The Zone Diet was created by Dr. Barry Sears. Dr. Sears is a leader in the science of controlling hormonal response through diet. A former research scientist at he Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has dedicated his career to the study of lipids and holds 13 US Patents relating to intravenous drug delivery systems and hormonal regulation for th etreatment of cardiovascular disease. His theory is that you can apply this knowledge to the control of your diet to affect the hormonal responses in your body.

If you are thinking of following The Zone Diet you need to read “The Zone: Revolutionary Life Plan to Put your Body in Total Balance for Permanent Weight Loss”, by Barry Spears. The book has sold over 2000 000 copies and has been on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Unfortunately, mainstream medicine does not see food as having the health benefits of powerful drugs. Dr. Sears research has helped to shed some more light on the healing power of food.

The Zone Diet is based on nutrient ratios which are thought to be optimum for human health. According to Dr. Sears’ research, the formula consists of 40% carbs, 30 % protein and 30% fats. Dr. Sears considers this ratio to be the perfect diet and suggests that it be followed at every meal, including snacks. The term “The Zone” comes from the hormone balance which Dr. Sears believes is created by this ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fats. Even though the carbs proportion is the highest of the three, the Zone Diet is still considered to be a low carb diet because the average diet consists of 50 to 60% carbohydrates.

The word diet shouldn’t be an intimidating term according to www.thezone.com. The word comes from the Greek root meaning “way of life”. The Zone Diet has become popular due in part to celebrity endorsements. Celebrities thought to have utilized The Zone Diet include: Jennifer Aniston, Renee Zellweger, Cindy Crawford, Charlie Sheen, Tiger Woods and Tom Cruise.

The official Zone Diet website claims The Zone Diet is not a diet but a healthy, balanced lifestyle. This is important when making any change in your diet for weight loss. If you look at it as a temporary diet and it is likely that any results will probably also be temporary. At Vancouver Lipo Laser we recommend a permanent lifestyle change for healthy weight loss .The LipoLaser is used for body contouring and spot fat reduction as an adjunct to your healthy lifestyle choice. LipoLaser treatments work best when combined with a lifestyle change including an optimum diet and exercise. The Zone is a great choice for many people.

There have been some critism of The Zone Diet.

* too complex to follow
* substantial math requirement
* calorie restrictions may be too low for an active person
* not a muscle building diet
* substantial list of forbidden foods
* scientific studies on Dr. Sears assumptions haven’t been performed

Some of the difficulty with The Zone Diet have been dealt with by providing support for the participants in the diet through books written by Dr. Sears, the Zone Diet website and other third party websites which were created to make the diet easier to follow. One such website, www.formulazone.com, helps users do the complex calculations automatically and make the Zone Diet more user friendly. They do charge a modest fee for the service but it is worth it if you want to avoid dusting off your calculator.

Meal Ratios:

The Zone Diet promotes a combination of all nutrients in each meal and discourages the use of processed carbs like white pastas and breads, and sugars and trans fats. You use math to keep your diet scientifically balanced to help your body release unwanted pounds. And you thought all that time in math class was wasted!

So what do you have to do on the Zone Diet? There are different aspects to the diet including Zone Living, The Zone Pyramid, Zone Blocks, Zone 123 and Zone Recipes.

The Zone Way of Life

The Zone way of life recognizes that some people are genetically susceptible to weight gain and chronic disease. They stress that you can’t change your genes but you CAN change the expression of your genes through your diet and lifestyle. Your ability to do this is related to the level of control you have over your diet. Zone Living is designed to help your body achieve the hormonal and genetic balance you need for long term weight control, optimal heart, brain and immune function. The Zone says that the “silent inflammation” in the body can be reduced in less than 30 days by following the Zone Wellness pyramid.

The Zone Wellness Pyramid

The Zone Wellness Pyramid – The Zone Diet uses the Zone Wellness Pyramid to explain the five components of zone living and how they work to gether to improve wellness by decreasing silent inflammation ion your path towards having higher energy, improved health and life-long wellness.

The pyramid consists of:

1.Zone Dieting / Eating “Eat with Balance”
2.Omega – 3 – EPA/DHA Concentrates
3.Polyphenols – “The Anti-inflammatory properties of Fruits and Vegetables
4.Fitness – “moderate exercise 3-5 times per week
5.Targeted Supplements – “condition specific for you”

Zone Eating

The Zone Diet is referred to by Dr. Sears as a moderate diet. He says anything “low” like low carb diets or low fat diets are inherently not balanced. According to the Zone these diets are unsustainable and will not maintain hormonal balance in the long term. The Zone Diet is moderate in low fat protein, low glycemic index carbs ( mostly fruits and veggies) and heart healthy mono-unsaturated fats.

Omega – 3

These fats have anti-inflammatory properties that promote wellness. Reducing silent inflammation requires constant intake of omega 3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docoshaxaenoic acid (DHA). EPA/DPA concentrates are used to rapidly begin the anti-flammatory process.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are phyto-chemicals that give fruits and veggies their color and provide health benefits due to anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative actions. Polyphenols also attract AMP kinase ( an essential enzyme ) which helps restore cellular ATP levels. Reduces the expression of genes associated with inflammation and supplies powerful antioxidants needed to protect EPA and DHA.

Fitness

Helps ward off aging by reducing silent inflammation. Alleviates insulin resistance which helps reduce visceral fat the dangerous kind around your abdomen.

Targetted Supplements

The other factors in the zone pyramid will help to ensure the effectiveness and absorption of supplements targeted to your specific needs.

Can Diabetics utilize The Zone?

The Zone diet is exactly within the dietary guidelines developed by the Joslin Diabetes Center and the Harvard Medical School for overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes or for high risk individuals.

The site claims The Zone Diet can help with

* Long-Term Sustainable Loss of Excess Fat
* improved athletic performance
* Regulation of inflammation to support life-long wellness

Foods

Lean proteins, healthy fats, and healthy carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables.

Logistics – put 1/3 of your plate – lean protein the size and thickness of your palm. – lean skinless chicken, fish, egg, tofu. Fill remainder of plate with fruits and or vegetables and add a dash of heart healthy mono-unsaturated fat like olive oil, almonds ir avocado but no transfats.

A PBS documentary show Scientific American Frontiers compared the effectiveness of several popular diet programs including the Zone. The participants on the Zone experienced the greatest fat loss while also gaining muscle mass. Participants in the study also reported feeling less fatigued and hungry compared to the people in the other diet groups.

If you are using The Zone Diet you may be a perfect candidate for LipoLaser treatment. LipoLaser treatments work best in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle change and a commitment to long term health. Vancouver Lipo Laser uses state of the art technology to help eliminate trouble areas that are difficult to eliminate through diet and exercise alone. LipoLaser treatments are a safe alternative to liposuction.

Vancouver Lipo Laser offers a special introductory rate to people using the Zone Diet. For more information contact Vancouver LipoLaser. info@vancouverlipolaser.com

Vancouver LipoLaser
3345 West 4th Ave (Kitsilano)
Vancouver, BC
www.vancouverlipolaser.com
604.904.0888
6o4.816.0356

In Vancouver, the Bernstein Method is getting a lot of attention due to the rapid weight loss results they advertise. I’ve heard at least 100 radio commercials on various stations trumpeting the value of physician assisted rapid weight loss.

Canada’s leading authority on healthy, rapid weight loss is Dr. Stanely K. Bernstein, MD. Dr. Bernstein has helped more than 300 000 people lose millions of pounds of excess weight quickly and permanently. They are the largest medically supervised weight loss organization in Canada. Dr. Bernstein’s website claims you can lose up to 16 – 20 lbs each month. And they guarantee it. If you don’t lose a minimum of 10 pounds per month they will continue to treat you for free until you do. One of the big selling points of The Bernstein Method is that it is completely medically supervised. Each session is handled by doctors and registered nurses. They can prescribe and administer medications and blood tests on site. They have branded themselves as achieving dramatic results in a short period of time. Once your treatments are complete they have a maintenance program to help you stay on track permanently.

Imagine the results that you could achieve by combining these treatments with the LipoLaser, a non-invasive and safe body contouring treatment. Vancouver Lipo Laser offers this procedure for clients in the Greater Vancouver area. LipoLaser treatments work well in conjunction with other therapies like the Bernstein Method. I’ll get more into that later…

The Bernstein Weight Loss Program stimulates the body to break down fat faster than normal, allowing the stored energy to be used by the body at up to ¾ lbs of fat per day.

The system uses:
* low calorie diet of regular foods
* behavior modification counseling
* education
* vitamin and mineral supplements
* monitored 3 times per week by medical personal

The system does not use:
* diet pills
* appetite suppressants
* unproven or risky procedures

The dietary restriction is fairly tight in order to achieve the desired rapid weight loss as advertised. So in order to ensure that you are fully nourished during the weight loss phase of the program they give you oral vitamins and minerals and Vitamin B injections to help compensate for the very low calorie diet.

Vitamin B injections and oral vitamins and minerals

* Help to compensate for the low calorie diet
* Provide people with increased motivation – the injections remind them of their goal
* There is some evidence that B Vitamins help metabolize food
* The body is nourished while losing the weight

They say you can eat a selection of delicious foods in moderation and remain slim. The lifestyle change will increase longevity by up to 10 years and prevents stroke, heart attacks, hypertension and even some cancers. A healthy weight improves cholesterol levels and blood sugar, lowers heart beat rate and improves artery and vein health. You will look younger, have more energy, and the strong food cravings will be gone. And finally the psychological benefits include more confidence and better self esteem.

In order to realize these benefits the patient needs to remain on the program and strictly adhere to the plan. Bernstein doctors and weight loss coaches are there to help motivate and strongly coach you to achieve your goal weight.

Keep Motivated by being “Friendly but Tough”

* Bernstein weight loss coaches / docs are tough on the clients (no excuses – follow the program)
* Friendly but Tough
* Strong Motivation to achieve goal weight

The system ensures that only fat is lost, not muscle tissue, vital proteins, electrolytes and body fluids. The patient will lose fat from the typical problem area in the waist, hips and thighs.
They focus on educating clients about nutrition, the body’s needs and lifestyle habits.

The maintenance program stresses a lifestyle change so clients will eat just enough to maintain their goal weight.

Stats from the Bernstein Website:
75% of patients keep their goal weight
5% average success on other diet programs

The Bernstein Method also has a Tune-Up Diet for people that wish to lose a smaller amount of weight in time for an event like a wedding or a vacation. The techniques of the regular program work just as well for small amounts of weight as for larger.

The Bernstein Program recommends patients stay on the maintenance program for a minimum one year. The goal is to determine how many calories you are burning and not gain weight. The foods are monitored to determine which ones, specifically, cause you to gain weight so you can avoid them.

The rapid loss of weight is the main feature of Dr. Bernstein’s program. And is also the reason for most of the criticism of the method. The typical result of 80 pounds lost in 4 to 5 months without exercise raises red flags for some experts.

Critism of the Dr. Bernstein Method:

Rapid Weight Loss

* Experts say that anything greater than 10 pounds per month needs to be physican supervised.
* The faster the weight is lost the more likely it is to come back
* Usually is not sustainable – permanent lifestyle change is necessary for permanent weight loss
* Some people report feeling faint or dizzy, flaky skin, nausea and other symptoms of detox
* Calorie restriction can be very difficult for many people and is not sustainable
* The Calorie and diet restrictions are too low according to some.
* Needles and Injections are not appealing to some people

Most of these issues are address in the Bernstein Method. It is physician supervised and the patients progress is medically monitored. They have a maintenance program to keep clients on track and focus on educating clients about eating habits and lifestyle.

Some patients have said the coaches were too tough on them and used bullying or pressure tactics to keep the patient on track. Also, some people have said the calorie restriction was too hard to maintain and possibly unhealthy.

One person has died while on the diet. He did have a heart irregularity. The cause of death was deemed to be stress, including the diet among other things. Although the client was over 300 pounds and probably a good risk for a heart attack to begin with the courts awarded his estate $700 000 . The Bernstein doctors did not admit responsibility and were advised by their insurance company to settle rather than go through an expensive court case.

In general, the Bernstein Method is regarded as safe and is one of the few medically supervised weight loss systems available. The benefits to sustainable weight loss are well known and the motivation is there for many people but quite often, the weight loss is temporary. With the combination of a low calorie diet, vitamin B injections, oral supplements, coaching and education, and a well organized maintenance program the Berstein Method sounds like a winner. Combining this weight loss method with a proven body contouring and spot fat reduction technology like the LipoLaser is a great way to lose the weight and achieve the body contour you desire simultaneously. Treatments at Vancouver Lipo Laser work best when combined with another weight loss program including diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.

Vancouver Lipo Laser offers a special introductory rate for people who are using the Bernstein Method. For more information contact your LipoLaser clinic in Vancouver. info@vancouverlipolaser.com

Celebrity endorsements and an aggressive advertising campaign has put the spotlight on the Bernstein Method and clinics have been opening across Canada with Greater Vancouver clinics now open for business.

Dr. Bernstein Clinics in the Vancouver area:

Downtown Vancouver
1038 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2Y2
M – F: 6:30 – 2:30
(Between Thurlow St. and Burrard St.)

Broadway
1558 West Broadway
Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 5K9
M W F: 6:30 – 6:30, Tu Th: 6:30 – 2:30
(South side of Broadway Ave., between Granville & Fir St.)

Coppersmith Corner Plaza
11380 Steveston Hwy.
Richmond, British Columbia V7A 5J5
M, W, F: 6:00 – 2:30 T, Th: 6:30 – 2:30
(Coppersmith Plaza west of Hwy. 99.)

Delta Shopper’s Mall
8077 – 120 St., Delta/Surrey British Columbia V4C 6P7
M W F: 6:30 – 6:30, Tu, Th: 6:30 – 2:30
(Real Canadian Superstore Plaza, next to JYSK, West side of Scott Road at 80 Ave)

Coquitlam
1175 Johnson St., Coquitlam, British Columbia V3B 7K1
M – F: 6:30 – 2:30
(Behind Coquitlam Centre, on the corner of Johnson and Glen Drive)

Burnaby
Highgate Village Shopping Centre
7155 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5E 2V1
(Kingsway and Edmonds St. The clinic is located behind Save-On Foods, facing Arcola St. Free parking on the street or underground.)

LipoLaser in Vancouver

Vancouver Lipo Laser
3345 West 4th Ave (Kitsilano)
Vancouver, BC
604.904.0888
604.816.0356