the zone

[lilly36]

Anyone had any luck/experience on the Zone diet?

[pippen_2k]

What zone are you talking about here, the Twilight Zone?

 

If not what is it..

[scb77]

I've heard of it, but nothing really about it. I know several people who have lost weight off the South Beach Diet and Weight Watchers though!!

[Outcast]

Zone is not a bad one. However the best 'diet' is lifestyle change. Learn to love healthy foods in decent quantities and you'll never need to 'diet' again.

[reservoirdog1]

This is second hand from somebody, but I've heard that the Zone diet is incredibly hard to stay on, that the amounts of food you're allowed to eat are silly and anal retentive (e.g. "4 peanuts").

 

However, that's just what I've heard.

[kitten chick]

I did the Zone in college and thought it was very unhealthy. Probably the least healthy diet I've come across (minus fad diets like eating potatos twice a day and nothing else, those are just absurd). I don't buy into any diets that don't teach you to eat a balanced diet or gives you outs to excuse yourself from eating properly. Weight Watchers will tell you how to eat but the point system really gives you an excuse to not eat a balanced diet. I can't tell you how many people I have seen starve themselves a whole day so that they could have a piece of chocolate cake. The one diet that doesn't seem too bad is LA Weight Loss. They teach you portion control and how to get your food groups in but miss important things like fiber intake and differentiating between processed and unprocessed foods or white bread and whole wheat. I still think the best way to eat is to have a balanced diet, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, proteins and as little sugar, salt, and processed foods as you can.

 

just my opinion.

[scb77]

I agree with Kitten Chick. I have tried the South Beach Diet - did not lose any weight on it for the first 2 weeks (according to the book you are supposed to lose 8-13 lbs - mostly water weight). I did not move on beyond the first two weeks, b/c the diet just made me exhausted all the time - hence very low carb. However, I do know that this works for some people. Weight Watchers, I was always hungry on it, but it works for a lot of people too.

I think that the best way to lose weight is to eat healthy, watch your portions, and exercise (more than what you take in). That is the only way to lose weight and keep it off.

[lilly36]

Thanks everyone for your input. I like some things about the zone (emphasis on fruits and veggies as carbs, and inclusion of the glycemic index), however, the portions are so small! And I am not a big eater in the first place. I just get so frustrated. I feel like I eat fairly well, and I get exercise (biking to school, walking around campus, and hiking at least 4 miles a week) and this weight just won't go anywhere!

[pippen_2k]

When you ride to Campass and walk around, are you working hard and getting a workout?

 

Cause it is quite easy to get on a bike and ROLL to school.

 

To get the benifits and lost the weight you gotta exercise and do the hard work. There is no easy option here sorry.

[unsafe]

From my experience, the zone diet is very hard to stick to, but so was weight watchers. I second that eating healthy and exercise is the best bet. No diets, no counting points. Its about Calorie intake, and make sure its good stuff. And work out at least 5 times a week. Then you can eat more of the stuff you want.

[catgirl1927]

I can't tell you how many people I have seen starve themselves a whole day so that they could have a piece of chocolate cake.

 

HUGE WW fan. I have TOTALLY done this. I would eat four tons of tomatos and cucumbers and celery so I could have cheesecake. I still lost about 60 pounds and kept all but 15 of it off.

 

I think the most important diet tip is you have to find something that works with your life, and something that has enough leeway that you can stick to it. No diet is a good diet if you are miserable on it.