The Zone Diet

The Zone diet appears in the 1995 book Enter The Zone by Dr. Barry Sears. Balance is the key focus of Sears' plan, more specifically, the balancing of the correct ratio of carbs, fat and protein. Sears suggests that by consuming the right amounts of these components, you can control your body's insulin production. Sears says that when your insulin is at the right level, your body burns fat more effectively. There is also a concentration on avoiding "bad" carbohydrates whenever possible.

The Zone's food plan consists of 40% of your daily caloric intake in the form of carbohydrate, 30% of protein, with fat making up the final 30%. The book provides a "dietary roadmap" to The Zone, in which you learn the components -- or "blocks" as Sears refers to them -- of your weight loss program. Pay close attention to this part -- the roadmap will be your eating guide for the duration of the time you spend in The Zone.

Getting used to assessing your portion sizes is one of the main building blocks of this plan. Dr. Sears says a kitchen scale is optional, but I would encourage the use of one until you get used to "eyeballing" what an actual serving size looks like. Once you have seen what one portion of chicken really looks like, you'll probably notice a big difference between how much you should have been eating and how much you have been. Don't feel bad. Most of us have greatly exaggerated perceptions of portion -- blame it on "super sizing"!

What's it like in The Zone?

What's for dinner, you ask? How about a tuna steak as your entree? Both fish and chicken are staple foods on the plan. You can choose your side dishes from the "favorable" carbs list, which includes vegetables like beans, kale and spinach.

For convenience's sake, you can also eat at fast food restaurants: a couple cups of chili at Wendy's or chicken tacos at Taco Bell are completely acceptable. (You can find more fast food suggestions at Dr. Sears.com.) Your two snacks per day can include treats ranging from Waldorf salad to chips and salsa .

Yet another option for sticking to your eating plan is to purchase the pre-prepared meals and supplement bars, which are delivered to you.

Foods you will find on the "unfavorable" list are sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes and sweet fruits like bananas. If you're a carb-lover, forgoing bread or pasta as diet mainstays may be your biggest challenge.

Note that alcohol may be consumed in The Zone, but only moderately (again, moderation is the key!).

One caveat that is important to consider is that most people I have heard from who have maintained their weight loss on The Zone have stayed on the program once they met their goal weight. With that in mind, if you are ready to commit to a lifestyle change, rather "the diet mind frame," then your odds of success are increased significantly.

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 Always consult a medical professional before significantly modifying your diet or beginning an exercise program.