Soy Zone-

[Guest guest]

Dave,

 

i was really interested to read your recent posts on the soy zone.

Its something i had heard of, having looked into the zone while

still eating meat, but have not really looked into. After your

posts, and the posts of others i'm definitely interested in finding

out more. I think my diet at the moment, while low in fat and

calories - most of the time - does lack something, and i'm

interested in looking at other alternatives.

I really do seem to be using the word interested alot today!

So, i'm off to order the book and once i've read it, i'm sure i'll

be full of interesting (there it is again) questions for you.

Do you find it difficult to do the calculations everyday? I'm quite

good at sticking to this kind of thing ususally, but what about

eating out? Maybe i should quit getting ahead of myself and wait

til i've read it!

 

I've been thinking about jogging for a while and i'd love to do it

before work to get myself revved up, and maybe alternate it with

yoga. I have to start getting ready for work at 7.30 so i'd prob

get up to exercise at 6.30 but i find it so hard to get out of bed.

What motivation do people use to get out of bed at that time, when

its still dark? I think i'll find it hard! Also if you're getting

up that early when should you go to bed to get enough sleep?

Any tips?

 

Laura x

[Guest guest]

*****Laura x wrote.....

>>...i'm off to order the book and once i've read it, i'm sure i'll

be full of interesting (there it is again) questions for you.<<

 

Once there was a California joke about how you changed a light bulb. After

you assembled so many workers, the light bulb had to " want to change. "

Having been focused on diet for over 20 years, I know that most people want

to change but simply fail to find the motivation to make it happen. Later,

I'll comment on that too.

 

>>Do you find it difficult to do the calculations everyday?<<

 

 

Not really! They are so simple--1 part fat, 2 parts protein, and 3 parts

carbo. The most difficult part of this is adjusting the macronutrients to

your favorite foods. I use " The Complete book of Food Counts " by Corinne T

Netzer as my reference. It's complete enough to include all of the standard

food I eat. The veggie stuff usually has a label with the three

macronutrients listed.

 

 

>>...I'm quite good at sticking to this kind of thing ususally,<<

 

At home, you'll probably start by preparing the dishes shown in the soy zone

book. Some are very good. Your first impression will be, " Oh, God, I can't

possibly eat that much food. " This dispels the first myth of any diet that

you have to " starve " yourself to do it, and you'll finally see that there's

really only two healthy ways of reducing your weight--eat less or eat lower

on the GI scale.

 

 

>>...but what about eating out?<<

 

I tried to minimize it for the first couple of weeks after I started eating

this way. I wanted to see some results first and then I wanted to learn

what " being in the zone " felt like. The book suggests that once a month you

binge on your favorite food just for the uncomfortable feeling of " being out

of the zone. " Being in the zone is such a feeling of well-being that you

probably won't do the binge more than twice. It's so wonderful to finally

reestablish that mind-body communications that most have lost.

 

Now, about eating out--I found that most veggie meals out were too large in

quantity, thus very high in either fat or carbo. Using my Food Counts

books, I estimate the amount of the three macronutrients in the meal and

supplement either before hand or afterwards to bring it close to the zone.

 

To bump up the fat, I add nuts, usually cashews. To bump up the protein, I

add a protein bar like the one mentioned with my pizza recipe. Oh, one last

thing--I always save room for a great chocolate dessert. Also, if it's not

chocolate, I'll usually have only a few bites that is unless it's

custard...no, I'm kidding here.

 

>>Maybe i should quit getting ahead of myself and wait til i've read it!

<<

 

No problem. If our dialogue prompts others to pick up the book, then the

time spent here is well used.

 

 

>>I've been thinking about jogging for a while and i'd love to do it

before work to get myself revved up, and maybe alternate it with

yoga.<<

 

I have friends that do both. They are excellent choices for maintaining you

health. My yoga has been limited to Siddha Yoga, and I don't get the revved

up heart and breathing from that, so running is my preferred method.

 

 

>>...i find it so hard to get out of bed. What motivation do people use to

get out of bed at that time, when its still dark?<<

 

Since my outlook on life is so different from those around me, I'm asked

question this a lot. So, I've worked on the answer a bit. I hope it works

for you too.

 

We all get exactly what's in our thoughts. When we're happy, the world

appears to sing along with us. When we're bummed, we criticize everything.

 

 

So, knowing this, I realize that there is a " very big " game out there for us

to all become a part of. In a big game, I need to think BIG because that's

where all the advantages will be and not just about the world but also about

being me.

 

Thinking big opens up a whole " new way of being. " Suddenly, you're more

than just your job or the family you find yourself in. You're a part of the

world where many other wonderful things are happening. Your life's meaning

begins to evolve.

 

Your concern for personal health jumps a notch or two almost immediately.

Your view of the world takes on new meaning. I found that my purpose of

life became crystal clear.

 

I suggest to you, Laura, that when you change your thoughts, getting out of

bed a bit earlier in the morning will be " so easy. " After all, now you're

finally excited about the world in a totally new way--the same way you were

as a little girl.

 

Remember that time when everything worked the way it was suppose to, and

everything you tried gave you so much joy? Well, the world hasn't changed,

you have!!

 

Over the years, as we've been repeatedly told NO for all the wrong reasons,

we have ALL taken it much too personally, and limited our life in many ways

that were never intended to be limited. The secret for being free again is

in your thoughts.

 

Think it and over time it will happen. There's a ton of difficulties here

but we'll face them as they occur.

 

>>I think i'll find it hard!<<

 

This is your first lesson. STOP all forms of this kind of " negative self

talk! " Instead, say, " Getting up in the morning to meet another fabulous

day is very easy for me! " Your self talk is the primary tool we use for

sabotaging our life.

 

>>Also if you're getting up that early when should you go to bed to get

enough sleep? Any tips?<<

 

Well, my bedtime sort of depends on what's happened that day. If it's been

an especially busy day, and I'm overly tired, I'll go to bed at 7-8 pm. If

I'm feeling energized, it might be midnight. So, you can see how much it

varies. I'm not a slave to the clock, instead I listen to my body.

Thinking back over the past month, bedtime's been as early as 9:30 pm to

around 11:15 pm.

 

Oh...some mornings I'm so excited about what's happening that day that I

wake up an hour earlier to mentally plan my involvement in the day's

activities. I see this as a way to fully participate in the variability of

my day. Since I generally have an image of how the day might " play itself

out, " I feel better able to meet its challenges and enjoy its special

moments.

 

By fully living my life, my surprises are richer, and my disappointments are

diminished. It just doesn't get any better.

 

Have a great day. Oh, I'll be out of town until Sunday evening.

 

Dave