Getting into the Weight Loss Zone

By Gabby Hyman gabby.hyman@hqpublications.com Pharmavita Columnist October 4, 2005

The Zone Diet has risen in popularity as Americans look to adopt balanced weight loss programs that won't severely change their dining routine. In this program, weight loss is steady, but gradual, and seems to be long lasting so long as you remain off large portions and get regular exercise.

With the Zone Diet, the enemy is the large portion of carbohydrates, which stimulates the production of insulin. Insulin stimulates fat storage in the body, and in the Zone program, you avoid large servings of high-density carbohydrates, favoring fruits and vegetables instead.

The good news is that you eat three regular meals a day and snacks in between, which stave off hunger pangs. If you're after a crash diet to get you into that old pair of jeans, the Zone Diet is not for you. This weight loss program is about the steady, progressive loss of body fat without depriving you or shocking the system.

Zone Diet Basics, Simplified

The Zone Diet is more a hormonal, insulin-controlling shift than a weight loss program. Your three daily meals are divided into thirds. One-third of the plate contains protein. The remaining two-thirds contain fruits and vegetables. You always add a small portion of fat to the meal, typically from olive oil or Omega-3 oils. The net result is a fundamental change in your body chemistry with a weight-loss side effect.

It's vitally important to drink 64 ounces of water over the course of the day and to get regular exercise. And don't go too long between meals or snacks, or your insulin levels will slide out of balance. Then you're out of the Zone.

About the Author
Gabby Hyman has written for print and online media for more than 20 years. He has created online content for eToyds, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Avaya, and Nissan, UK. He has also been a web consultant to the Governer of California. As an author of fiction, journalism, and poetry, Gabby is a former English professor for the University of Illinois, Universityu of Alaska, and Old Dominion University. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Alabama.