Initially, I took fish oil that I bought from Wal Mart (Nature made I think--or something like that!). And the burps were terrible! Then I ordered some of the pharmaceutical grade from Iherb.com (Natural Factor's--much cheaper than Dr. Sears). The finer grade greatly reduced the amount of fish burps afterward. I finally figured out that if I took it before I ate, I never had any problem at all. However, I don't take them any more because I was having a problem with bleeding at the dentist After some research I discovered that you're supposed to cease taking it 2 weeks before any medical procedure--I guess it's a blood thinner of sorts. Since I practically live at my dentist these days I've stopped taking it all together. And you know what? I haven't noticed a difference in how I feel or function. Someday I'll start taking them again for the benefits it gives against cardiovascular problems---but only when I don't have someone drilling in my mouth every month or so!

As for the bulk of meals--I've found that I can't possible put away that many favorable veggies at a meal. So, I too, eat alot of fruit. Thankfully, we live in California so fruit is cheap and plentiful! As for the Zone Perfect bars my husband and I love them for snacks or when he has to run out the door super early in the morning and I don't have time to cook for him.

Holli's Human--don't get to down on yourself about binging. Remember, you're only 4-6 hours away from being back in the zone. I've found that if I'm munchy, and I'm not schedule to have a snack I'll have it anyway--even if it is ice cream! (with protien on the side of course!) Since the Zone is a lifestyle, I'm just learning to rethink how I eat food. Balancing it out--even when I'm "cheating". So far it's worked for me--I've lost 43 lbs since Feb. and haven't felt deprived yet!

I too get tempted to binge. I'm feeling one of those temptations right now.

I'm so used to eating when I'm bored, or to distract me from something unpleasant I don't want to be doing.

So I figured that I would come out here and see what was going on instead.

One of the things that I love about the Zone is the freedom!

That there is no diet.

You eat what you want.

You eat what you like.

You just have to eat it in the right proportions.

Doesn't that sound great!

You get to eat WHATEVER you want, you just can't pig out!!!

So many diets lay out a plan for you. And you have to be a machine to this plan. And you know that one day it will all end, you will have lost some weight, maybe, but you won't be doing it for the rest of your life.

The Zone lets you eat what you love for the rest of your life! All you have to watch is your proportions.

That's some of the best news I've ever heard. I can deal with that for the rest of my life.

Let's talk a little about cheating. The Zone is about eating what you love, in the right portions.

In its most strict sense, it's about eating only healthy food.

But we learn that the body doesn't differentiate between what kind of carb you are eating, or what kind of protein, or what kind of fat.

But we also learn that the composition of the foods that we eat does have an effect on our body, in the way that certain foods assist in this, that or the other.

I get cravings, whether it's for a McDonalds cheeseburger, or Barbequed Ribs, or Ice Cream or Chocolate - lately, in particular, for Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.

I looked on the box at the store, and generally Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream has 3 Mini Blocks of Carbs in 1/2 cup, and a WHOLE LOTTA FAT.

Once a month I allow myself to have what I want. I just make it a Zone meal.

So, this month, for 1 dinner, I will probably split a cup (1/2 cup each) of Ben and Jerry's with my wife and have some chicken wings, or turkey slices, for my protein. I won't add any fat.

SOMETIMES I wake up the next morning with a little increase in weight after one of these indulgences, usually less than 1 lb, but usually I have NO increase in weight - I just ate some bad food.

The funny thing is, afterwards, I feel free!

I don't feel like a prisoner. I had my little indulgence. My craving is usually gone, and I'm strong enough to go on because I know that there isn't one thing that I love to eat that is forbidden to me, unlike other diets.

And greatest of all, the difference in my life, my weight, my appearance, my strength and stamina, my family and friends all make me want to go on living this way forever!

Wow! Very encouraging reading on here! I do feel better about the binge, and ya know..it wasn't a typical old kinda binge on chips, chocolate and donuts...it was too many almonds, a homemade chili releno and some sugar babies(sugar or carb probably which was probably hormonal). Weird combo I know...it was what was available. I had bought the sugar babies earlier that morning, thinking I could satisfy a craving with 3 or 4 (they are not my usual source of a sweet tooth fix, but I figured not as harmful as some choices like m&m's). Well, as the day went from bad to worse over some work related issues and it was sooooooo very hot here, baking hot; and several other frustrations reared their ugly heads, as well as some anxiety over a (maybe) date this weekend.....I got into the sugar babies on the way home and came in and was craving mexican...I had ground sirloin already cooked up for something else, and some green pepper and cheese and popped in micro and stood at the kitchen counter and ate it as it came out of the microwave. I munched on smoked almonds as I waited the 5 min's for it to come out of the microwave. I stopped mid-mexican bowl stuffing and went to journal.

So, looking back, it was not horrible compared to the way I used to do. It just was off plan and too much fat.

Today has been good and I am OP again and am happy about that. Thanks for sharing with me and letting me pour my frustration out. It helps to hear the afore mentioned thoughts on binging too!

debbie

Oh yeah, and I meant to tell ya HBMom, 43 lbs since Feb is awesome! WAY TO GO! I hope I can be so lucky!

Hello everyone, I just started Zoning on Monday and am happy to find a board like this. All of you are very encouraging.

I started dieting January 2, 2003 and I’ve lost 20 lbs so far, watching my food intake and exercising. But the weight loss has slowed down and of course I haven’t been as good as I was in the beginning. (I seem to stay on track in the Fall more so than the Summer…lol) I exercise 6 days a week and believe I would have gained some back, if I hadn’t kept that part of my plan up.

So I’m ready again, to get motivate about losing. The Zone seems to be very doable but I'm still a work in progress. I wish I would have started Zoning in January but it seemed like another knockoff of the Atkins diet, from what I was hearing. But once I started reading about the Zone, it’s nothing like Atkins. (This girl needs her carbs!) But better late than never…

I would like to lose another 60 lbs which will bring me to my goal of 140 lbs.

Keep up the good work everyone! And keep your posts coming! I need them to stay on track!

what a horrible week it was!

this has to have been the worst week i've had since i started.

i got very discouraged because i bounced up 5 lbs, and sorta gave up because i've been trying really hard. i binged just about every night last week, usually on ham or cheese, but many times with extra servings of cheerios - one night until i got sick.

it was totally emotional and psychological. i think made myself hungry mentally, because i was bored and restless, not because i was really hungry.

so, i've been bouncing between 160 and 165 lbs. i started off at 220 lbs close to 7 months ago.

i did my first clothes shopping this weekend. it was REALLY cool. i was very surprised. I was a 42-44" waist in February. I was a 32" waist this weekend. that's 10-12" lost in close to 7 months. i haven't been a 32 in about 10 years.

large shirts don't fit me anymore. i have to go with a medium.

i was determined that i wasn't going to blow a whole bunch of money on clothes until my weight settles, and i know that i still have more to lose, but i have 2 appointments next week with a client, so i need to walk in with clothes that fit.

i think i'm over my problem. i feel more renewed today. i've eaten exactly what i'm supposed to. i started a strength training workout and i jogged for 30 minutes. it was my first time jogging in 5 months.

that was tough - what a mind game!

i did it!

but my brain kept nagging me: you haven't done this in months, you're not fit, you're not in shape, it's ok to rest, you're not strong enough to do it, etc., but i stuck with it and got through.

i have a client who is a 60 yr old man. he jogs 9 minute miles, 6 miles a day. he runs marathons all over the world. he tells me that even for him, when you are training for a marathon, you have to build up your strength for the race as if it were your first time. you jog 2 miles a day for a week, then 4 the next week, then 8 the next week, then 10 the next week, until you do the 20 miles.

if you assimilate into your current routine (ie, if you start at 6 miles), it throws your body off. you HAVE to start with 2 miles.

and once you get into the race, and you hit the wall, it's all about IGNORING your mind, which is telling you to stop, rest, slow down, it's ok to give up, etc.

and this is what happens to a running fanatic!

it is truly wonderful when we, mere mortals trying to make changes in our lives, overcome our mind and stick with something that is good for us.

i sure hope that i can keep up an excercise routine for the rest of my life. i've never liked it in the past, and i may not like it in the future, but i feel so good when i do it and drained, lifeless, anemic, lethargic, lifeless, depressed and unmotivated when i don't. and i've been feeling all of that lately.

be praying for me!

anyway, i wanted to share my struggles here so that others know that we all go through the same stuff.

the good news is that i've been on the zone diet for almost seven months; i've lost almost 60 lbs; i've lost about 12" from my waist; i've lost about 15% body fat; my life is completely turned around, i feel good about myself, and everyone who knew me before is amazed!

i'm dressing up again, looking good again, and new people i meet can't even believe it when i tell them about the previous shape I was in!

I just starting eating in the Zone last Monday, and am loving it so far! And this from a girl who thought nothing of eating no protein and tons of fat/carbs on a daily basis! I feel healthy, energized, and am really not hungry. I just read all the posts in this forum...thank you all for sharing your stories...very inspiring for a newbie like myself.

congratulations and welcome!

last week was a great week and this week was more of the same.

i jogged 6 days last week, and every day so far this week.

it was my wife and my 7th wedding anniversary.

we went out for the weekend, for the first time in years.

we went off the diet for the weekend and pigged out!

she has lost 50 lbs in the past 7 months and i have lost 60 lbs in the past 7 months. for me, that's about TEN INCHES off my waist.

we went shopping the WHOLE WEEKEND and each bought a ton of clothes. it was so much fun!

we gained some weight from our escapade, but we lost it within a couple of days. i'm leaner today than i was before we went away.

people wont believe me when i tell them that i'm 32. they think i'm 25!

i saw one of my clients' wives today, and she kept looking at me as if she knew me, but completely did not recognize me.

it feels SO GOOD to have all that weight off and be more flexible and more mobile and more energetic!

good luck!

Hi, I have been on the Zone since Jan 3rd and have lost 49 pounds. I also have hit a plateau this past month and can't seem to shake it. I have about 10 to 14 more pounds to go. I do cardio and 2 pound weights too and still see the inches coming off. But, the pounds have stopped. I would appreciate if anyone has had this problem on the Zone and what did you do to start losing again?

This is from http://www.zonehome.com/zluklist.htm

This is a testimonial page from a Zone site. There are some negative posts on it, but I go there for inspiration sometimes.

Here is a post that might help you:

I guess I know what I must do. I need to exercise more or vary it a bit. I have been doing the same thing--Leslie Sansone 2 and 3 mile tapes and that's it. I also have been having several cups of coffee in the morning with a powdered creamer---and that is a big NO NO> I think it is catching up with me so I tried vanilla soy milk in my cup this morning. Not too bad, just have to get used to the taste. The powdered creamer had trans fats in it and who needs that! I work 3 days of 12 hour shifts so it's hard to exercise on those days unless I get up at 3:30am to do it. But, I'm not giving up!

wow - i'm flying!!!

it's been a tough week for my diet. i've been overeating. i gained 3 lbs a couple of days ago.

i've been jogging 6 days a week and i've lost the 3 lbs already. i'm at 163 lb and 13% body fat, which is really good for 5'10'', but i still have a spare tire that noone can see unless i'm in a bathing suit.

i really want to get that off. when i was 150 lbs ten years ago, i had a spare tire, but i looked better. i think i look best around 135-140, but i'm having a heck of a time getting out of the 160's. i've been camping around here for about a month already.

i realized that i can jog at 5 mph. this is awesome news! i stepped up my excercise just now and i still feel it! today is my first day at 5 mph.

i first realized this when i was at a hotel excercise room with a broken treadmill. it wouldn't work smoothly at speeds less than 5 mph, so that's what i jogged at, and i did really well.

when i tried it at home, it exhausted me, but i decided to try again tonight and i made it!

i hope you all out there are doing great!

i just broke 160!!!

this has been a really good week.

i've been on a plateau for about a month, bouncing between 163 and 168, getting depressed and binging on turkey ham and cheese sticks.

i think it was just a metabolism thing. my old jogging at 4.5 mph for 1/2 hr wasn't challenging my body anymore.

so i stepped it up to 5 mph for 1/2 hour. it's a little tougher, but i'm able to do it.

and i dropped 6 lbs this week, just like that!

i've also had nervous, boredom cravings. where i WANT to eat, but there's no real reason for me to, other than to psychologically PROVE that i CAN.

so i changed it up a little bit. i'm eating 1 block every 2 hours, from 7 am to 5 pm., and having a 3 block dinner. this is 1 block less per day than i used to eat, but i'm thinking that, because of my plateau, maybe my body needs 1 block less since i'm 60 lbs lighter.

eating so many little meals throughout the day keeps me from overeating, it also keeps me consistently full. by eating so much, i don't really have time to have boredom cravings, because by the time i crave food, it's only moments before i'm having another 1 block meal.

anyway, whether that's true or not, it worked, and i've 60 lbs and 15% body fat since the beginning of February, so i will contine to do what works!

Hi sfwasabi!

What are your 5 one block snacks consisting of??? So, you are only eating 8 blocks a day?? Great on your breaking the plateau!

no, i'm eating 10 blocks a day, instead of the 11 recommended for my height.

i skipped the extra snack because i'm really tiny underneath. 15 years ago i weighed 125 lbs. 7 months ago i weighed 220 lbs. i'd been obese for close to 10 years.

i eat a 1 block snack at 7,9,11,1,3,5 (the odd hours). if i miss a time, i have a 2 block snack at the next time.

at 7 i have a 3 block dinner and around 9 i have another 1 block snack.

i started this because i felt that waiting until meal times was actually making me more conscious of NOT being able to eat BETWEEN meals, which made me watch the clock more and make me feel more like binging. invevitably, this led me to pigging out on turkey or cheese sticks (protein, not carbs) a couple of times.

by eating so frequently (you would think that this would drive you nuts) i'm eating all the time, so it's not even on my mind. often i'll forget and have to eat two blocks at the next meal time.

this also serves as a great reminder, because 1 block will literally only last me for 2 hours. i feel like i need to refuel just at the right times, then i have all the energy i need for the next 2 hours.

my 1 block snacks depend on what's available.

it is usually 1/4 cup cottage cheese for the protein and fat and 1/2 apple for the carbs.

here are my typical 1 block proteins: 1/4 cup cottage cheese, or 2 pieces of sliced or 1 cheese stick (i'm laying off these, though, because of the fat).

my typical 1 block carbs are: 1/2 orange, 1/2 apple or 1 teaspoon metamucil, depending on the time of day (you shouldn't have more than 3 tsp/day). i take metamucil up to 3 times a day to make me feel full, and 1 tsp is 1 block of carbs.

i've noticed that, outside of fish, all of my protein sources are still fatty, even if they say 'low fat', so i've only been adding fat if i eat fish. this is almost always 18 peanuts for a 3 block meal, or 2 tablespoons of wishbone berry vinaigrette (for a 3 block meal) if i'm having a salad with a meal.

if a snack needs fat, then i eat six peanuts as my block of fat.

i've actually lost all the weight that i NEED to. everyone around me thinks i'm skinny, but when i take off my shirt i have a spare tire. i started off on the OBESE portion of the chart 7 months ago and now i'm at the NORMAL WEIGHT portion.

all the charts say that i'm healthy for my size. my blood pressure is BELOW normal. my cholestrol is 160. i had a door to door salesman ask me the other day to speak to my parents! it has taken about 7 years from my face.