3-HOUR DIET
The name of this diet may cause you to wonder if the world is so busy that we only have 3 hours to diet; however, the name refers to the eating pattern established in the plan. The 3-Hour Diet is an effective weight-loss plan created by Jorge Cruise appealing to emotional eaters who have difficulty eliminating favorite foods or ‘comfort’ dishes. Cruise is a popular weight loss and fitness expert who struggled with weight issues as a child, and brought together his personal experience and expertise to create a diet plan. Dieters must eat every 3 hours and meals are portion-controlled. Cruise also advocates keeping a food journal so that calories and food choices stay manageable.
Foods Emphasized: Fruits, vegetables, egg whites, lean meats, fish, whole grains, dark chocolate
Foods Discouraged: Prepackaged frozen foods and fast foods
Premise and Guidelines: The 3-hour Diet sounds impossible, but this plan for weight-loss has been featured on numerous talk shows and popular radio programs around the country. Cruise believes that low-carb diets can cause long-term weight gain and states that the timing of eating and exercising makes all the difference in weight loss. The program is surprisingly manageable, easy to follow, and supportive. Small, portion-controlled meals are to be consumed every three hours. Grazing on small meals consistently throughout the day stabilizes your blood sugar levels makes you less likely to have uncontrollable cravings leading to binge eating. Cruise writes in his book about waiting longer than three hours between meals -this causes your body to turn on its natural 'starvation protection mechanism', which lowers your metabolism and consumes muscle.
Jorge encourages frequent meals all day, without drastic reduction of carbohydrates or fat. His philosophy? 'Everything in Moderation'. The average daily caloric intake of 1450 on this diet may seem low for some, but this is a reasonable number for weight loss. The bright side is that you will ingest satisfying food choices throughout the day, staying satisfied and feeling full.
The 3-Hour Diet is relatively easy to follow and encourages balanced eating habits. You may occasionally enjoy a small treat, such as cookies or chips, to prevent binge eating or cravings associated with diets that are too restrictive. The diet also includes exercise guidelines, encompassing both cardiovascular and strength training. Weight loss is gradual but should be sustainable for the long term.