Mastering The Zone

Rating:
Summary: Faith, Motivation, and Sacrifice
Review: It's sad that so many people are unwilling to commit the motivation (read discipline) and sacrifice required to make this eating lifestyle truly effective. Yes, it works, but it comes at a price. Since most of us are conditioned to eating for entertainment and not nutrition, we're unwilling to accept food as fuel and not simply fun. Does it require sacrifice? Absolutely. Many people are offended when in the presence of someone dedicated to a "radical diet". Don't give up! Keep the faith and be strong. Your health is too important, and this book is your guide to good health and a more productive life!

Rating:
Summary: Just good common sense
Review: I've tried all kinds of diets and none of them have worked long term. I tried eating "in the zone" in principle, using the basic concepts, but not actually counting blocks. I lost 25 pounds in less than a year. My goal was to see if weight could be lost and if I could increase my energy with a busy schedule... just like my patients. It WORKED! This is now the only "healthy lifestyle" way of eating that I recommend to my patients. You may lose weight with other plans, but statistically you won't keep it off. Other diets slow down your metabolism, this one speeds it up. Medically/physiologically the Zone makes sense.

Rating:
Summary: The concept is elegant, putting it into practice is harder
Review: I tried the Zone for a period of about four months. I was religious about it. I calculated blocks, I got very scientific about meals, and in the end found it just too hard for an ordinary housewife with kids and a husband to keep up with. It's a tremendous amount of work to get things figured out, and while I'm sure if I were single I'd find it easier, I just plain didn't have time. And I didn't lose more than about 8 pounds while I was following it to the letter, so I'm not convinced of its effectiveness. A nice idea if you can afford to hire a chef to cook for you all the time like Madonna or Howard Stern, but for those of us in the trenches it's not very practical.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting theory; yet to see a difference
Review: I'm 5'5" 154 lbs. I have modified my diet slightly to be closer to what's recommended in the book and haven't seen much difference. My weight's varied between 142 lb and 154 lb. My energy level is similar to the one before I modified the diet.

Rating:
Summary: Changed my way of looking at food!
Review: I am a Type I diabetic and have been on this diet for one month now. My blood sugars have NEVER been as good and consistant as they are now! I am losing the weight slowly (as one should) and feel more energetic than I have in years. This diet is not very "portable" since there is alot of weighing and measuring, but after a while, you learn to eyeball your portions.

Rating:
Summary: Common sense approach to a healty diet
Review: This is the first approach to diet and health that I've read recently that really makes sense in a holistic way. Sears teaches: Don't avoid food groups or focus on "food addictions." The emphasis is on common sense--just do what your grandma did. And there is an interesting hypothesis on why the USDA has endorced a grain-based diet: No other way to sell the nation's surplus of wheat! Sears includes lots of helpful recipes and menus. Read this before you attempt the high protein diets that are all the rage now.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent healthy eating plan - NOT a "diet"
Review: I checked into The Zone due to health reasons. I presented the eating plan to my doctor and he was very enthusiastic for me to get started. Like I said, I'm doing this for health reasons and the fact that I have dropped 10 pounds at the height of the holiday season is just a bonus! It's easy to eat this way. At first I was intimidated by the measuring of food and getting the hang of Dr. Sears' "block" food value regimen but after a few weeks it has become easy for me to eyeball foods and know what and how much to have. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to lose some weight, be healthier, feel better and especially those who are headed down the road to Type II Diabetes! Great book, but more importantly it's an excellent healthy eating plan!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Diet Recommendations
Review: As a physician, I highly recommend this book for anyone who would like sound diet guidlines. This is not a high protein diet (which I do not recommend), but a diet that teaches you how to balance the better sources of protein, carbohydrate, and fat.

Rating:
Summary: Very good stuff
Review: THis is an excellent book. I have been following the guidelines for about a week and have noticed a big difference. When I get off work now I'm no longer devoid of energy. I can go to the gym and have an excellent work out because my energy is constant.

Rating:
Summary: This "diet" really works...and it's so EASY!
Review: For all you yo-yo dieters out there, you must try the Zone. It really works for me. I lost 35 pounds in 6 months and have kept it off for 2 months. The Zone is very flexible and I don't find it difficult to stay on with having to cook for a family. Above all, the weight loss was painless and I feel so much better. I love my nighttime snack...every night I have a gin & diet tonic with lime, string cheese and almonds! Dr. Sears also has two websites that are very informative and supportive. You should check them out. I was a carb addict before I started zoning and had to "tweak" the zone so that I wasn't craving carbs. I ended up decreasing one carb and adding 1-2 fats per meal which worked for me. Have fun with this...you'll be suprised how fast it works!