The Zone Diet

JerseyGirl19 · Sun May 16, 2004 10:14 pm

Has anyone tried this diet?

Kimboroni · Sun May 16, 2004 10:23 pm

I have, and I did lose weight on it. However, it was hard to do, because you had to calculate blocks of food based on your weight and measurements. I couldn't keep it up and ended up gaining weight again.

Of course, it didn't help that I was the only person in the house on it. I'm doing SB with my parents, so it's a better situation.

Betty · Sun May 16, 2004 11:25 pm

Just read an article in my Low Carb Living Magazine comparing the Zone and SBD. It was an interesting article. Part of the article is a little box in which the two diets are compared head to head on some basic things.

They break it down like this. The Zone
No phases; grains are allowed; fruits are allowed; no calorie counting; saturated fat is discouraged; minimal vitamins recommended mainly Omega 3's; avg. calorie intake for women 1,250 for women and 1,500 for men; there has been published research on this diet. Pitfalls would be that carb levels could be to high for some people.

SBD there are 3 phases; grains and fruit are both allowed in phases 2 & 3; no calorie counting; saturate fat is discouraged; Omega 3's main vitamins recommended; avg. calorie intake no known; No published research; pitfalls might be lack of structure could be an obstacle for some people.

I know more about the zone than SBD so I don't know that all of this accurate for SBD. Just found the article interesting.

ottopunk · Tue May 18, 2004 2:23 am

I did the zone diet before getting on the beach. I lost 10lbs but I think it was because I just gave up sugar & alcohol. I found the Zone pretty confusing w/ all the methods to calculate your food - the blocks, 1-2-3 method, eyeball method. UGH. I felt I was too consumed w/ food.

I much prefer the SBD. It's so easy just to know what you can't have and what you can. Common sense dictates portions. I am not against the Zone Diet at all. I still have a list of Zone snacks on my fridge that I still eat (as long as they are SBD friendly).

Myrealana · Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:07 pm

In principle, The Zone and SB are very similar. I have the "Zone Perfect Meals in Minutes" cookbook from my Zone days, and most of those recipes are perfect for SB-dieting.

The biggest difference is that on The Zone you have to count EVERYTHING. You have a certain number of "protien blocks" you are allowed per day - and you have to exatcly match your protien blocks to your carb and fat blocks at every meal and snack. It works, but it's very hard to keep up for long. It requires a lot of planning and monitoring.

There are some carbs that are allowed on The Zone that are either forbidden or limited on SB - like pineapples and watermelon, and some foods like eggs that are not limited by SB but discouraged on The Zone. But overall, the food lists for one are nearly interchangeable with the other.

LyndaB · Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:58 pm

Hi everyone! Next week will be my start on SB; last year I did the Zone and was very successful, although I did also have a good exercise routine plus bellydancing once a week going simultaneously. I lost 27 lbs in about 9 months and kept it off til my fiancee and I bought a house together in December. Left the town my gym was in and started eating like him. Yes, punish me now. :oops: However, now I'm very motivated; have been going to a local gym now for 2 months and just can't get back into the Zone. Have heard lots of positive things about SB and I believe that this plan will be the best choice for me at this point in time. The Zone was not THAT difficult but I did find that I was hungrier than I would've liked. So, wish me well on SB. Hopefully, I'll be one of the success stories! Take care! :D

PatriciaS · Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:16 am

I tried the Zone -- for about a day and a half. Okay, maybe 2 days. What got me was that after one meal suddenly I had that "loopy" feeling they talked about from the wrong insulin balance. That was enough for me. Plus, I truly hated all the counting and machinations you had to go through.

dog-gone · Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:51 pm

We did the zone...hubby and I...it was a lot of food for both of us. We did feel better after we were on it a couple of days. The counting wasn't too hard for us. But we didn't lose a lot of weight and put back on what we lost when we quit exercising on a regular basis. It was nice to eat a lot of fruit...my favorite...but not good for the dessert end that I can recall...my hubby's favorite. So went on vacation and gave it up. My main reason for starting the zone was concern of insulin levels with most of my family becoming diabetic as late adults and me not getting in younger. My hubby just wanted to get rid of the gut he gained these last 10 years.

Now we started SBD this week...about a year later I'm guessing after the zone. I think this site will keep us in line if we fudge on it and keep us motiviated. I actually find it (SBD) more confusing than the zone. I have book, cookbook and quick reference...but still find it confusing. But this site is a lot of help and full of inspiration. Really awesome compared to anything I found on the Zone or Atkins (researching). Atkins from skimming through the book...yes, I have that too. Just seemed too much protein and no good carbs...to me...having heartattack city in the family...is just not worthy to even think about....plus a future in-law has kidney failure in his family and was told to quit it because the ketosis end if in it too long can cause kidney failure. Dr. Phil...great book to read about finding out who you are and accepting yourself to keep to a diet but not too interested in the diet end for me. A set of my In-laws have been doing this diet since the beginning of the year. Even cheated a bit more than should and still lost close to 40 pounds and are at retirement age. Plus it's written by a cardiologist...which to me is a good thing...having sight into my two concerns...diabetes and heart.

Hope this helps someone. Sorry so lengthy. I type more than I talk.
--D

Firecracker · Thu Dec 02, 2004 11:35 pm

I know it seems treasonous in post this on an SBD board, but I really do feel that scientifically, The Zone is the best WOE. I definitely hear all your problems about the effort required to build meal blocks, etc, although I did find that some of the books aside from the actual "Enter The Zone" made following the Zone immensely easier (http://www.zonenetonline.com/zonebooks.asp?realname=10051535).

My question is this:
Has anyone out there actually done The Zone for an extended period of time? Long enough to find out if it's more efficient than P3 (or even P2) of SBD in terms of providing energy, carb-protein-fat ratio, keeping insulin levels even, etc? I don't need to lose any more weight and am fairly active, and I'm not sure which diet I should continue with for optimum health.

Firecracker · Thu Dec 02, 2004 11:45 pm

dog-gone wrote: Atkins from skimming through the book...yes, I have that too. Just seemed too much protein and no good carbs...to me...having heartattack city in the family...is just not worthy to even think about....plus a future in-law has kidney failure in his family and was told to quit it because the ketosis end if in it too long can cause kidney failure.

Dr. Atkins was also a cardiologist and his diet was designed to help his high risk patients. And ketosis and kidney failure are very different. I don't mean to knock your choice of diets, since SBD is really great, but it seems that by "skimming" the books, you missed a few points that Dr. Atkins addresses specifically. Good luck with whichever you choose.

misstlc · Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:25 am

The Zone just sounds too complicated and it doesn't seem very popular. I've heard a few celebrities try it, but I have never heard alot of info or success stories about it. And you have to count fats, carbs, sugar, calories, AAHHHHH!!!! Life is complicated enough!!! You shouldn't have to spend 24 hrs a day deciding what you're gonna eat next!!!!

misterski · Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:24 am

Quote: My question is this:
Has anyone out there actually done The Zone for an extended period of time? Long enough to find out if it's more efficient than P3 (or even P2) of SBD in terms of providing energy, carb-protein-fat ratio, keeping insulin levels even, etc? I don't need to lose any more weight and am fairly active, and I'm not sure which diet I should continue with for optimum health.

Hello,

I am new to this forum. My wife and I have followed the zone since 1996. I don't know if it is better than SBD p3, as i am knew to SBD. I have not given up the zone completely, but combining the aspects of the 2 diets to work for me. The zone works. We did the zone for years consistently and maintained very healthy lifestyles, sometimes I did feel deprived, but I think I just like to eat. As with anything in life, if you follow too closely and obsess about calories, blocks, and fat, you will get burnt out and tired of it. As I have done it also. I am trying to get back into the healthy lifestyle myself and just trying to keep a balanced diet, low carbs and low fat.


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