People looking for a simple and straightforward weight loss plan are in luck - the latest book by David Zinczenko and Peter Moore entitled "The 8-Hour Diet: Watching the Pounds Disappear Without Watching What You Eat!" is now available on Amazon. The basic principal behind this weight loss program is that you are allowed to eat for 8 of the 24 hours in a day. In other words, you will be fasting for 16 hours every day. The diet also calls for a short 8 minute burst of physical activity once a day. Although fasting to lose weight is not a new idea, the notion of fasting for intervals is unique.
The 8 Hour Food Window
For people starting this diet, the first thing to decide is when they will be fasting and which 8-hours of the day they will be allowed to eat. For most people, this will mean skipping breakfast and having the first food of the day in the late morning. Zinczenko and Moore suggest that dieters limit their food intake to a short-list of lean protein and vegetable based "power foods", but they stop short of forbidding any food on this diet. The hope is that people will start to make healthy choices as the connection is made between healthy eating and feeling well. For dieters who have never fasted before, a slow approach is recommended (ie 3 days on, 1 'cheat' day) until the body gets used to the new eating plan. Gradually, people will be able to spend weeks on the program.
The Pros
There are 4 advantages to the diet:
- fasting is a proven way to lose weight.
- with no restrictions on food, dieters can still enjoy their favourite foods, albeit restricted to certain times of the day.
- it restricts late night 'grazing', which is where many people over-consume calories.
- the 8-minute physical activity component will achieve results.
The Cons
A few drawbacks from the 8-Hour diet:
- because the authors don't forbid any foods and only encourage the "smart foods", some people may interpret this as permission to have an 8-hour fast food binge every day.
- for people on the diet for more than a few days, the 8-minute exercise component could become problematic.
- by their very nature, 'diets' are a change from a person's typical eating habits. For this reason, there is a natural tendency for people to gain back weight after they have reached their goal weight. The best 'diet' is no diet at all - learn how to eat a healthy and balanced diet, and you will not need to go on a diet.
Final Thoughts
The 8-hour diet is cunningly simple - the clock determines when you can eat and what you are encouraged to eat are "power foods". Over time, the 16-hour fasting phase will help the body to recognize that late night 'grazing' is not really a symptom of being hungry, but rather it is more about boredom. This diet is a good way to begin eating more healthy and will certainly help in shedding a few pounds. The "power foods' can form a more permanent foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating - if dieters make the connection between smart food choices and proper consumption levels, this diet will have accomplished something truly remarkable.
The 8 Hour Food Window
For people starting this diet, the first thing to decide is when they will be fasting and which 8-hours of the day they will be allowed to eat. For most people, this will mean skipping breakfast and having the first food of the day in the late morning. Zinczenko and Moore suggest that dieters limit their food intake to a short-list of lean protein and vegetable based "power foods", but they stop short of forbidding any food on this diet. The hope is that people will start to make healthy choices as the connection is made between healthy eating and feeling well. For dieters who have never fasted before, a slow approach is recommended (ie 3 days on, 1 'cheat' day) until the body gets used to the new eating plan. Gradually, people will be able to spend weeks on the program.
The Pros
There are 4 advantages to the diet:
- fasting is a proven way to lose weight.
- with no restrictions on food, dieters can still enjoy their favourite foods, albeit restricted to certain times of the day.
- it restricts late night 'grazing', which is where many people over-consume calories.
- the 8-minute physical activity component will achieve results.
The Cons
A few drawbacks from the 8-Hour diet:
- because the authors don't forbid any foods and only encourage the "smart foods", some people may interpret this as permission to have an 8-hour fast food binge every day.
- for people on the diet for more than a few days, the 8-minute exercise component could become problematic.
- by their very nature, 'diets' are a change from a person's typical eating habits. For this reason, there is a natural tendency for people to gain back weight after they have reached their goal weight. The best 'diet' is no diet at all - learn how to eat a healthy and balanced diet, and you will not need to go on a diet.
Final Thoughts
The 8-hour diet is cunningly simple - the clock determines when you can eat and what you are encouraged to eat are "power foods". Over time, the 16-hour fasting phase will help the body to recognize that late night 'grazing' is not really a symptom of being hungry, but rather it is more about boredom. This diet is a good way to begin eating more healthy and will certainly help in shedding a few pounds. The "power foods' can form a more permanent foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating - if dieters make the connection between smart food choices and proper consumption levels, this diet will have accomplished something truly remarkable.
About the Author:
Ryan is an author who writes across a wide spectrum on a number of subjects that hold a personal interest. Other diet related articles include Myths of Organic Food. He is passionate about helping new and experienced entrepreneurs earn money online and runs the How to Earn Money Online HQ blog.