Let's remix this business...

I've said in more than one post that 365 part two is too restrictive, and I've decided once and for all that it is.  Let's remix this business -- extra points to the person or people who know what movie that's from.

Here's the plan. I am going to kick it old school with The Zone.  For those of you who don't know what The Zone is I suggest you check out Dr. Barry Sears' website. In a nutshell, The Zone advocates consuming calories from carbohydrates, protein, and fat in a balanced ratio of 40:30:30 -- 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat.  The Zone is Dr. Sears' term for proper hormone balance.  I could geek out on your here, but I suggest you check out his website instead.

My husband and I ate on The Zone from 2006 through 2008 with great results.  I am not going to lie, this nutrition program is tedious.  You have to weigh and measure all of your food; I am literally counting the number of almonds I consume.  The Zone forces me to measure accurate portions of food for my activity level and current body fat, which is perfect for me since I have an issue with portion control.  If you CrossFit, this is the diet most often prescribed by trainers.  The other awesome thing about The Zone is I can eat gluten, dairy, and sugar if I want, I just get smaller portions.  I think The Zone will help keep me on track with my goals, and it is FAR more sustainable for the long term.

A friend recently asked me, "Why can't you just eat in moderation like the rest of the population does?"  Good question.  The easy answer is that I've tried that and it doesn't work for me.  Far too often I slip down the rabbit hole and make terrible food choices that result in bad habits and body fat gain.  The hard answer is that I don't know why that doesn't work for me. I wish it did work, it would certainly be easier.  That being said, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition programming.  While moderation may work for my friend, it doesn't work for me.  And while The Zone may work for me, if may be far too structured and tedious for someone else.  My advice is to keep trying until you find something that works for you, in life and in nutrition.