Mastering The Zone

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Summary: A healthy way of eating for life -- not a "diet."
Review: It isn't always easy to prepare menus and cook food ahead of time, but if you can do it, then you're on your way to healthier eating. Dr. Sears explains his "diet" better to non-medical people in this book. This isn't a high-protein diet or a no-carbs diet as some of the other controversial diets are and some critics claim this to be. It really is a healthy way to eat. I work for a doctor whose specialty is type 2 diabetes mellitus, and limiting those refined carbohydrates is proven to help those with all forms of insulin sensitivity. Limiting refined sugars and increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, adding the heart-healthy HDL cholesterol via monounsaturated fat, and eating sensible amounts of low-fat protein will help anyone maintain or lose weight, control blood sugar, and stay healthy with more energy. I lost 20 lbs., with 4 inches reduced from my stomach, and I didn't even have to exercise. Imagine if I had added some walking or other activities! Dr. Sears's suggestions I try to incorporate into my daily life, even those times when I am not as strict as I should be. I would highly recommend this book for anyone struggling with a weight problem or just anyone wanting to be healthier.

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Summary: Don't Confuse this diet with the Atkin's diet
Review: Barry Sears does a much better job at simplifying his explanation of the diet in this book, compared to his previous book, "Entering the Zone". By decreasing your consumption of complex carbs and increasing consumption of simple carbs (AKA fruits and vegetables) with a proper balance of proteins & fats, weight loss with increased energy levels and improved health is guaranteed

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Summary: Don't be put off, this is not a high protein diet!
Review: I've lost count of how many times I've seen the Zone described as a high protein/low carb diet, lumping it in with Atkins. In fact, you eat more carbs than protein on the Zone, and it is protein adequate, not high protein. I've lost 45 pounds on the Zone, my cholesterol went down, my good cholesterol went up and my triglycerides went down. My bodyfat percentage went from 40% to 25%. My energy level has increased, I don't get that afternoon slump, and I need less sleep at night. The block measurements become second nature once you become familiar with the portions of your favorite food. You can eat anything if you balance it correctly, though of course, some foods are better for you than others. I can't recommend this program enough. And Mastering the Zone is the most user friendly book of all the Zone books. There are also websites that are very helpful for people who are learning about the program. For those of us who were lucky enough to stick with it, we have been rewarded with weight loss, increased energy and better health. And unanimously, we say that this is not a diet for us but a way of life.

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Summary: Everyone's Zone
Review: Three cheers for Dr. Sears's success in making improved health and vitality available to everyone in this how-to handbook of the Zone way of eating. The book offers a terrific grounding in Zone principles and the recipes provide a perfect starting point for beginning Zone cooks. Dr. Sears's principles deeply influenced my own thinking about diet and nutrition and led to the writing of my own book, The Gourmet Prescription: High Flavor Recipes for Lower Carbohydrate Diets. The Zone may not be the ONLY lower carbohydrate (i.e. insulin-modulating) diet, but--in my opinion-- it is the healthiest and the most gourmet-friendly.

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Summary: Discover how to balance my hormonal carburator came back me
Review: Learning how to balance my hormonal carburator make me feel alive again,after having my baby I'd never came back to have the fully well being that I always used to enjoy before,most the time I felt tired,so something was missing, something was wrong, but I never found the answer to what was happening to me, I tried many diets, I read many books, I went to the doctor,but not answer to help my exhausted body, some day I found in a web site which was in a e-mail for me, the book so it was the miracle for me I read the the review of publisher,and I thought, it sounds well, I have to find it as soon as possible, because I don't live in U.S.A. , the same day my sister Elizabeth invited me to take lunch,she as me ,likes to diet and to feel healthy, for my surprise the book was in the bookshelf of her kitchen so I began to read it, and I discovered that people with blood "O" have different resistance to glycemic foods, I began to eat according to Zone's diets and my energy and attitude changed, know I enjoy reading and writing again, exercising,going out,calling my friends,because before this I have no energy,I am not totally recovery yet,but while I'm eating the Zone recipes I may say that I've come back to life. For me and my work it is important to keep a powerful mental performance, I am a translator and for me being alert and sharp minded is basic.If some day you need to translate something from your book from english to spanish, please let me know, I'm sure it'd help many people who do not know how to eat and to enjoy a plentyfull life.I hope to impove my health, I will write again to know more about the Zone to achieve a gold level. Thank you very much, sinceryly your dear friend : Beatrice.

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Summary: Excellent
Review: I have lost 8 lbs in the first 16 days and I am never hungry on this diet. It is the best I have ever went on and I can imagine it will probably be the last as you can eat normal food. It is fantastic. Try it you won't be disappointed. Mary

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Summary: too complicated
Review: I thought a block of protein was 7gr - I'm reading Woman's World 7/28/98 magazine - Sandra Bullocks - one of her meals BBQ Chicken Salad has 36 gr of protein, 10 gr of fat and 54 g of carbs now I'm totally confused - if I'm allowed 3 blocks of protein x 7 gr that equals 21grams - am I missing something????

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Summary: The best thing that has ever happenned to my health.
Review: After sufferring the lost of my fiance' Sept 96, needless to say I was grief stricken, not eating well and for that matter not sleeping. Could'nt get it together. After awhile I was desperate to feel better but did'nt now what to do. My sister suggested that I try "Entering the Zone" so I did. Not only was studying the book taking my mind from things, but following the suggested program helped to make me feel better and more clear than ever. I actually feel that the zone program helped to ease me through my grieving process. I was supplied with all the proper nourishment that my body was starving for. I had energy amd clarity to start to move forward.I always say the zone was a good grief project for me. Thank You Barry Sears!

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Summary: Readers please beware of fad diets!!!
Review: Diets such as the zone diet do not exhibit balanced nutrition as is found in the food guide pryamid. Adding too much protein to one's diet, as the book suggests, takes away from the carbohydrates that are a necessary part of our diet-- it is from carbs that we get our energy!!! It's a lot harder for our body to get energy from protein!!!

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Summary: It's fantastic!
Review: At first I thought it was too good to be true. Almost every review raved about this diet. I have tried this plan for the past 4 weeks and am amazed how quickly the weight came off. It was scary that I lost 6 lbs in 10 days!! I am not overweight at all but did the "zone" because my husband needed to lose weight and the recipes are meant for 2 people. I am a believer in this plan and recommend it to anyone. After losing the intitial 6 lbs, I hit my plateau and have not lost a pound since but I'm happy where I'm at. I plan to stay on the "zone" forever. It really is more of a lifestyle change rather than a diet.