Running on fumes will wear out your system quickly and causes your body to desperately hold onto every scrap of food you give it, uncertain when you ll make it to the next filling station. This doesn t mean you can start hitting buffets- portion control is an essential element of this equation. The Zone I usually recommend a modified version of Barry Sear s Zone diet for my clients. For those that are unfamiliar with this plan, which has been the rage for the past few years, here are the basics. Every meal is balanced, with a source of protein, a carbohydrate, and a fat.
Lean proteins are recommended- chicken, turkey, and fish.
As a rough estimate, the protein source should be about the size of your whole hand, the carbohydrate should fit in your palm, and the fat should equal your pinkie finger. I have never been one to order a salad in a restaurant. But when I started eating Zone a few years ago, my body fat dropped five percent in six months, almost without my noticing. My energy level improved, and I rarely experienced the late afternoon fatigue that I had suffered from for years. In the past, particularly during the lean years in New York when I was a struggling modern dancer, I had survived on bread, bagels, and macaroni and cheese.