Colleen’s Zone Experience

We had 25 people participate in the Zone Challenge in February. Of those 25 I know a handful have kept in the “Zone” and are on their way to meeting their weight-loss and fitness goals. Here is what Colleen has to say about her dietary journey the past couple of months:

Having attempted for, what seems like forever, to get to a goal weight, I was optimistic when Aaron announced a 30 day Zone challenge in February…(ok, maybe it was a 28 day Zone challenge-even better!) I had been around long enough to hear people talking about it, and had been somewhat successful in the short term with the Primal plan that Travis had organized earlier last year. I had also talked to Justin at one point about my weight loss goals and he suggested that I try the Zone, but when I tried to figure it out on my own, it was off-putting, frankly. Is a 1 block meal a 1 block, or a 3 block meal? Do you count each food component (protein, carb, fat) as 1 block or are they 3? Confusing, right?

Day 1 of the plan. Aaron weighs everyone in and, at length, explains the block calculating and what it all means. He passes out handouts, and provides resources, including his own availability for questions anytime. I’m relieved to hear that cheat meals and cheat days are acceptable, because I will always love ice cream. People joke about chewing macadamia nuts slowly, because, on this plan, 1 mac nut= 1 fat block. Crazy, I think. How significant can that possibly be? So, I download the food lists into my phone for easy reference, and have copies all over my house. I sign up for Paleo Nick’s site for recipes and actually try 3 or 4 of them – excellent! Better yet, they’re pre-calculated, so I just organize measured amounts in the frig or freezer and- voila – easy food that’s actually worth looking forward to that I can take to work. Two weeks go by, and, oh my god, I actually have more energy, more stamina, and MY WORKOUTS ARE BETTER!!!

Probably going to Napa with David and our foodie friends over Valentine’s Day weekend was not the wisest choice while learning this new nutrition plan. I got away from it, and never really got back that month. Elusive stick-to-it-ness – the thing I would ask for if a genie ever showed up. So, while I lost less than a pound in February, I did learn the basics of the Zone. With the Open coming up, I vowed to have my own challenge in March. I spent one entire weekend buying, prepping, and cooking Zone balanced food. I measured, stored, and numbered everything appropriately. I again thought, Crazy! This is way too much work, BUT, I have not had to do a big prep like that since. I still have 2 ounce portions of chicken and frozen sweet potatoes and butternut squash in my freezer. Easy peasy. When I went for beer before The Open is Over party at CFES yesterday, I grabbed berries and cottage cheese and a ton of fresh spinach to balance out my week, and I’m ready!

By the third week in March, I had lost 6 pounds. Better yet, I can eyeball my cottage cheese portions, I always think of three nutrients when I put a meal together (even when my carb block is a glass of wine), and am armed with Zone bars in my desk, for the days when all hell breaks loose.

I do recommend this plan because it seems to best support the work that we, as Crossfitters do, AND it feels very clean, healthy, and balanced. Thanks again to Aaron for putting this together. He offered support in February for the plan, but was right there for all my questions through my own March challenge as well. Here’s to April!