Balance is the Key
The program that is commonly referred to as the "Zone diet" is detailed in the book The Zone: Revolutionary Life Plan to Put Your Body in Total Balance for Permanent Weight Loss by Dr. Barry Sears. Balance is the key focus of Sears' plan; more specifically, the balancing of the correct ratio of carbs, fat, and protein is key.
Dr. Sears suggests that by consuming the right amounts of these components, you can control your body's insulin production. Sears says that when your insulin is at the right level, your body burns fat more effectively. There is also a concentration on avoiding "bad" carbohydrates whenever possible.
What is The Zone?
The Zone's food plan consists of 40% of your daily caloric intake in the form of carbohydrate, 30% of protein, with fat making up the final 30%. The book provides a "dietary roadmap" to The Zone, in which you learn the components -- or "blocks" as Sears refers to them -- of your weight loss program. Pay close attention to this part: The roadmap will be your eating guide for the duration of the time you spend in The Zone.
Portion is a Key Principle
Getting used to assessing your portion sizes is one of the main skills of mastering this plan. Dr. Sears says a kitchen scale is optional, but I would encourage the use of one until you get used to "eyeballing" what an actual serving size looks like. Portion control is something many of us have never really learned and like any other new skill, it takes practice.
Once you have seen what one portion of chicken really looks like, for example, you'll probably notice a big difference between how much you should have been eating and how much you have been. (Don't feel bad. Most of us have greatly exaggerated perceptions of portion; blame it on "super sizing"!)
What's the Food Like in The Zone?
What's for dinner, you ask? How about a tuna steak as your entrée? Or a nice grilled chicken filet will fit the bill. Both fish and chicken are staple foods on the plan. You can choose your side dishes from the "favorable" carbs list, which includes vegetables like beans, kale, and spinach.
Page 1, 2, 3 >>
More Articles
 |
| Join the Discussion |
Share your comments about The Zone.
In the Forum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
