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Eating in the ZONE

Started by Kenneth Price8 · May 2, 2005 · 👁 5 views · 164 replies

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Kenneth Price8 NewcomerOP

6 messages
joined Jan 2005

#1 · May 2, 2005

Hey everyone, if you've actually tried the zone diet, could you drop your experiences here? I'm digging through this book by Barry Sears and it honestly seems solid... everything just makes sense.
Just wondering if anyone here is actually doing it. Is managing those food blocks a total nightmare, or does it eventually become second nature...
Anything helps. Just curious about how it all works out in real life. Thanks!🙂

nimbledriver81 Active Member

96 messages
joined Aug 2007

#2 · May 2, 2005

I usually grab my meals at the cafeteria. It might seem a bit overwhelming when you first walk in—kind of like trying to navigate a busy airport terminal during rush hour—but honestly, after just a few days, you really get the hang of the rhythm.
The cafeteria is basically a paradise for anyone who actually enjoys food (and trust me, I am a huge foodie). 😉 Plus, I’ve managed to drop about 11 pounds without feeling like I was constantly fighting an uphill battle. Now, I’m just tackling those last few stubborn pounds... 😁

Frank Alvarez8 Member

43 messages
joined Jun 2005

#3 · May 2, 2005

My dad sticks strictly to the zone diet, and ever since he started, his Type 2 diabetes is totally under control. Everything is steady now.
When I first jumped into this, it felt incredibly overwhelming, so I just leaned heavily on recipes from zone cookbooks to keep me on track.

My favorite part is definitely having a light little snack before bed 😁

nimbledriver81 Active Member

96 messages
joined Aug 2007

#4 · May 2, 2005

Frank Alvarez8 said:Personally, nothing beats a little late-night snack right before hitting the hay 😁

Especially if we're talking about a nice glass of wine—paired with some high-quality cheese, of course! 🙂

Megan Morales5 Active Member

86 messages
joined Dec 2004

#5 · May 2, 2005

I don't really follow the Zone—it tries its best to stick, but I usually manage for maybe two days before sliding right back into my old habits... it's a cycle. Anyway, the last thing I whipped up using the cookbook from the program was some Slavonian-style sliders, and honestly? They were killer. The problem is, she stays strictly within the Zone while I go ahead and demolish a massive side of roasted potatoes on top of it. Then she just looks at me and says I totally blew the Zone 😁

Frank Alvarez8 Member

43 messages
joined Jun 2005

#6 · May 2, 2005

nimbledriver81 said:Especially if there's a glass of wine involved. Maybe some decent cheese too. 🙂

👏 I even dragged my husband along for that one 😁

Kenneth Price8 NewcomerOP

6 messages
joined Jan 2005

#7 · May 2, 2005

Yeah, right... thought getting into this wouldn't be such a headache. But how are you guys supposed to eyeball those protein blocks without a scale or being at home? You just use that hand measurement thing?
I'm struggling with my daily protein block schedule. I figured out I need 9 blocks a day, but now I'm stuck on how to split them over 5 meals. Was thinking maybe 2-3-1-2-1, but who knows if that actually works. Anyone got any advice? Thanks. 👋

Mark Hill3 Newcomer

8 messages
joined Dec 2005

#8 · May 3, 2005

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nimbledriver81 Active Member

96 messages
joined Aug 2007

#9 · May 3, 2005

Quote:>

Kenneth Price8 says:
Oh, absolutely—I honestly thought diving into all this wouldn't be such a massive headache! But seriously, how are you guys actually measuring those protein blocks if you don't have a kitchen scale handy or if you're out grabbing lunch? Are you just using that old palm method?
I’m currently struggling with how to space out my protein blocks throughout the day. I did the math, and I need 9 blocks daily, but now I’m stuck on how to split them up over 5 meals. I was thinking maybe something like 2-3-1-2-1, but I have no clue if that makes sense. Can anyone help a girl out? Thanks! 👋

Wait, only 9 blocks? 🤔 I’d practically be wasting away from hunger! 😬
Is your first meal a "real" breakfast? If it is, personally, I’d probably go for three blocks right then—then maybe two during lunch.
As for measuring everything: I’ve been practicing a bit at home to get a feel for portion sizes, so now I can pretty much eyeball what I'm eating when I'm dining out.

Kenneth Price8 NewcomerOP

6 messages
joined Jan 2005

#10 · May 3, 2005

Yeah, pretty sure my math checks out. Ended up with about 64.5g of protein, divided by 7, so that’s 9 per day. My BMR is sitting at 41.5kg. Hopefully I didn't screw the numbers up too bad 🙄
And for activity level, just moderate, I guess (factor 0.7)... Uh...

nimbledriver81 Active Member

96 messages
joined Aug 2007

#11 · May 3, 2005

Kenneth Price8 said:Yeah, I think my math checks out. It comes to about 64.5 grams of protein, so if I divide that by seven, I end up with 9. Also, my lean body mass is roughly 91.5 lbs. Hopefully, I didn't mess up the calculation too badly! 🙄
And yeah, moderate activity level—using the 0.7 factor... Um...

Well, look, if you have a smaller frame and a lower baseline, 9 should be plenty for you. Personally? I need at least 12—but then again, I've always been a bit of a powerhouse 🙂 ).

Kenneth Hernandez67 Regular

351 messages
joined May 2005

#12 · May 3, 2005

My sister eats in the zone.

I don't know how you all make this look so easy; maybe you’re just using some oversimplified version 😉 of the plan, because she actually cooks her meals and brings them to work... there's really no way to eat like that 'on the go'.

As for that whole hand/palm/thumb measurement thing, I'd suggest weighing everything at first. I have yet to see 100 grams of meat that actually looks like the size of a normal palm. Maybe a single slice of deli turkey, if you're lucky.

electricdriver78 Active Member

90 messages
joined Dec 2002

#13 · May 3, 2005

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:Regarding using your palm or thumb for measurements, I’d honestly suggest just weighing everything at first... since I haven't actually seen a 100-gram serving of meat that fits in a normal palm, unless it's maybe just a single slice of turkey deli meat...

I'm with you on this one...

I used to stick strictly to the zone diet and ended up dropping a little over 15 pounds in a month, but I had to weigh absolutely everything because I was eating about 11 blocks a day...

Now I've gotten the hang of it and I just eyeball my 30-40-30 ratios without bothering with the scale anymore...

I'm not really gaining weight, but I'm not losing any either...

The best part about being in the zone is that I still have plenty of energy for my runs...

nimbledriver81 Active Member

96 messages
joined Aug 2007

#14 · May 3, 2005

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:My sister eats at the dining zone.

I honestly don't know how some of you make this sound so effortless—perhaps you're all operating on some sort of oversimplified version of reality? 😉 Because, let’s be real, she actually cooks her own meals and carries them to work... there is just no way you can eat like that "on the go."

Well, look, it isn't exactly simple, but you eventually memorize a few rules—or at least the portions. I eat at the cafeteria every single day, though it's an American cafeteria—you can grab as much salad as you want! So, I'll have my fish and salad, and then a nice apple for dessert. If I'm being honest, it's a little heavy on the fats, but hey, what can you do? I bring my own food from home sometimes.

Kenneth Hernandez67 Regular

351 messages
joined May 2005

#15 · May 3, 2005

electricdriver78 said:I finally got the hang of it. Now I just eyeball everything using that 30-40-30 ratio and stop overthinking it.

I actually went back through my sister's cookbooks and realized this is basically how we've always prepared meals at home. As for the local cafeteria, we didn't even have a clue about this stuff until recently.😉

electricdriver78 Active Member

90 messages
joined Dec 2002

#16 · May 3, 2005

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:I was actually flipping through my sister's old cookbooks and realized that's pretty much how we've always prepared meals at home... we didn't even know about the cafeteria zone until recently 😉

It's true though—that’s definitely how we used to eat back in the day, but that feels like a lifetime ago

Between the war years and those first few years after moving here when even fresh fruit felt like a luxury, I think I had almost forgotten how to do it all... 😁

Kenneth Price8 NewcomerOP

6 messages
joined Jan 2005

#17 · May 4, 2005

My biggest issue is being at college in a city where I only stay during the week. The coursework is brutal, so there’s zero time to actually eat right. The campus cafeteria is a total disaster; honestly, I don't even want to talk about it. It feels like everything is 70% carbs... So what happens? I roll out of lectures completely wiped, too exhausted to cook, so I just hit the cafeteria and grab some pasta. Two hours later, I'm starving again. By February, I'll probably have to start working out just to try and fix the cellulite this lifestyle is giving me.
I gotta admit, I've been doing a better job lately of balancing things out; cutting back on the heavy carbs. But now that I've "stumbled upon" this zone, I think things are finally gonna shift...

Kenneth Hernandez67 Regular

351 messages
joined May 2005

#18 · May 4, 2005

I don't get it. You claim you have zero time and zero motivation to meal prep, yet you choose to eat in the cafeteria?

That's a pretty flawed logic. You’d be much better off prepping simple, balanced meals at home.

Kenneth Price8 NewcomerOP

6 messages
joined Jan 2005

#19 · May 4, 2005

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:Nah, no way... if you don't have the time or energy to meal prep, why even bother with the cafeteria?

My bad, Kenneth Hernandez67, didn't catch that. I'm heading back home in a month, so I'll actually have time to handle my own food then. That's why I'm sticking to the cafeteria for now...

velvetwolf92 Member

42 messages
joined Apr 2007

#20 · May 4, 2005

My recommended zone, or rather my macronutrient ratio—carbs, protein, and fats—is set at 40:30:30.

Now, I don't have all the exact numbers memorized, but I’ve sat down and crunched all the math myself, and honestly, if I actually ate that little food every day, I think I’d just be starving.
If I eat enough meat to actually feel satisfied—say, around five or six ounces—then I’d basically have to shovel an enormous amount of leafy greens into my mouth, not to mention eating way more fat. I’d need at least a tablespoon of olive oil with both lunch and dinner, plus all the seeds, olives, cheese, bacon, and whatever else...

The second issue I'm running into is that the whole idea of eating five small meals a day just doesn't work for me; I'd much rather just cram everything into three larger meals.

Then there's the third problem, which is that my food choices are pretty limited right now because I'm dealing with candida, so I don't really have much of a selection to work with.

And look, I don't even need this zone for weight loss; I'm just trying to maintain my current weight.

So, I'm mostly just trying to find a way to blend the zone concept with a Mediterranean diet and some smart food pairing.

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