Sharron, you are doing fine. It really is a matter of learning what works for you as an individual, but it sure looks like you are picking up on some of the things I've learned about myself.

Yes! If I'm eating most non-starchy veggies, I can eat (and need to eat) a reaaaaally healthy portion or portions. Dabs won't make it, and if I only have a a couple of dabs available, I'll need to add some berries or beans, starchy veggie, cracker or lc bread....I almost can't overdo non-starchy veggies.

And yes, I would have predicted the possibility at least of some fuzziness with your egg meal, too. Not that the carbs were not a "perfect" ratio, but that 1) that may not be YOUR ratio, and 2) perhaps more significantly, the GI of the berries and rye crisp is pretty high compared to say a block of veggies. They may have metabolized too fast. By the way, the GI is the basis for Sears' dividing of carbs into Most Favorable, Moderately Favorable, and Least Favorable choices.

So, in thinking of what combinations might work best, I also consider the realtive GI/GL of the carbs. A block of higher GI/GL fruits/starches is going to hit me a lot faster, and maybe put me out of the Zone, compared to a block of lower GI/GL veggies. I don't get scientific about it, but its become one of those little things that goes through my mind when I make my choices.

Ok, so here's an example of how I might adjust a snack. Say I'm going to have an ounce of ham on salad greens with dressing. I could have a VERY generous amount of greens, a true block's worth. (How's that for technical) But if I wanted that ham on Ak-Mak crackers, I'm probably only going to have 2 Ak-maks instead of the 3 which are closer 1 one block. Or I'd use more ham for 3 crackers. I know the crackers will metabolize faster, maybe put me out of the zone, so I adjust the carbs down or the protein up. Or maybe have a low GI something with the a high GI something instead of 2 higher GI things at the same time. Does that make sense?

Even so, I must say sometimes in spite of best intentions what I think of as a "good Zone meal/snack" doesn't work as well as I think it should. I do believe that occasionally other factors may intervene--stress levels, where we are in the insulin cycle, amount of activity, etc. I really don't sweat it a lot now, and if I get hungry before I "should"--or fuzzy, I may go ahead and have another snack to see if I can get things rebalanced unless a meal is coming up pretty soon. It's just not gonna be perfect every time.


The other trick Sears always mentioned is to make note of the meals and snacks that particularly work, actually write them down. You can learn a lot by seeing patterns--either specific foods, or combinations that work or don't work well, and why. I really don't-but I seem to learn everything the hard way!

Hope this makes some sense, and helps a bit!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Yes, Brenda, it does help.

See, I've found 2 Rye Crisp, 1 string cheese and about 6 almonds is a great snack. I also know that a tuna on WW with mayo I'm not allergic too! is a good meal. Now, I'm struggling with my eggs, if I don't have any veggies available... I just can't seem to find a good ratio. Eggs, veggies and kefir (or raw milk seems to work equally well for me) works out great, but I just am not up for cooking and eating veggies at 5:30 O'dark... :o

Hmmm... Need to process more on this, I guess. When I did the Zone the first time around I would always have 1 ounce deli turkey, 1/2 pear and some nuts first thing. I remember it because I did it EVERY day! I don't do processed lunchmeats anymore, so I haven't done that snack again. I wonder if I tried my eggs with 1/2 apple and pb if that would work? Would that combo work for you? I tried the eggs with only 2 Rye Crisp and it wasn't enough -- that was why I tried adding the blueberries. I do understand about the GI thing. That early in the morning, I'm lucky to get food into me, much less appropriate food

It is easy if I have chicken or something. It seems to stick better than eggs do for me. Tomorrow I'll have some chicken cooked and my choice will probably be easier.

What about that? Have you found that eggs don't seem to stick as long or is that a unique thing for me?

I know, I'm being a pest, but this plan does have a higher learning curve to it. I am motivated, though, because I really feel terrific when I'm in the Zone. You had also mentioned it seems specific for adrenal function and that is a huge issue for me...

Thanks again!

I'm not completely sure about the affects of adrenal function on zoning, but it would just make sense to me that if any hormone levels related to metabolism are off or are fluctuating that the zone may slip a notch or two either way. Wonder if there's any research ????

Yes, I think you mentioned earlier in the thread that you had another egg breakfast that didn't work. Eggs are so fast easy that I'd really like to see you find a good zone breakfast!

I'm not sure if eggs, 1/2 apple and pb would work--never tried it, but it sounds good!:fork: Just a gut feeling, but it might be too much apple for me, personally, unless I had maybe 3 eggs......I should experiment. 1 egg, some chunks of feta (I use FF, so there's some carb) an ak-mak and pb is a good snack for me, but I don't expect it to last more than 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

I'd never fix veggies from scratch, either, in the AM LOL!!! What a horrible thought!! But I often have leftovers, or some cleaned cauliflower or celery to slice, and in the past I've even kept an "emergency" case of cheap green beans in the utility room. If I don't use veggies, my eggs just don't seem to last as long. However adding a carby cheese with my lc bread or cracker helps. So maybe eggs are a "special protein case" and we learn to balance them a little differently??

OH! here's an amusing egg story: A couple of weekends ago we were up early on errands and decided to eat breakfast out. I had two scrambled eggs and a sausage patty, and guiltily ate half a small biscuit with maybe 1/2 tsp strawberry preserves. Wouldn't you know, it turned out to be a great zone meal for me, and I wasn't hungry and had good energy and focus for HOURS! Of course now I have to remind myself that bisquits really aren't something I need every weekend!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Have had a hectic couple of days. Haven't even tried eggs again yet!

Yesterday, I was not in the Zone most of the day due to varying circumstances beyond my control. Today I'm doing much better. I've not managed to have snacks as often as I should, but my meals have all been good. My energy is much better, too. I did finish off yesterday fine even though I started out badly. Makes such a difference in my Zone!

I tried to find a Zone book at the Goodwill today. There were a couple of spinoffs, and they had the basic ones on tape, but no basic ones in book form. I'll keep looking... :square:

Glad you are doing better today. I like to have the books available, too, even though most of the info is on the various sites.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

I did much better yesterday. Had a couple of really good Zone meals and a funny snack, kinda along the lines of your biscuit meal

The kids still have s/f chocolate Easter bunnies hanging around (none of us are big on candy!) and we got one out for an afternoon treat. I had some cottage cheese, 1/3 of a bunny and some pb. Worked fine. Fortunately, we only have 3 left and I certainly won't be buying anymore for a year or so...

My great meal was 2 tiny lamb chops and a chicken wing, with a huge artichoke on the side, a glass of raw milk and a bit of watermelon for dessert. It worked really well! Too bad I don't have access to lamb chops and artichoke every day!

I'm still having bedtime snack issues. What do you eat that is successful?

I had a successful egg meal: 2 eggs cooked in EPCO, 1 slice stoneground WW toast with butter. In the Zone!

Very Cool!!!!!!

You'd asked about evening snacks---a lightly scrambled egg, cracker, and a bit of pb work really well almost all the time for me. Sometimes cottage cheese and a coupla nuts. A "lighter" protein seems to digest easier and not lay on my tummy at night.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Ah ha. That is what I did wrong last night, eh? You anticipated my question before I even asked it

I had cottage cheese, 3 WW crackers (3 carbs each) and some nuts -- it didn't work.

I just can't face cooking eggs before bed -- cooking anything really! Probably my snack of a string cheese, Rye crisps and nut of some sort would be good then.

Do the Ak Maks actually taste ok without anything on them? I like plain Triscuits, but they are a bit carby. Plain Rye Crisps are rather... um, dry... I forgot to look for the Ak Maks when I was at TJs the other day

No, Ak-maks don't taste great alone. That's pretty much why I like them--I'm not tempted to grab the box to munch on. "Um dry" is a pretty good description.

Yeah a lighter protein, not too much fat, and really watching quantities for your bed snack. Just a little too much and you will feel that lead ball in your tummy for hours. I try to have it about an hour to 1-1/2 hours before bed, too, although sometimes I forget.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Ok, I'll try to do better tonight :great:

Hey, did you know that Mercola talks about the same ratios and finding "the Zone" though he calls it something else? I can find the links if you are interested. He breaks down his ratios a bit differently, but it is the same idea...

http://www.mercola.com/forms/mtt_table.htm This is the link that talks about "fine tuning." I like Dr. Sears "in the Zone" better -- easier to judge. Either you are in or you aren't!

I found two more meals/snacks that worked great!

My dinner was chicken, salad, a few apple chips and a glass of raw milk. I had mental focus all the way till bed time. I was sleepy, but my brain was still clear. For my snack, I had a bit of apple chips (the crumbs at the bottom of the bag ), a Rye Crisp, a piece of string cheese, about 12 almonds and about 2/3 cup kefir smoothie. It worked out just fine! I slept soundly and woke up not ravenous and with good mental ability.

I won't be able to duplicate the apple chips, but I could easily make that a bit of some real fruit, or a 2nd Rye Crisp possibly.

I wish there was a way to cut up an apple and have it ready to eat without either having to douse it with lemon juice and ruin the flavor, or having to let it get all brown!

Do you have any more menu suggestions for me??? :great:

Yes, that's Mercola's metabolism typing. I do need to revisit that information, just for informatiion's sake, but I do think Sears approach is more logical, or more clear. The ratios are a sliding scale and somewhere on that scale is the "Zone" where you function best--as opposed to fitting yourself into a type. However, I suppose it's all symantics if it gets you to the same place.


LOL, Sharron, I think you'll be totally bored when I tell you what I eat, but I'll try to notice what I'm doing and give you more ideas.

Yes, it is too bad about how apples turn. The easiest way I've found to deal with that is to leave the "other half" of the apple unsliced. Put a square of plastic wrap on a small flat plate or in a container with a flat bottom, put the apple in face down, maybe squirt a few drops of lemon and pull up the wrap. If it turns brown, you only have one "face" of brown to deal for your next snack. Of course it's nice to have them pre-sliced, but ......

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Yea, that was what I was thinking -- just a matter of semantics. I prefer Dr. Sears way of looking at it -- either you are in the Zone or you aren't. Dr. Mercola does have some interesting info, though.

I would like to see what you eat to give me some more ideas of how to balance my meals better. I did pretty good yesterday -- good focus and energy all day, but I can honestly say I didn't make the best choices in the world. I was on the run most of the day, just grabbing food here and there. Makes it hard to make great choices.

I HOPE to do better today.

Oh, I found a way I can eat grapes and be in the Zone! We always have them around, but they are too carby for me in general. I had 1 rye crisp, 4 or 5 grapes, a string cheese and about 6 almonds. Worked out really well! Sometimes they are the ONLY fruit or veggie in the house, so it is nice to be able to use them as an option

I can't remember if it was in this thread or in another one that you mentioned having chili and a small salad at Wendy's. I was at Wendy's for lunch today and had a small salad, chili and a bunless jr. bacon chz brgr. Worked out great!

Thanks for the heads up on that one! I don't think I would have thought of the chili if you hadn't mentioned it :fork:

I think I need to buy some canned beans to have in the house for when I need my 2nd item and I'm brainless or rushed or whatever. I remember I used to use the white kidney beans quite successfully my first time around the Zone. They would be a better choice than some of the things I've been doing...

*sigh*

It is all about choices...

You know, that is the intro to my new book?