Thread: Tips For Staying In The Zone

(Moved from the old site)

Topic author: BC
Subject: TIPS FOR STAYING IN THE ZONE
Posted on: 01 Feb 2003 6:43:11 PM

Message:
I thought it might be helpful to recap some guidelines for staying in the Zone:

?Always eat within one hour after waking.

?Eat a minimum of 3 meals and 2 snacks every day. Afternoon and late evening snacks are critically important for staying in the Zone.

?A Zone meal should give you 4-5 hours in the Zone, a Zone snack 2-2.5 hours. You should eat every 4-5 hours after a meal or 2-2.5 hours after a snack, whether you are hungry or not, to stay in the Zone. In fact, the best time to eat is before you've gotten hungry. That means your insulin levels are stabilized.

?Lack of hunger and clear mental focus are excellent barometers that you are in the Zone. Before every meal and snack always assess your hunger and mental focus.

?Every meal and snack contains low-fat protein plus carbohydrates (eat more leafy green vegetables and fruits and less pasta, breads, grains and starches) and don't forget "good" fats (i.e. olive oil).

?A typical serving size of low-fat protein fits in the palm of your hand and is no thicker than your hand. For most females, this is 3 ounces of low-fat protein, and for males, this equals 4 ounces of low-fat protein. A typical snack contains 1 ounce of protein for both men and women. Eat no more than 5 blocks at a time.

?Exercise on a regular basis; take your Omega3 supplements.

?Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. More if you can.

?Zone living is guilt free. If you make a mistake, your next Zone meal or snack will take you right back to the Zone.

IMO, these guidelines are just as important as balancing your meals or eating the appropriate number of block for your LBM and activity level.

Happy Zoning!