Tips for Getting Started

Tips to get you started on the Zone Diet...

-Make a goal of how long you are going to do the diet for. Commit to it and keep a food diary if needed. 2 weeks is a good start. You will probably see results and feel better within 1 week, but to fully detox it could take 2 weeks. Be prepared to possibly feel tired, hungry and cranky the first week as your body gets used to a new way of eating. These side effects occur in 25% of the population due to the release of Aracidonic Acid (AA) is released from your cells. This is the "detox". It's only temporary.

-Make sure to stock your house with Zone favorable foods. It's much easier to stay on track if you have the right foods available. There is a Zone shopping list you can print out online to take with you to the market.

-Keep the Zone book in the kitchen where it is readily available to look up how many blocks is in each food you want to eat. There is a list on page 227 which makes it very easy to figure out a meal or snack.

-Pick 2-3 favorite breakfasts, snacks and meals that you know have the right amount of blocks you need. That way you can just rotate these and know your meal is in the Zone without having to make one last minute. This helps when you are in a hurry or hungry and don't want to think up a meal.

-If you don't have time in the morning to make a meal, i.e. eggs, canadian bacon, etc. Make it the night before and just warm it up. Make your lunch ahead of time too.

-Plan your meals in advance. When you go shopping, shop for 1 week of meals and snacks. Costco is a great place to get bulk meat, fruit, yogurt, etc.

-Make sure to eat within 1 hour of waking and be sure to eat all 5 fives per day. (3 meals and 2 snacks)

-Take 2 1/2 grams of fish oil per day, as recommended by Dr. Barry Sears.

-If you feel hungry after meals, look at what you are choosing for your carbs. Instead of a slice of bread (2 blocks), you can have 1 cup of broccoli or 2 cups or cauliflower, and 1 cup of strawberries instead. (also 2 blocks)

-Start the diet with someone else. It's much easier to stick with a diet when you have support. All the trainers here at Viking Crossfit are on the Zone, so feel free to ask us questions or advice.