dae="Slknorr"][color=darkred:a0bf979dae]To find a good wt to shoot for (22% body fat) divide your current LBM by 0.78 to give your total wt. at 22%.[/color:a0bf979dae][/quote:a0bf979dae] Hi Sue! I'm a bit dense when it comes to math....if I multiply my current LBM (112) by .78, I get 87.36. How do I add the 22% fat? (I know this must be obvious, sorry I'm overlooking it).[/quote:a0bf979dae] [color=darkred:a0bf979dae]Hi, The difficulty you're having is because you multiplied. Take a closer look at my post. You need to divide. To add 22% to your LBM, to arrive at your ideal weight for your current LBM, you'd divide your LBM by 0.78. In your case with 112 LBM that would be an ideal weight of 144 lb (112 lb divided by 0.78 equals 143.59 lb , which rounds off to 144lb). 8) [/color:a0bf979dae][/quote:a0bf979dae] hehe...did I also tell you I am reading impaired?! Thanks for the clarification, Sue.

[quote:32af831426="theladyluvslace"][color=green:32af831426]Hello ladies- In my quest for meal planning for this next week, I devised a table to use. It's "My Day in the Zone" which holds one days worth of foods and blocks. I'm hoping it will make recording my intake easier. I find I have several pieces of paper (mostly sticky notes) laying around with conversions from grams to blocks. :roll: Total disorganization, and I hate disorganization. It came out really nice, at least I think so. If I could figure out how to attach it as a file here, I would, so I could share it; but, I don't see an option.[/color:32af831426][/quote:32af831426] [color=blue:32af831426]Hey, that sounds great! And thanks for the offer, most kind of you--I'd love a copy. Don't know about uploading, but send it by email. :)[/color:32af831426] [quote:32af831426="theladyluvslace"][color=green:32af831426]Also, I like Sue's idea of colored text. It is so easy to read through the messages and know which is from her. I'm going to go with her idea and try green text.[/color:32af831426][/quote:32af831426] [color=blue:32af831426]And I agree with the color thingy! New sig...new color.... Lady, you've got me stylin'!! :lol: Thank you! [/color:32af831426]

[quote:5678e34de1="Slknorr"][color=darkred:5678e34de1]I'd love to be "Pals" with you both! And if you come up with any interesting Pals challenges or things to do on here count me in. :) Have a nice weekend![/color:5678e34de1][/quote:5678e34de1] [color=blue:5678e34de1]<bow> I'm honored, thanks Sue!! Hope you have a great weekend as well :) Belinda[/color:5678e34de1]

[color=green:cf788389d5]I realized my email icon wasn't showing up in the messages, so I reset my profile to include it along with YM and MSN; although I'm not on those much. I'm most always on AIM. thelady...[/color:cf788389d5]

[quote:1c40383213="Babs"][quote:1c40383213="Slknorr"][color=darkred:1c40383213]I'd love to be "Pals" with you both! And if you come up with any interesting Pals challenges or things to do on here count me in. :) Have a nice weekend![/color:1c40383213][/quote:1c40383213] [color=blue:1c40383213]<bow> I'm honored, thanks Sue!! Hope you have a great weekend as well :) Belinda[/color:1c40383213][/quote:1c40383213] [color=darkred:1c40383213]Oh, please, no. No bowing! I'm just another zoner like all the rest of the forum members. :)[/color:1c40383213]

[color=green:e2841ce519][b:e2841ce519][size=18:e2841ce519]My [i:e2841ce519]"new cheesecake"[/i:e2841ce519]![/size:e2841ce519][/b:e2841ce519] 1/2 cup rasberry yogurt (store brand/no added sugar/lowfat/120 calorie) 1/4 cup cottage cheese (lowfat, also store brand) 1 1/2 pieces graham cracker (use in moderation carb) 6 almonds (ground for topping) Fat blocks 2 Carb blocks 2 Protein blocks 2 Yummy, yummy! That was my lunch! :wink: Off to a great week start! Weight loss feels good, exercise felt great (yep, started walker today), energy level is wonderful, and I'm not hungry! thelady... 8) [/color:e2841ce519]

[quote:864e596cab="theladyluvslace"][color=green:864e596cab]Off to a great week start! Weight loss feels good, exercise felt great (yep, started walker today), energy level is wonderful, and I'm not hungry![/color:864e596cab][/quote:864e596cab] [color=blue:864e596cab]Awesome! hey, and thanks for sharing that recipe :) [/color:864e596cab]