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The 3-Hour Diet:  How Low-Carb Diets Make You Fat and Timing Makes You Thin (HarperCollinsPublishers, March 2005, $24.95, hardcover), by Jorge Cruise, suggests that losing weight isn't in what you eat, but rather, when you eat it. The core idea behind Cruise's diet is is that by timing your meals and snacks every day, the pounds will come off.  The diet promises to help dieters lose two pounds every week, without counting calories or depriving themselves of carbs. Cruise has been a USA Today fitness columnist, is AOL's weight loss coach, and also contributes as a diet columnist and consultant to magazines such as O and Prevention as well as Good Morning America and the Today Show. This book did recently make the bestseller list.

His basic theory:  if more than three hours pass between eating periods, a body turns on its natural "starvation protection mechanism," causing the body to consume muscle, and adversely affecting one's resting metabolism. The 3-Hour diet recommends eating smaller and more frequent meals to lower the levels of the belly fat producing hormone, Cortisol, and reduce levels of insulin and cholesterol.  Cruise dedicates an entire chapter of the book criticizing low-carb diets, which he claims actually cause people to gain more weight in the long run. He includes diet and exercise plans, and visual aids.  The visual aids consist of 30 "timelines," charts that dieters should fill out every morning, writing down what time each meal (or snack) will take place that day, and specifically what each meal will consist of.   Since each meal must include a balanced mix of proteins, carbs and fat, Cruise makes things easier by providing lots of recipes and what he calls, The All New Cruise Down Plate  -- his take on the American Dietary Association's Food Pyramid. Also included is a sample mini-week of 8 Minute Moves^®”,  his easy to follow exercise plan.

Following the principles and suggestions of this diet plan will undoubtedly improve one's general health, as it promotes choosing and eating healthy foods, and eating a well-balanced diet.  The book also encourages incorporating exercise into one's daily routine -- another component of living a healthy lifestyle.  We encourage dieters to consult their physician before beginning any diet plan for guidance on whether it is suitable for you, given your medical history, physical condition, and and medications you may be taking.  In our opinion, the book insufficiently addresses the issue of emotional eating, (as well as binge eating), except with regard to changes in insulin (blood sugar) levels as a possible cause. Overall, this plan is fairly easy to follow, and includes helpful information towards a more healthy diet.

The information on this web site is intended for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Before starting any weight loss program, it is recommended that you consult your physician or other health care professional.