My husband is out of town this week, so I'm going to spend a week in the Zone. Remember The Zone Diet? Devised by Dr. Barry Sears, staying in the Zone means you should eat a balanced combination of low-fat proteins, low-glycemic carbohydrates (non-starchy) and a little heart-healthy fat (high in monounsaturated, low in saturated/Omega-6 fats). The goal is to keep your hormones balanced to control hunger and nourish your body on fewer calories.

In my late 20s I was at my lowest adult weight ever while following this regimen for about two years. Beyond skinny jeans, I possessed incredible energy and mental focus. Then I met my future husband and slowly retreated out of the Zone. Fast-paced living and cooking for kid tastebuds have made this diet seemingly unreachable.

I'm looking forward to a week of picking up less underwear and pampering myself with low-glycemic fruits/veggies, lean proteins and a dash of high-quality fats such as olive oil, olives, avocado, almond butter and almonds. Today's lunch was fruit, cottage cheese, carrots and tomatoes. Tonight is steamed fish with lots of vegetables. I just have to stay away from the rice I'm cooking for the kids. Has anyone else been in the Zone? Do share -- I'll let you know how it goes next week. Pic from Amazon.