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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.
Rating:
Summary: Carbo addicts need to try this diet
Review: As a person who loves pasta, bread, potatos and anything starchy, this book proves that those are the foods that are keeping my weight on. I started the Zone two weeks ago and have lost seven pounds. I have never felt better and have tons of energy. I am not a huge fan of vegetables, but I have found a couple of green things that are not horrible! This diet is a no brainer, plenty of good protein,such as fish, poultry etc. and lots of fruit and veggies. I think the critics need to lighten up, this is the healthiest I have ever eaten. I don't know how people can say it's a high protein, low carb diet, when everything is so balanced. It's the TYPE of carbo's that matter. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose, except maybe a few pounds!
Rating: 
Summary: Starving
Review: I started this guide because it advocates good health not because of dieting. I weigh 110lbs and my height is 5ft7inch so I did not intend to loose any weight at all. According to the book my daily protein intake was around 9P. I only found myself moody(my husband was a first hand witness), tired and could not wait for my next meal. I have used Suzanne Somers' recipes before and I maintained my figure eventhough I did not have to restrict the serving sizes of my meals. Unlike the Zone's trend Suzanne's recipes never left me hungry or tired and I had plenty of energy to exercise.
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Summary: Incredible
Review: I am now in the "Zone"
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Summary: NO, I DON'T OWN STOCK IN THE ZONE.
Review: I don't know why everyone in the world is not into this! After 10 years of trying to eat right and excerise without ever really achieving my maximum potential, the Zone is the only thing that worked for me. And I've seen it work for all my friends. Diet's don't work. Especially unrealic ones. The Zone is not a diet, it's a lifestyle, and it's changed my life. First my appearance and my physical health, then everything else from my social life to my outlook in general. It's not a fad. Depite the contraversy, it's very similar to alot of plans out there present and past, and it's not so far "out there" as people think. It really makes total sense in every way. You are not going to turn on the news 10 years from now and hear someone say "It turns out eating a healthy, balanced, moderate diet in addition to exercise is actually really bad for your health." It's just not gonna happen. Read it and make up your mind. Borrow a friend's copy if you're too cheap to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificient!
Review: "The Zone" takes basic dietary principles and applies them to your lifestyle in a practical way. My little sister who just finished a seventh-grade biology class in middle school was ecstatic when I mentioned the principles for "The Zone" a couple of months ago. "Of course!" she crowed in pride. "We just learned that fat is not produced by fat, it is produced by sugars and carbohydrates being broken down during digestion. 'The Zone' must be excellent then, because it's correct, and all of those high-carbohydrate diets that are hyped aren't!" {Sigh} If only we "Zoners" could convince the rest of America that this is a good diet. Maybe they just need to return to seventh-grade biology.
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Summary: Diabetics Beware
Review: While type-II diabetics can benefit from a lower-fat and higher-protein diet, they should be very leery of following the advice in this book. The comments on insulin border on ludricrous as do the comments on an evolutionary diet. Does the author really believe that cavemen were healthy than we are? Does he believe that we should not pasteurize milk and cook meat?
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Summary: The Zone is a lifestyle.
Review: When a person first goes on the Zone diet he or she may do it to loose weight primarily. This is what I did. But after loosing over thirty pounds and rediscovering the lean body I had as a young man, I also began to see that this diet is the natural way to eat. Subtle but profound changes in the way I feel have convinced me that I have discovered a vital life-long relationship to food. After six months on the diet, headaches now are rare, and sleep is so deep and refreshing.
Rating: 
Summary: Feeling good. Less hungry. Trying to figure out my food.
Review: I have read The Zone and am looking at food in a different way. I am trying to block my food( I'm sure you know what I mean). That is the hardest part; figuring out what is the correct portions. In three weeks I have lost 6 pounds by eating much less carbohydrates. Eating more salads but less packaged and "bad" carb foods such as rice and potatos. I search for protean at every meal to balance out what must have been a lousy diet I was on before. While I am not too sure about all the cellular benifits that have been happening to me, I do know that I am less hungry during the day and keeping a good attention level pretty much constantly: no more energy swings. I never thought that was a problem until I see myself going through days feeling good while the usual co-workers fall asleep, so to speak. My days are spent looking at food and trying to get what I see into my head as blocks of what I need. Who invented TOFU anyway? Tried it, not again thanks. Soy dogs are next, can't wait. I love salads and expect to become quite the salad chef very soon. I would recommend this diet. My results have been good so far and even eating out will present you with acceptable food choices.
Rating: 
Summary: Cranky and Skinny, but not drowsy
Review: My SO started with the Zone diet and immediately lost about 10 pounds. He was thrilled. But then he lost another 10 and couldn't put them back on. Every time he got just a little teensy bit hungry he would become a nightmare of crankiness. When his triglicerides dropped to 1/4 the level they had been he was thrilled. Given his uncontrollable weight loss (he now looks eerily skinny) and the horrible mood-swings, I question the quality of the life he has choosen. If I had to feel that way every day for the rest of my life I wouldn't want 10 more years. In Barry's defense, I try to eat Zoneish at lunch. It really does seem to help with the mid-afternoon crash I was used to feeling after a big lunch. Good luck to you all.
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