There are a number of things you should experience when in the Zone. You should have more energy, better mental focus, and reduced hunger & cravings. You shouldn’t get that tired feeling many experience late in the day. Basically, you should have a feeling of overall well being. If you are not experiencing these things after following the program for a couple of weeks, you are probably not in the Zone.

Hunger can be an indication that your meals are not properly balanced for YOU. Pay close attention to how you feel after eating a Zoned meal. If you feel hungry within two to three hours after your last meal, and experience a drop-off in mental focus (due to low blood sugar), it is because you consumed too much carbohydrate relative to the amount of protein at your last meal. Try making that same meal and keep the protein the same, but decrease your carbohydrate by 1 block. On the other hand, if you feel hungry before any four to five hour cycle ends, but maintain good mental focus, you're pushing insulin levels too low. The brain has a sensing system that picks up low insulin levels in the bloodstream and tells you to eat to increase insulin levels, even though the brain is getting plenty of blood sugar (hence the good mental focus). Make that same meal in the future, and add 1 block of carbohydrate to the meal.