Mini-Articles: Temptation, Thinking Beyond "Diet", and Walking the Walk
Temptation
Sometimes the temptation is just too great. Maybe it's the power lunch with the out of town team, or the volunteer potluck lunch at the school, and you just can't or don't want to say NO to the homemade Au Grautin Potato and Ham casserole or the catered Dim Sum. Once you are in the Zone for awhile you will appreciate how good you are feeling in the Zone when you fall out for a meal. All is not lost, you can resume Zone living by eating right the next meal. Keep in mind, however, your success with the Zone lifestyle, depends on how diligent you are in keeping yourself in the Zone!
Thinking Beyond "Diet"
To recognize the true power of the Zone, I invite you to think beyond "diet". Diet is just one part of the Zone lifestyle. Many people try different diets to lose weight. Some are quite successful and some fall short. But what happens when you reach your goal weight and decide the "diet" did its job and slip back into old eating patterns?
I find that I like being in the Zone. I feel great! I am not hungry! I am happier. I don't want to eat outside the Zone. I feel terrible out there. I liken it to being hit by a Mac truck. I feel tired, sluggish, foggy, cranks, and just "off". The euphoric feeling that accompanies the proper diet is just the beginning of a healthier lifestyle.
Along with 40-30-30 balanced meals, add exercise. Start simple, maybe with just a brisk walk. Soon you will want to increase your level of activity.
Now, the next thing is to help your body ward off heart disease, high cholesterol, arthritis, certain forms of cancer, and type II diabetes. It's easy. Eat good fats: olive oil, nuts, and avocados. Stay away from trans fats like margarine and hydrogenated oils. Use saturated fats (from animal sources) in moderation.
Next, do your body one better, treat it to Omega-3 oils. Eat salmon and supplement with molecular distilled fish oil. This is truly brain food. It contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) a big word for something the brain needs. 60% of the brain's weight is fat, fat in the form of DHA. Without adequate DHA your brain cannot function properly.
Finally, drink lots of water. Just plain water. Coffee doesn't count, nor does pop. The body is made up of 70% water. It is necessary for proper cellular function. If your body thinks it is not getting enough water, it will try to retain water.
Now you have all the parts to think beyond "diet". Enjoy the full power of the Zone lifestyle.
Walking the Walk
True Zoners not only talk the talk, they walk the walk. There are so many "diets" floating around out there for people to choose. Some come, some go, and some have been around for some time.
I have tried many diets over the years. I have met with some degree of success, but nothing like the Zone. Many of those purported "diets" work while you are following them, but once you stabilize and try to "eat normally", the weight often comes right back and even increases.
The Zone goes beyond the "diet" concept. It is a way of life, a prescription for healthy living. It helps your body regulate itself into hormonal balance. You no longer crave the things that keep you from reaching optimal health. You feel better, sleep better, focus better, all while you are eating real food, that you can choose for yourself.
When discussing the Zone with other established followers, I find that they possess a level of understanding that extends beyond the "diet" mentality. They understand the food connection to the way their body reacts. But, beyond this level of understanding, they actually live what they say. They truly are walking the walk and not just talking the talk.