Day one
I'm confused by the whole US cups palaver. One cup of yoghurt works out to be two small pots, or 300g but, according to the food label, that gives me the equivalent of three blocks of protein and carbs, not the two I'm supposed to have. Feeling confused and overstuffed. For lunch I had enough salad to fill a small sink. I got bored measuring out cups of things and scared by the amount piling up, but a couple of hours later I was hungry again, which shows I didn't eat enough. I dreaded suppertime and the sackloads of veg that would accompany my grilled trout. Even a thorough workout at the gym didn't stimulate my appetite sufficiently. I felt sick and overstuffed after supper and four hours later had to force myself to eat the bedtime snack. I then had a terrible night's sleep.
Day two
Woke up knackered and late. The thought of a protein-heavy, massively portioned breakfast turned my stomach, and my husband's toast smelt obscenely good. Eventually forced myself to eat fruit and chicken slices. I'm dreading food and, once again, couldn't see off the full whack of vegetables at lunch. I got back too late to fit in dinner and a snack so rolled them into one and traded a couple of carb blocks for wine. My husband had left some pasta in a pan on the stove and it took all my willpower to put a lid on it and get on with chopping another sodding mound of vegetables.
Day three
I'm getting better at this game, having decided to base my food blocks on food labels rather than stupid cups and having found the acceptable face of breakfast: 150g of Greek yoghurt with fruit salad and a sprinkling of nuts. Sadly, I still have to add more protein, but am taking it like medicine: eyes closed, think of England… Another huge lunch salad proved that I need to eat more fruit so that I can eat fewer veggies (one apple equals six red or green peppers). I'm feeling deprived, headachy and irritable. I'm bored with buying, washing and chopping the EU vegetable mountain and fed up with having to spend so long planning and preparing meals.
Day four
My first real test: a boozy lunch followed by a party thrown by a brewer. I decided to trade two carb blocks for wine and chose the most Zone-friendly menu item: a crayfish salad. Sadly, with such little food inside me the two glasses went straight to my head and shortly after became three, then things got a bit blurry. At the party I refused to eat anything except 12 almonds, as they were the only Zone food on offer, and ate nothing else that evening.
Day five
If you're going to fall off the wagon, you may as well do it properly. I had a traffic-stopping, stomach-churning hangover and couldn't face Zone anything, so I ploughed into a bacon sarnie, pizza, chips and toast dripping jam and butter. It was fantastic.
Day six
Back to the maddening meat and fruit for breakfast. I'm coming to the end of the market garden I bought earlier in the week, so had a utilitarian lunch of raw veg, tofu and low-fat cardboard cheese. The supermarket shop took forever and cost a fortune, but I am now the proud owner of a set of US measuring cups and new kitchen scales - my old ones were definitely out. Hurrah - my portions have shrunk! Unfortunately I have not regained my former enthusiasm for food. I hate eating when I'm not hungry, but not being hungry shows that you are in the Zone - aaagh!
Day seven
I had a lovely tuna salad for lunch - prepared by someone else and I didn't bother to do any Zone calculations, which is why I'm sure I enjoyed it - and plans for supper that were much more like the sort of thing my husband and I usually eat. For the second night running I went off my meal immediately it was put in front of me. I've dispensed with late-night snacks because they gross me out. At the end of the first week I have lost 2lb.
