6th
September
2008
Sunday Sept. 7, 2008 BC-15
posted in Discussion |
Let’s get ready for the Zone Challenge! This week I would like to gather and discuss quality Zone resources. If you know of a good book or website that we can refer to for this challenge then post it here. If you know of a site with recipies you like or have come up with your own, post theme here.
Please note posts with more than two links will be held for moderation.
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Karen:
I am told you are the zone expert. Have you heard of Body 24/7? I am curious how the two compare.
Olena
Olena-
I hardly consider myself the zone expert, but I do understand the principles of the zone after following it for a year
Body 24/7-not impresed. Funny how their website, bodyby24-7.com, sounds a lot like Body For Life-interesting…
The first thing that takes me back is the picture of that couple. They do not exude health in any means. Large muscles, and tanned skin is not my definition of health. They are bodybuilders, and bring the bodybuilder mentality to this ‘program’.
First off, 24/7 is nothing like zone. Zone is based on science. 24/7 is not. Zone understands (again, based on science) that the body is fueled by fat, not carbohydrates as we have been led to believe. All the nonfat, low fat, fat makes you fat bs is exactly that. Think..if all these things were working, why are we getting more fat as a nation?
24/7 promotes low fat, as well as according to their site, and ‘balance’ of carbs, protein and hidden fats. The first recipe in their online sample of their cookbook-a cheese omlette-has 8g protein and 46 g protein. Extremely unbalanced. In Zone language, that would be 1 protein block and about 5 carb blocks, which should normally be equal.
They also have the artificial sweetener, Splenda, in some of their recipes. I am very much against Splenda, it has already been shown in the research to have many dangerous side effects, and probably many more to come once its been on the market long enough. I do not have any respect of any nutritional program that promotes the use of artificial sweeteners.
And for the first 6 months (unless you are under their bodybuilding program, which also includes other extras, including ‘posing’), costs $420. You could get a zone book for about $20, and/or do everything online for free.
I don’t know what attracts people to this program, and their has been a few references on the online xfit board.
Zone is based on science, is not a ‘diet’, but a lifestyle. It has been shown to reduce and prevent heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and many other degenerative diseases. It is the nutrition of choice for many athletes, including xfitters, due to its ability to significantly enhance performance.
Since being on Zone for almost a year, I lost about 12-13 lbs (although that was not my intention for doing it), have more energy than ever at 39, am hitting more PR’s in crossfit, and feel it is the ideal way to fuel your body. So much so, that I recommend it to my patients, and include it as part of an Advanced Nutrition Workshop that I teach our patients.
I feel that Dr. Sears is so ahead of his time, and like all that are, he still has many critics out there. Any new paradigm goes thru this process.
24/7 is not even on the same plane as Zone, and to me, just appears as a knock off Body For Life.
I would encourage you and others that are considering the zone challenge to really read the info on Zone or on the website. Yes, appears complicated at first, and yes, it requires some planning. We plan our meals for about a week, and avoid the conversation of….”what are we going to eat for lunch/dinner” throughout the day, which creates a lot more ease in our life. Yes, zone is hard at first, and still at times. But who ever said discipline was easy?
I’ll now get off my soapbox….
For getting started on the Zone, I probably found “A Week in the Zone” by Barry Sears the best resource. It comes in paperback, is not too long, and has a few recipes to get you started.
My favorite snack (1 block) is definitely 2 boiled egg whites (discard yolks) filled with 1/4 cup hummus – easy, yummy, satisfying & only 1 block! I eat this pretty much every day, so just boil a bunch of eggs and keep them in the fridge.
The other thing that I personally found useful was going to get my body composition measured using a DEXA scan. This way, I accurately knew my lean body mass (also gives you your bone density). The number was quite different from what I calculated using the formula in the Zone books. I got it here in Edmonton and I think it cost around $95.
Coincidentally, I watched a show on Discovery Health yesterday on the Zone diet. A doctor helped someone to get going with the Zone and they talked to Barry Sears quite a bit. The Dr.’s conclusion was that it is a healthy diet, but is hard for most people to sustain long term because of the portion sizes. Barry Sears’ response was that basically, the only thing that has been scientifically proven to slow the aging process is reducing calories and that basically, yeah, it takes effort. No magic bullets, no pills.
I can’t say I was too impressed with Dr. Sears’ idea of exercise, however. He spends a half-hour (I’m not sure if every day or several times per week) walking on a treadmill. He seems to feel this is all the exercise we need – no mention of strength training. He does mention it in ‘A Week in the Zone’ – in my age group if I can do 35 10-lb. squats (butt down to touch a chair), I have “excellent” lower body strenth. Woo hoo!
Olena:
I have not really looked at the website for body 24-7 but I did have a chance to chat with my friend….she stopped b/c she felt although she met her weight loss goal (which was not a lot 10 lbs I think)…she felt the meals were not varied enough/balanced and that she could not eat this way forever, and weighing herself each day wasn’t for her. The ease of having someone do a meal plan was helpful she said and that was positive but she could not buy into the whole eating plan. There also wasn’t a lot of information given to her… except the meal plan. That’s all I know….She now has taken The Zone info and is starting to read up on it!
However, what I do know is The Zone is a GREAT way fuel your body…I’m happy with it, I had great results through illness and medications, weight loss and hormonal balance throughout! I fall short at times eating less than I should, with a busy life, working and kids. Learning the zone definitely takes a bit of work, reading, planning etc… but once you have it figured out then it’s great tool to have! However- with any eating plan (besides eating whatever’s around) it will take a bit of work, planning ahead, prep and remembering to eat…!
If you have already started 24-7 and paid for the service why not ask them if they can accommodate you in the “zone way”…if you are interested??
Heres a great online resource for recipes and “how to” zone info- http://www.zonediet.com/EATING/Overview/tabid/79/Default.aspx
Auty stole my link… It is a great website. It has some great ideas for meals and snacks. The Quick Start Guide is extremely helpful.
My favorite meal is 3oz Chicken baked with a drizzle of Olive Oil; 1/2cup Mashed Sweet Potatoes 2 tsp Slivered Almonds
Bake the potatoes with a little cinnamon on top. 1 cup Raspberries/Strawberries for dessert.
Karen and Natasha:
Thank you very much. Brian Logue (Body 24/7) said so himself that the diet and nutrition world is built on lies and deception. I by no means want to look like a body builder and I hate artificial ingredients, such as sweeteners, as well. However, I have noticed a significant improvement in performance, and mood. Having said that, I know that I cannot follow this forever. The meal planning is fine, but the amount of meat just seems crazy. I think I will have to investigate the zone a little more; I do miss peanut butter, olive oil, and salmon!
Thanks again.
preferred with them. This training institute is being comprised of the best faculty who can give you the legible and the basic
I enjoy reading your blog posts but unfortunately this time you perhaps have been too hasty while writing because your writing it seems rushed.
I enjoyed the site and all but unfortunately this post took forever to load up, I don’t think im the only one with this same problem.