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Summary: Good principles, but . . .
Review: This book has sound nutritional principles, but after I tried the diet, I found it to be much too restrictive, and exact. My daily food block requirements were only seven blocks, and I was always starving for something to eat, even directly after meals. The book was also extremely technical and difficult to understand for anyone short of a university degree in biology. Now I have decided to switch to the less-restrictive but still healthy Sugar Busters! lifestyle plan. I would recomment Sugar Busters! over "The Zone" any day.
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Summary: The Best Low Carb Book !!! I lost 35 lbs!!
Review: The Zone has changed my life. Since April I have gone from 165- 130lbs. I was never an overeater and I have always done step class at least 2-3 x a week but couldn't loose weight until I read this book.The bagel, cereal, and rice that i thought was good for me was keeping me fat. I read Atkins, Summersizing, but this is the best. I wouldnt recommend it to everyone. Just all the high domes out there since it is a little tough to read at times.Also I don't think Vegans could be very happy with this diet. Face it people the low fat diet does not and never did work. People are fatter now than they ever were before the stupid "food pyramid" Now our children are obese too! The Zone explains it perfectly... our digestive systems have not evolved since our ancestors were cavemen and there was no bread or pasta. What do you give a cow to make it fat?GRAIN!! We should be eating like the cavemen and not the cow. The best part is I don't crave carbs anymore!!
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Summary: Best Food Philosphy Book there is...BAR NONE
Review: The book goes into EXTREME depth in some places to explain the "why" and "how", and this may throw people off. DO NOT complicate it or get bogged down in the 'weeds'. For instance, how many people know EXACTLY how electronic ignitions work in their cars? Less than 1%- Does that stop them from driving to work? Simply stay as close to the Zone as you can each meal and snack - don't worry if you are not exactly correct. The Zone has done this for me personally in three weeks: down 5.5 pounds, pants fit again (Thank You Dr. Sears)I have TWICE the energy yet reduced my coffee intake DRAMATICALLY. The item that seems to hinder most of us (office is doing this as a team) is the water. They eat right but don't drink the required water. But overall we have had HUGE success...our new motto - ZFL's everyday! (Zone Favorable Lunches)
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Summary: I hated this book!
Review: This book is filled with too many rules and is a difficult book to follow. Please consider one of the less expensive low-carb books like Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution or the Carbohydrate Addicts book.
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Summary: Too Many Rules!
Review: I read this book and I would not recommend it to anyone who isn't good at following a strict, rigid diet with a lot of rules. If you don't keep portions of protein, carbohydrates, and fat exact, you will not be in the Zone. One little slip can totally throw you out of the Zone. How realistic is that? If you inaccurately measure your body fat percentage it could also throw you out of the Zone. Also, it seemed like the only fat product that you could have was cottage cheese, which I don't even like! I felt very limited when it came to choosing my meals. I don't think I would be able to stick to something with so many rules for any amount of time.
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Summary: A Transforming Experience
Review: Barry Sears's The Zone transformed my life and that of my entire family (including my 70-odd-odd-year-old parents and 13-year-old-son). My new cookbook, The Gourmet Prescription, is--in part-- a tribute to Dr. Sears and his contribution to the world's conversation about nutrition, weight loss, athletic performance, optimal vitality, and the prevention of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I believe strongly in the validity of insulin modulation as a means to better health. Of all insulin- modulating diets (including Atkins, Suzanne Somers, Sugar Busters, Protein Power, Schwarzbein, Montignac, Heller, Glucose Revolution, and G-Index), The Zone is the most moderate, balanced, and gourmet friendly. Dr. Sears is to be congratulated for the originality of his thinking and the courage with which he declaims it.
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Summary: Sears is a genius, read it and live it!
Review: Thank you Barry for telling us the truth about how our bodies metabolize food. Americans are such extremists. First, high carbohydrate diets are in then super low carb diets are in. This is manic-depressive behavoir that perpetuates the cycle. What Sears explains is that we need a moderate amount of all three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and good fat in every meal and every snack. His science is extraordinary and cutting edge. As much as I love Sears' science I do not recommend following his block system. It is confusing, plus counting grams is far easier and more practical. Just think 3-2-1 or 40/30/30. That's a ratio of 3 grams of carbs for every 2 grams of protein and 1 gram of fat or 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat. The Zone is the real deal! High carb diets make you fat and high protein diets will cause you to lose weight temporarily. I have never seen anyone on the Atkins diet keep the weight off. Besides, urinating on a strip to make sure you don't go into ketosis is insane. High protein diets are simply another quick fix that do not work permanently. Permanent results require measures that can be sustained and the Zone is it because you don't give up anything, you eat in moderation, no extremes. Read it and follow it, it is easy plus it makes sense.
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Summary: Finally a diet that works and makes me feel good!!!
Review: My doctor recommended this book to me when I expressed my interest in shedding some pounds. I do not have a lot of excess weight to lose, but as most women in this day and age, tend to compare themselves as to what they looked like when they got married, and what they look like now; 18 years later. Nothing has ever worked for me in the past. It was like my metabolism was not even there. I could not shed a single pound. I ordered The Zone book and read it through. By the time I was finished, I was most anxious to get started. As with most diets, the first two weeks are the hardest. Hungry and the side effects of your body detoxicating is the worst!! So far I have shed 9 pounds in 4 weeks. The weight is coming off slow, but as I understand it, that is a good thing. I feel better, I am not so hungry. Some days I have to force myself to eat just to stay within 'THE ZONE.' I am very thankful for this book.
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Summary: great for thyroid related insulin resistance.
Review: insulin resistance does exist. for 4 years i excercised faithfully with absolutely no weightloss. in fact i gained 30 pounds going from 140lbs(after 4 children) to 170lbs. i had tried all; of the diets, low fat, low calorie, Dr. Atkins diet which does induce ketosis(i could not stay on it for more than 2 days at a time). Dr. Sears book does not require purchaseso of bizarre foods. Hypothyroidism caused my insulin resistance. I have been on this diet for about a month and have lost 10 pounds. Very hungry for the first 2 weeks. be patient and stay with it..it works. I wish other experts would read this book in its entirety. Also a comment re: other reviews. Dr. Sears does suggest that weight training is good for weight loss, and insulin is a powerful hormone that we tamper with whenever we pop a doughnut or any other high carb item into our bodies.it makes sense.
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Summary: Critics are misunderstanding (or haven't read) this book
Review: The way of eating advocated in this book is NOT high-protein, it will NOT promote ketosis, it will NOT make you hungry, it will NOT produce eating disorders, etc. etc. It's obvious that some people have either misunderstood the book (it IS based on simple concepts but they're explained so thoroughly that they can seem overwhelming and confusing) or, as appears to be the case with some folks, they have not even read the book and are making false assumptions about it. The premise of the book is simple: 1. Virtually all functions in your body are controlled by a group of hormones called eicosanoids. (See the 1982 Nobel Prize - winning research on these hormones.) 2. Hormones work in pairs that counterbalance each other so you don't get too much of any kind of activity in the body. (For example, insulin and glycogen--if you have too much of one/not enough of the other, your blood sugar will be out of control.) 3. These hormone pairs get out of balance if we don't eat balanced meals, and eat them frequently enough. 4. Dr. Sears figures the best balance is this: figure out your individual protein needs, then eat approximately this ratio at every meal: for every 7 grams of protein, 9 grams of carbohydrate (preferably fruits & vegetables rather than starches), and 1 1/2 grams of monounsaturated fat. He believes this to be the ideal ratio for maintaining balance of your eicosanoids, and thus, all functions in your body. 5. If you follow this eating style, according to Dr. Sears, you will lose body fat and gain muscle mass until you reach your body's ideal balance. Then you will hold steady. 6. Since eicosanoids control every body system, an imbalance may contribute to virtually every problem in the human body, including diabetes, hypoglycemia, insomnia, cancer, heart disease, etc. Therefore, keeping (or returning to) proper balance of eicosanoids is extremely important to all aspects of health. This may sound like an inappropriately sweeping statement, and it hasn't been tested, but it is the logical, inescapable conclusion based on how eicosanoids affect us. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 9 months ago, and have been researching every book and medical journal I can get my hands on since then, and when I read Dr. Sears's book a couple days ago, all my knowledge gained from that research began clicking into place. I immediately decided that his theory explains everything I've been reading and suddenly all these seemingly disparate pieces of the puzzle all fit together. And I am willing to stake my future health, possibly my life, on this book. Also, I normally have terrible cravings for carbohydrates; I'm a chocoholic and eat virtually nothing but breads, cereals, and pasta at meals. But, perhaps because I'm so utterly convinced that I can't afford NOT to follow these dietary principles, or perhaps because Dr. Sears's explanation of how cravings arise is exactly true, I have not felt the urge to touch starch or sugar since my first meal on the plan. I am not hungry, I do not feel deprived, and I'm starting to regain energy after radiation exhausted me, exacerbating my previously existing chronic fatigue. I feel real hope for many areas that have been a problem in recent years for me, including cancer, weight gain, fatigue, mental fogginess, etc. Also I am usually way too tired to exercise, although I know it's critical to good health, but the Zone program is already--after less than two days--helping combat that. Some people may not have the patience or (this may sound harsh, but it's true) the intelligence to wade through the complexities of this book, and therefore may misunderstand and therefore dismiss it out of ignorance. And it's obvious many of the critics (e.g., those who claim it is high-protein) have not even read the book. But don't let those people mislead you into missing out on what may very well not only help you feel better and lose weight, but may literally save your life. It takes some real work to figure out how to apply to your own diet, but you won't regret it.
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