Not a Fad - more like a fact
Written: Aug 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good loss, great energy
Cons: Like any diet - a program to follow
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| en7489's Full Review: The Zone Diet |
I have fought with excessive weight gain for about 15 years now. I have never seriously tried any dieting until the last 5 or so, because what I call excessive, others may call just a few extra pounds. I call it excessive because I'm in the military and "a few extra pounds" can be detrimental to my career. It seems that as I'm getting older, it's getting harder and harder to keep the "spare tire" off the middle (Well, duh!). I do work out, running an average of 12 - 18 miles a week, plus a little weight lifting. You would think that would be enough to shed the pounds, but evidently it wasn't.
I was turned on to the Zone by a friend after I had realized that I had gained more than I expected while changing duty assignments. I had not worked out for about a month, then went on a month's leave (where I ate to my heart's content - again not working out). I was not too surprised when I arrived at my next duty station being right at my maximum for weight.
As I said, a friend turned me on to the Zone, and as I started it, I noticed that not only did I start losing weight, but I wasn't hungry between meals. It was amazing, because I'm the type that eats a meal, then two hours later I'm starving for a snack! I followed the formula's in the book as close as I could, and the only deviation I did was allow myself a "free day" on Saturday (I called it S__T day because I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted - type of food, not quantity). This helped me settle any cravings I had throughout the week for a specific type of food that I might like.
From day one on the Zone, I also noticed that with a loss of weight, I had a tremendous gain in energy. I felt stronger during my workouts and also felt much more energetic throughout the day. My workout sessions were between 6 - 7 AM, and before the Zone, I would start dragging toward the end of the day. After I started the Zone, I had as much energy at the end of the day as I had in the beginning.
The book itself is a little technical, but the program is pretty easy to follow. I copied the list of protein, carb and fat blocks out of the book and posted it on my fridge to remind myself that for every protein block I eat, to match it with carbs and fats by the formula. I may not have been exact in all cases, but I was close enough to get in the "Zone". You really can feel when you are in the Zone - you will have to try it to understand what I mean. The key to success with this program is to stay with it - stay in the Zone. Don't skip meals, don't skip snacks. If you do skip a meal or snack, or if you eat outside the "Zone", it's easy to get back in, just make your next meal one that follows the formula, and you'll slide right back in.
If you need a testimonial, I went from 230 to 211 in two months, with only a slight increase in my workout sessions - adding another day of walking or running to my program. Since I started, I have maintained a comfortable weight and am where I want to be. I don't follow it as strictly as I used to, but when I start to slide upward on the scale a little again, I go right back on it and bring it back down. Unlike some other things I have tried (see my review of Xenadrine), I felt totally comfortable with my weight loss, I was not starving myself (in fact I was rarely ever hungry), and I had the great energy boost I mentioned before. I have heard a lot of negative comments about the Zone, but for me, it worked, and more importantly, it made sense. Everything in the book was relatively easy to follow, and you'll be surprised at how big the meals actually are! Yes, like any diet, there is a formula or program to stick to, but with the Zone, you can feel good about what you are eating, and if you cheat every once in a while, you can get right back into it without any guilt.
To plug the book, it doesn't advocate that this is a fad diet or that this is a diet at all, it advocates sensible eating habits. Of course, whenever somebody comes out with something new and different everybody has to bash it, but I have no doubt that time will tell that the Zone is a sensible and healthy eating plan.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
en7489
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Location: Massachusetts
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 6 members
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