1. Always Eat in Moderation
One of the main draws of the Zone Diet is its emphasis on moderation as opposed to abstinence. As such, you're encouraged to eat the foods you want to eat, but always double-check the caloric, fat, carbs and protein content. A good Zone tip is to measure your portions according to the size of your hand. A good serving size for a protein (fish or chicken, for example) is roughly the size and thickness of your palm, while an adequate serving of fruit (carbs) is about the size of your closed fist. If you decide to season the foods you eat with a fat like butter or oil, then you should limit the serving to roughly the size of the tip of your thumb. It's important to remember, however, that you should never starve yourself. Eat three meals and two snacks each day, even if you don't feel hungry. As long as you eat thoughtfully and with an emphasis on moderation, you should never feel hungry nor should you feel guilty.
2. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
While changing your diet is a key component in the quest to lose weight, exercise is also incredibly important. You can tailor an exercise regimen to your physical fitness level, which is also an important factor. For example, if you could medically be considered overweight, grossly overweight or obese then your initial exercise regimen should be centered on walking, swimming and other low-impact activities. As you lose weight, you'll want to increase the duration of your exercise sessions, as well as raise the impact. For example, high-energy aerobics puts a little more stress on your joints and dramatically increases your heart rate.
3. Be Patient and Persevere
One of the most frustrating aspects of losing weight can be the time it takes. As a rule, you can expect to lose as much as four pounds in the first week as a result of water and fat loss. In successive weeks you can expect to lose between 1 1/2 to 2 pounds per week, depending on the impact of your exercise regimen and the content of your diet.
Member Comments