Hello from Oregon! Any Zoners on this site want to share wit

Well, I don't have any kids either, so I should be able to work out at least 3x a week, and I'm shooting for 4. I've been working out 2x a week for a year so it shouldn't bee too much of a stretch.

My job is a <b>big problem</b> with my weight control. First of all, I sit on my tuckuss all day and secondly you wouldn't believe it, but the dental office has more sweets than anyplace on earth!!! All the specialists that we refer to constantly send us baked goods and candies and cheese plates (my true weakness) to entice us to keep referring more patients to them.

So...here I am

I spent Fri and Sat doing a bunch of diet research. My good friend who is the most physically fit person I know is on the zone diet...along with a serious workout regimen of 4-5 days week of <b>intense</b> exercize. Anyways, she swears it is largely the diet that is responsible for her <b>perfect</b> figure.... so I started researching it.

The Zone was created by Dr. Barry Sears in 1996, the whole point is insulin control through the foods we eat, it is supposed to be very healthy for preventing CVD and Type II DM, but a beneficial side effect is supposed to be weight loss and improved focus and motivation, esp when it comes to athletics. Very successful with elite althletes such s olympic swimmers and olympic sprinters (not that I am any of those things) The whole principal is <b>ratio</b> of the foods we eat, so to be "in the zone" each meal and snack must be comprised of 40-30-30.....40% calories from carbs, 30% cals from protein and 30% cals from fat (contrasting the FDA recommendations of 55% carbs, 30% fat and 15% protein). It's harder than it sounds tho because you can't just have any carbs, they are supposed to be mostly fruits and veggies and whole rolled oats and grains (no processed flour, sugar etc) and the protein needs to be low fat protein (i.e. limit red meat and fatty cheeses) and the fat is supposed to be monounsaturated such as olive oil, avacados, nuts etc.

.....so in doing a full 2 days worth of research it does seem pretty legit and not a "fad" like some diets. In researching nutrition, some other diets that struck me as healthy and nutritionally sound were the <b>Glycemic Impact Diet </b> (but it costs $$) and the <b>Mayo Clinic Plan</b>....so if I can't figure out The Zone I may try those....but the zone is accessable through cheap used books and tons of web info and my friend swears it is the best because it isn't a typical "diet" just a healthy way of eating for life. OK....I'll try it. I can't figure out what to put in my coffee to sweeten it because I am very anti artificial sweeteners (oh, yeah and I'm not supposed to have coffee....but that just ain't gonna happen)!!!! You can pry my coffee cup from my cold, dead hands! Ha Ha!!

wheew.....long reply, sorry.