Hello, Dr. Sears,
Q: My wife and I have just started the Zone Diet. Thank you for an excellent book and for lifting the veil on what eating healthily is all about. I was staggered when I read your book to realize how little I had known about how the body actually uses food.
Just a couple of questions: If we have a late-evening snack as prescribed in the Zone Diet, won't that affect our ability to get a good night's sleep? I was always taught not to eat much before bed, otherwise the body couldn't relax into sleep. We have worked out our protein allowances and intend to stick to the block allowances for protein, carbs and added fat. But if we are eating just what we should eat in order to maintain equilibrium, how will we lose any weight?
Gerry R.
Dear Gerry,
A: A late-night snack is used to prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia that will reduce the quality of sleep. It should be no more than 100 calories with the right balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat. You are actually eating as if you were at your ideal weight (and finally ideal percent body fat). Once you get to that level, you just keeping eating the same way for the rest of your life.