OK, nearly a week into the October Zone challenge, Rebecca and I have learned an awful lot.  If you've joined us, I would love to hear your stories and any tips or tricks you may have picked up.  If you're sitting on the fence, I encourage you to try it:  it's really not as difficult as it sounds!  Here are some of my observations:

Performance.  I have not seen a noticeable performance increase, but it's only been a week.  What I have seen, and saw almost immediately, is a big jump in energy and attitude.  For months now, I've been fighting a tired feeling of dread at the start of workouts - I'd set out on the warmup run and immediately begin a mental argument that would go something like this:  "I feel crappy.  Maybe I'll take it easy today.  No, that's stupid:  I won't get any better if I don't push" etc., etc.  The Zone has cleared that feeling like a bad fog.  On my first day, I realized halfway through a two-mile run that I was actually enjoying myself, feeling fit and pushing my body to see what it could do.

The obvious answer for this is the increase in carbohydrates - my diet has typically been very low-carb (under 100g) modified paleo, and I suspect it was putting me in a state of permanent bonk.  Gita is no doubt laughing at me by now, but I have to concede that more-than-doubling my carbohydrates has indeed increased my supply of ready glycogen, which translates to more energy.  While that may not translate to better performance immediately, I can only think that it will allow me to attack workouts with greater intensity, and thereby reap a greater benefit.  I'd be curious to hear about this from somebody coming to the Zone from the other side (ie, a typical high-carb, low-fat diet).  I'm also very curious to see if gain, lose or stay even eating this way.

The weighing and measuring has been a bit of a pain, but quickly gets better as you get used to it.  We also tend to eat the same foods a lot, so you learn what's what and gravitate to those things that are easy (ie, TJ's makes some chicken sausages that are exactly 3 blocks of protein each).  We've also been making large meals in the proper proportions, then dividing them up into 3 and 4 block tupperwares for leftovers, which makes lunches really easy.

The carbs have been the trickiest part.  Four blocks of broccoli or raw spinach is an INSANE amount of food - far more than can be reasonably eaten in a sitting - so we've been seeking out the denser favorable carbs.  Thank goodness for yams and beans.  That there are people out there who do both Zone and strict Paleo boggles my mind:  they must spend two hours each day simply eating.

Anyway, there are some personal observations after a week.  Are you doing it to?  What have you discovered?  Still hesitating?  Come on in - the water's fine.

Here are a couple of the more successful recipes we've found this week:

Dinner: Sausage, Spinach & Sweet Potatoes (SUPER easy 3-block meal)

• TJ's Pesto or Andouille chicken sausages (3P blocks each)
• Bag of TJ's organic spinach (1C block)
  
• Half a 5-6" yam (2C block)
• 1 clove garlic (optional)
  
• Salt and pepper
  
• 0.5 Tbsp olive oil
• a little butter for the yam

I like to buy a few pounds of yams and roast them in the oven all at once (an hour at 350), then put them in the refrigerator and reheat individually as needed - I just think the texture is better this way.  But you can easily microwave them too:  puncture with a fork and put in microwave on high for 5 minutes, turning over halfway through.  Put a little pat of butter on it and mix with a fork.  Maybe sprinkle some pepper or some cinnamon on top.  Yum.

Cut the sausage(s) and saute in a large skillet in the olive oil until lightly browned.  Empty the bag of spinach over them, lower the heat to medium and cover for 2 minutes or until the spinach is soft and wilted.  Stir to mix.  Add crushed garlic and stir just until fragrant, and remove from heat.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Serve with the yam.

Need 4 blocks?  Serve with a cup of cold milk.

Snack:  Cottage cheese and fruit (2 blocks)

• 1/2c cottage cheese
  
• 3/4c applesauce OR 2 diced peaches OR 5 dried apricots OR use your imagination
  
• 18 slivered almonds (if you don't feel like counting, just two small spoonfuls)
• sprinkle liberally with cinnamon

Just stir it all together in a bowl.  We love this, and have it just about every day.  Easily transportable.  Goes great with coffee.