Here are five mistakes that people make when attempting to lead a Zone lifestyle. A positive solution follows each blunder.

Cause: You think your workouts will overcome any dietary shortcomings. You reason, I’ll have that four-ounce slice of New York-style cheesecake (380 calories) and make up for it by exercising. Do you know how long you’d have to walk to burn off those calories? About one hour at a 15-minute mile pace just to “work off” one slice of cheesecake. Exercise has numerous health benefits, but for most weight loss is not one of them.

Solution: Use your diet to enhance your workouts. Every time you consume food, the macronutrient content (P/C/F) of each meal triggers a powerful biochemical response (an excellent time for a Dr. Sears' Zone bar). This response determines whether or not you immediately tap into stored body fat as a virtual unlimited source of energy while conserving muscle glycogen.

Cause: You suffer from myopia. I’ll lose the weight so I’ll look good at the family reunion, on the beach, wherever. Then you slip back into your old ways. My father’s best friend was his tailor. He would go on a diet, lose the weight, hold the waist of his pants out so everyone could see how much weight he had lost and then go off his diet. This yo-yo dieting produced a long-term lucrative relationship for his tailor.

Solution: The moment you realize that the Zone is a way of life you’re on the path to improving your health. Remember, the Zone is more than weight loss; it’s a lifestyle (food, exercise, meditation, omega-3s) that will improve the quality of your life!

Cause: You’re stuck on fast forward. Today’s lifestyle is fast food, fast Internet hookups and downloads, fast cars, and fast weight loss. Seems like everything has to be done in a New York minute. Over time this lifestyle takes its toll. Increased stress elevates cortisol (a stress hormone), which in turn creates weight gain, not to mention what it does to the rest of your body.

Solution: Relax, let go. It’s the hare and the tortoise — slow and steady wins the race. Learn to take a few minutes daily to relax your mind and body. There are many excellent CD programs available. Find one that appeals to you and commit to just 15-20 minutes a day. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Cause: You skip meals. You’re thinking, if I skip breakfast, I’ll consume fewer calories and therefore lose weight. Sounds reasonable; however, it doesn’t work. Why? Skipping meals results in low blood sugar; however, a backup system kicks in to prevent this occurrence. Cortisol is released to maintain blood sugar levels. Research has shown that this disruption in your cortisol secretion patterns can promote fat deposition around the abdominal area. This is referred to as “toxic fat” (the subject of Dr. Sears’ next book), which is strongly correlated to heart disease and other chronic illness.

Solution: Always eat within one hour of waking and never let more that five hours go between meals. Refueling your body at these time points guarantees that you will maintain and sustain yourself in the Zone. Plus being satiated prevents you from overeating. Too busy to accomplish this? Check out Dr. Sears’ nutritional food products at: http://www.zoneliving.com/ZoneProducts/tabid/55/Default.aspx.

Cause: You’re out of balance. You think bread, cereal, rice, and pasta should be the foundation of your meal. Hey, that’s what the government’s original food pyramid shows. Remember that bumper sticker, “Question authority”? Even the chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health stated, “At best the USDA Pyramid offers wishy-washy, scientifically unfounded advice. At worst, the misinformation contributes to overweight, poor health and unnecessary early deaths.” But what about the new USDA guidelines? They’re more confusing than ever. Stick with the Zone. To read Dr. Sears comments go to: http://drsears.com/zonemondaydetailopen.member?zoneMondaysID=126. You’ll have to log in.

Solution: Every time you eat, you should have a small amount of lean protein balanced with non-starchy vegetables, fruits low in sugar (like berries) and a small amount of monounsaturated fat. Your objective is to maintain insulin levels in a Zone, not too high and not too low. The protein stimulates the hormone glucagon, which mobilizes the release of stored carbohydrates from the liver in the form of glucose. Carbohydrates, which stimulate insulin, provide the fuel (glucose) to feed the brain and muscles, while fat acts as a control rod slowing down the release of glucose (blood sugar) into the bloodstream. Sounds complex, but it’s easy to do. It’s this balancing act (the glucagon/insulin axis) that allows you to enter the Zone and reap the benefits of improved blood work, relief from chronic illness and weight loss.

Next month: How to outwit your appetite.