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Summary: This is where you start ! ! !
Review: If you don't know anything about the Zone Diet, this is the book for you. But understand, it only gives you the basics of the diet. If you decide that the Zone is for you, check out other books to help you fine tune your dieting.
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Summary: Try Heller's Carbohydrate Addict instead
Review: The Zone is really a low-calorie diet in a high-protein disguise. The reason you lose weight is because there's really only 1500 - 2000 calories per day, although Sears doesn't focus on that. I tried it and found it too complex. I agreed with much of the concept - I'm hypoglycemic and know what the impact of high-glycemic foods has on me. But aspects of it didn't make much sense to me - and some of the science seemed a bit far fetched. I lost a little weight, but couldn't stay with it and never got past my carb cravings and hunger. What worked for me was Richard and Rachael Heller's book on Carbohydrate Addicts. The approach is similar: balancing insulin & restricting high-glycemic carbs. But it's far easier to manage. My weight loss was slow and steady, but recognizable and encouraging. And most important, I seem to have gotten over the carb cravings and constant hunger. If you find the Zone too difficult to manage (and many do) check out the Carbohydrate Addict series. Go with the most recent, they've refined their approach.
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Summary: Protein Power
Review: The authors of this book simply read the Atkins Diet and repeated what they read in their own words. There is almost nothing new in this book that you have not already read in the "Dr. Atkins Revolutionay Diet". Don't waste your money on this book.
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Summary: The Zone
Review: I gained 4 lbs in one week on this diet. This is just another fad diet like many others and hard to follow. If you want to loose wait read the pioneer's book on the subject "Dr. Atkins New Revolution Diet".You do not have to count cumbersome blocks of protein and blocks of cabohydrates in the Atkins diet like in the Zone.
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Summary: Not as valuable as a book as you may think!
Review: Dr. Sears has done exceptional research on his "Zone Diet" however, the unfortunate things is that you do not need this book. The book is attempt to sell you on the zone diet and really you do not need to buy the book to be sold on it. Just read the first chapter in the book and you will be sold on it, however the information you need to be successfull on the diet is his other books. This is book is nothing but a sales book. Though it is full of information on what the Zone diet has done for different people, the only information that you need from it is that you need to adjust your diet to 40% protein, 30% fat, and 30% carbohydrates. There you go--that's it! In the back of the book is a little list of things that are favorable to eat, but that is limited (not worth buying it for that). If you are interested in eating like this (and changing your paradigm on food health) then you need to purchase his other books which gives you the vital information you need to be successful on this diet. As for me, I am very enthusiastic of this diet. I am not overweight, and in fact only weighed 140 at the start of the diet. I rode my bicycle on a 14 mile commute to and from work, but never quite felt truly healthy. Using this diet I actually gained body mass (I now weigh 165 now with less than 10% fat)), sleep less, and ride faster than I ever have before at the age of 29. The diet (if you stick to it) is successful, and remember that it changes base on your activity. The information in the books will lead you to control insulin and eicosanoids for healthy living. Do get his other books--not this one.
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Summary: 5+ years of trying to follow The Zone regarding weight loss.
Review: I am a 23 year old female who exercises 3-5 times a week, cardio and weights. One thing I've noticed from reading these reviews is that many, if not most, of the reviewers have only recently read the book and begun to apply the concepts. (with a high rate of success, not to doubt.) I am adding my experience because I have been attempting to follow this eating plan for 5+ years for the purpose of losing body fat. I read THE ZONE when it was first published and went on the diet hard-core, because it made so much sense to me. I had previously had NO success trying to lose weight on the traditional low fat/protein - high carbohydrate diet illustrated by the ridiculous, industry driven "food guide pyramid." (Let's face it- do you think Nabisco would be very happy if the U.S. Surgeon General made an announcement that Wheat Thins really aren't good for you?) I did lose weight when I began to follow The Zone eating plan strictly. I was absolutely thrilled. I must say, I was a bit obsessive. However, over the past five years, I have struggled with my weight fluctuating 15 lbs. I have a hard time with what Dr. Sears protests regarding two things, now that I've been familiar with applying the concepts in this book for so long: 1) Lack of hunger/ food cravings: Even when following The Zone to a *T*, I experience intense carbohydrate cravings and get hungry between meals, usually after 3 hours at most. It is not my so-called improved hormonal balance that Dr. Sears speaks of that keeps me on track, but my sheer willpower. 2) Permanent weight loss: I was 18 when I began The Zone. I am now 23. As stated earlier, my weight has fluctuated +-15 lbs. over the past five years. It must be noted that over this time, there has not been *one single thing* that I've put into my mouth that I've not considered the "Zone" repercussions of. The bottom line is, that if I slip a bit, I readily re-gain weight. This is easy to do, because The Zone is in essence a very calorie restricted diet. Although Dr. Sears says that no foods are "forbidden," the Zone sharply limits several foods that many people really like. In sum, I am very happy for the many people who have recently gained considerable success following The Zone balanced eating plan. However, my caveat is that I have doubts regarding the ability of most people to follow it for the rest of their lives. I know I have, thus far. I never feel really fulfilled. I am not satisfied by the size of the fat blocks which the diet prescribes for my height/ body weight. If I follow the Zone very closely (and I've had a LOT of pracice) I'm very frequently half hungry and miss many specific foods. Good luck to all. If you've had a similar experience, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
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Summary: Excellent application - but don't buy the bars!
Review: Dr. Sears has done an excellent job in researching his material and putting things into layman's terms for the general public to understand. Once you realize what the calorie, protien, carb and fat grams are in each food, you start to realize just how MUCH you need to eat to get there. No wonder you're never hungry! And the calories eaten are not drastic either. I have found some low-glycemic protien bars (Pure Protien) that I combine with my food to have a 'dessert' often. I checked the health food store for one of his Zone bars and found it - only to be completely shocked that one of the first ingredients in the bar is high fructose corn syrup - the most high glycemic compound on the planet! That's like eating concentrated sugar!! I can't believe he would put something like that out on the market and pass it off as being 'healthy' and 'in the Zone'. His name is even on the package. I was hoping to write him a letter, but see this might be the only way he'll get the message. The diet is great - however - you need to plan your meals ahead of time to determine your food count, etc. But, it really works. JUST DON'T BUY THE BARS! (This review regards the hardcover book - Enter the Zone)
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Summary: Well researched, excellent diet, but difficult...
Review: to understand and follow. My M.D. has had many patients on this diet, and he told me that only 4 of them have been successful in following it with precision -- and those four individuals are all engineers. The research that Dr. Sears has done is extensive -- and from the few months that I followed this diet to the letter, I can say that it works. I felt very, very good. The only problem is that it does take extensive planning and continual calculations. I was pregnant with baby #5 at the time, and felt really good -- but could not continue following a diet so closely for long. My life is just too busy for that. I did come away from this experience with a very good idea of what I *should* feed my family, and I do keep pretty close to this diet with family cooking. I actually do better on Atkins, personally, so I follow that for myself, while keeping my kids on more of a Zone diet. I can't say that they are actually "IN" the Zone at all times, but their diet is much more balanced now than it was before I got this information. The book can be difficult to understand in some places. Sears does an excellent job in explaining why this diet works, but for the layperson it can be an awful lot of information, and a lot of technical/medical terminology. Be sure to have a good dictionary on hand when reading this one! It also deals with "macronutrients" - the relationship of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and blood sugar and metabolism. It doesn't go into vitamins and minerals, so in my opinion, it's only half the story, but an important part of nutrition that is too often overlooked. It should be helpful to anyone with blood sugar or metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, that sort of thing. It's also a diet that ANYONE (not just overweight or ill) people can use safely and with great results. I would recommend that EVERYONE read this book, and decide if this diet will work for them, based on their experiences.
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Summary: The Zone, Live Lecture Two- Tape Set
Review: I feel ripped off. I feel like I just paided for some one to sell me something. If you are interested in getting this diet, Don't buy the tape. It doesn't give you the diet. It only sells you on the diet. Then you have to buy another book to get the diet.
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Summary: The Zone
Review: The Zone is in my opinion the best diet for human beings. This book explains in great depth the balance of nutrients needed for optimum health. I found this book very informative. I would read A Week In The Zone first, then read this book to fine tune your diet.
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