A Week in the Zone

Rating:
Summary: Very Suprising...
Review: I read a ton of reviews of people who had been in "the zone" and it seemed like something I'd like to try (I'm trying to eat better :>)
I was very surpised when I wasn't hungry and the meals I would make would really get me through until I had to eat again. The food is a little bland for my liking (at least for breakfast) but there are defintely ways to spice it up and still be in the Zone. It's defintely worth trying-and even though I was trying it for a better approach to my eating habits, I'm already seeing some weight loss.

UPDATE 9/27/2004: I have lost 15 lbs and have never felt better! My energy levels are up and I really have never felt better! This book will not only help you lose weight, but give you a whole new outlook on food!

Rating:
Summary: A reader
Review: This book is great and easy to understand. I lost 10lbs on this plan, that's pretty much all I wanted to lose, any more than this, I would look anorexic. I've been following this plan for 3 months now and I noticed how good I feel. I look at food in a different way. This whole theory of balancing your blood sugar makes sense. Hormone -- Insulin (from carbs) raises blood sugar, Hormone --Glucagon (from protien) keeps blood sugar levels from dropping, and when this is in balance it will help prevent the storage of fat into the cells. In other words, they will be used to provide the body and brain what it needs quicker than storing the extra insulin for later use, which turns into fat if not used. Dietary fat (which has no effect on insulin) in our diets help monitor these two hormones. Dietary fat (eg: monosaturated -- olive oil, almonds, avocado) helps the body say "i'm full" and helps slow down the speed in which insulin (carbs) enters the bloodstream. When eating dietary fat in the zone, we should be satisfied with our meals and not be hungry until 3 1/2 to 5 hours later. The "Zone" takes you into a place where you feel less tired and more focused. (A little to much protein than carbs may make you feel sleepy, or too many carbs and less protein can make you feel more hungry or possibly make your moods swing a bit.) So being in the zone will help our bodies metabolize fat more efficiently and store less fat in our cells and that is when we are able to lose fat in our bodies. How's that for information? My example eating plan for a female is:

2 egg substitues (2 Protein blocks)
1 cup skim milk (1 protein block; 1 carb block)
1 peach (1 carb block)
1/2 apple (1 carb block)
9 almonds (3 fat blocks)

So a female needs 3 blocks of Protein, Carbs, and fat)

Lunch:

3 oz of tuna (3 protein blocks)
2 slices low carb whole wheat bread (1.4 carb blocks)
1 apple (2 carb blocks)
1 tsp olive oil (3 fat blocks -- I mix with tuna)

Dinner

3-4 oz salom or chicken or port etc.(use palm size and thickness if unsure of ounces) (3 protein blocks)
3 cups of cooked broccoli (1 carb block)-- (use size of two loose fists for veggies -- for others -- rice/pasta -- use one tight fist)
1/2 cup of chick peas (2 carb blocks)
1 tsp of olive oil (3 fat blocks)-- i use for my broccoli

hope this helps. This book has the block info at the end of the book which helps figure it out. On snacks -- 2 per day -- we only use 1 block of each protien, carb and fat, which will hold you for about 2 hours if you have it before dinner. Now how difficult is that. Hope this helps. The book has more info that I left out. But it is worth the education for the health of our bodies. Thank you Dr. Sears. :)






Rating:
Summary: If you like meat and science... buy this book!
Review: I bought this book about a month ago. It's easy to read, and it's the first "diet" book that makes sense to me. I have followed the plan, used some of the recipes, which were fast, easy and tasty, and have lost several pounds that I had been struggling to lose for the past 3 years! I also had my cholesterol checked and it has improved with this eating plan. The only problem I have is that I miss the carbs that I love so much (bread and pasta). I have recommended this book to several friends, and believe that if everyone ate this way and exercised, we'd all be much healthier and thinner!