What’s “The Zone”? How do you get into it? And what is it about Dr Barry Sears’ Zone Diet that has Hollywood “A” listers queueing round the block to sign up?

Tubby investigates…

Okay, so maybe they’re not quite round the block, but it’s true that big-hitting names like Sandra Bullock and Jennifer and Brad have all been fans. Dr Sears claims that his diet changes the way your metabolism works, encouraging your body to burn more fat permanently, as well as making your brain work better and even delaying the signs of ageing. Hmm…Jury’s out on that one; I guess the plastic surgeons in Hollywood will stay in business a bit longer.

The first thing that struck me about The Zone Diet is this; if you like math, you’ll love it! It works on the idea that if your blood sugar levels are kept stable, then your body releases more fat for burning. Blood sugar levels yo-yoing means your pancreas releases a lot of insulin to keep levels steady – and insulin encourages fat storage (which is why diabetics often struggle with their weight). To keep blood sugar steady, regular eating of the right foods is required.

Most dieticians recommend that a daily diet is made up of 50% carbohydrates (grains, bread, potatoes, fruit and veg), 15% protein (meat, fish, dairy, soy, nuts), and 35% fat (“good” fat, as found in unsaturated oils, nuts, fish, avocados). The Zone Diet recommends 40% carbs, 30% fat, 30% protein. But the carbs should be mostly veg and fruit, not rice, pasta or grains. High protein, low-carb is what this is beginning to sound like!

The math bit comes when you have to calculate exactly how much to eat. This is worked out in “Zone Food Blocks” and the number of blocks you can eat per day depends on your height, weight, bone structure and activity levels.

Then they recommend you measure your food in cups and tablespoons. By the time you get your meal on the table, you’re ready for bed!
There is a website to help with all this, and you can buy the diet book and pre-prepared and measured foodstuffs from it. Of course you can. Expensively.

Having said that, at least this diet is sensible (-ish), not particularly faddy apart from the meal-timing – I’ll cover that in a moment – and should result in a steady 1 – 2 lb weight loss a week. Best of all, you should not feel fatigued, miserable or hungry, and regular exercise is promoted, which always fills my little heart with joy.

The meal timing requires you to be incredibly organised. To quote from the website: “Meal Timing is critically important for staying in the zone….plan your day accordingly, just like you schedule appointments..”
Huh? I thought eating was supposed to be a pleasure; if you have to eat breakfast at 7am on the dot, followed by a snack at exactly 10, then lunch on the stroke of 12…Don’t sound much like fun to me. Was this diet created by The Borg?

The idea’s sensible – never go without food for more than 4 – 5 hours – but I don’t suppose the exact timing is as critical as they say it is. Your blood sugar won’t drop into your boots if lunch is 20 minutes late!

So, it comes down to this. If you like planning your eating with military precision, the Zone Diet will work for you, mainly because you will only be eating around 1300 calories a day. If you have a manically frenetic life like most of us, it will be just one more thing to worry about.

But, on the whole, the Zone Diet makes sense. My advice would be to take the good ideas in it and don’t worry too much about the rest!

Carol J Bartram
(Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor & Massage Therapist

The Zone Diet

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