2009-10-23 Zone

Just wanted to make a quick comment about the zone, I have been “zoneing” since Jan 2009. By that I mean, that is when I first started weighing and measuring (WAM) seriously. I still WAM quite a bit, and I estimate a bit as well. If I am home it takes very little effort to grab a scale, measuring cup, etc to prepare my food. We do that anyway when we follow a recipe. I have containers that are 1/2, 1 or 2 cup sizes that I put food in so the measuring happens at the same time that I get the food ready to take into work. When I am estimating, I think I do ok on sizes, but what gets lost in the shuffle is the block prescription. When I record what I am eating, I am sure that I hit or come within a 1/2 block of what my prescription should be. When I don’t record, but still WAM, I think that don’t do as well. My breakfast is ususally very tight because I usually do that at home. Lunch is not as bad either, but between the snacks and dinner, I think I may go over or under. When I am recording, I know exactly how much I have eaten and can adjust dinner or the evening snack accordingly. That being said, I think I am still pretty close to the zone when I don’t record, but do notice a difference in my recorded weight data. The places where I have flatlined is where I am not recording, when I went up is where I overdid the cheat meals (and it doesn’t take much for me to add weight) and the steep weight losses are where I am WAM and recording. Notice the steep drop in August when I was doing the paleo clean as well as strict zone. During the periods of weight loss, I have not seen major performance gains and sometimes a little loss, but have gained in the period after. Overall, I am very happy with the progress made to date.