The 3-Hour Diet (Tm) Cookbook

I use this all the time now. I find the benefit of the book to be the way it illustrates HOW to put together a balanced weight loss meal. (The American Diabetic Association has even adopted a plate method as a meal planning tool in addition to food exchanges and carbohydrate counting methods) It also shows how to go from a non-cook or a person relying on meal replacements or prepackage meals to planning and cooking their own diet meals. Yes, he does use convenience foods such as the boxed soups. But, this if fine for the beginning cook or meal planner. I simply make my own versions of the squash or tomato soup following low-sodium recipes. And, I make my own low-fat salad dressing to cut down on the sodium and sugar I consume from the commercial versions of them. But, this is a personal choice of mine. I find the recipes easy to divide or multiply. I have made enough for 2, 4, or 6 depending on who is sitting at my table. He specifically states that: every MEAL is 400 calories, every snack is 100 calories, and every treat is 50 calories making it easy to count calories and watch portions. Don't like the snack he has listed? Swap out another one. There is a snack and treat exhange list included. The book even includes quick start plans for the meat lover, the carb lover, the heart healthy person wanting to watch those trans fats, and the lacto-ovo vegetarian. Regardless of what ingredient is listed in a recipe, it is always a good idea to read the label. Manufacturers change their ingredients, formulas, and portion sizes all the time. (Remember when a 14.5 ounce can used to have 16 ounces?. Incidentally, trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat-monounsaturated or polyunsaturated-industrially created by taking additional fatty acids and adding them to the unsaturated fat thus turning it into a saturated fat -- a process developed in the early 1900s by a german chemist to stabilize fish oil. (I'd check the fda.cov website for more info or for the latest regulations regarding trans fat labeling in foods) Don't want to eat a trans fat? Make sure you check the label. Like I said, things can change. This book is great for those are easily overwhelmed (like me), who want to start planning their own meals-out of desire or necessity- and don't know where to begin, or who need a specific plan to follow. I use mine all the time now and it has replaced a few other books in my library. I have mine all marked up with my favorite salad dressing and soup recipes. Plus, it has lots of color pictures. I mean....C'mon. Who doesn't like pictures?

I got this book about a month and a half ago. I also got the 3 hour diet book and followed the recipes. I started on the diet for real 1 month ago. In the last month I have lost 20 pounds and 2 inches off my belly. All I have done is followed the diet with a little cheating and jogged 2-4 times a week for 30-40 minutes (not part of the diet, but a good idea since I cheat a little). I don't know how proven the science is behind eating every 3 hours, for me it is more of a psychological thing...if the meal I just had didn't seem to totally fill me up it doesn't matter because I know I'm going to eat again in another 3 hours. i also like that it does not rely on only one type of food nor does it totally prohibit any food. It is all about decreasing calories and portion control. The cookbook is so great because if you follow the recipes you don't even have to think about how any calories you are eating because they have already been counted for you. Admittedly some of the recipes are not all that great tasting, but there are o many of them in there that we have found plenty that we love. This is not just something you do half heartedly, it is all or nothing if you want results, but it is very easy to stick to. It is not just a temporary "diet" it has become way of lifelong healthy eating. Update 10/14/07 I have not been exercising for the past few weeks, but I continue to lose weight. I have lost a total of 27 lbs. and 4.5 inches around my belly. Update 11/23/07 I survived Thanksgiving! I had all the Thanksgiving food I wanted, but nothing more. I have now lost 35 pounds in a little more than 3 months. I have lost 6.5 inches off my belly. Update 1/7/2008 I made it from Thanksgiving through New Years and not only did I not gain weight but I lost some. I have now lost 40 pounds and 6.75 inches! I would have lost more, but I admit I cheated a little over the holidays. Still I was able to cheat and enjoy the festivities of the holidays and still lose 5 pounds.

Cruise offers a cookbook that will get readers slim without deprivation, calorie-counting, or giving up carbs. The book functions as both a meal planner and cookbook, featuring over 200 delicious recipes.For vegan, meat-lovers and the rest of us who like to eat and stay in shape.

I lost 40 pounds on the 3 Hour Diet and have maintained for over a year. I really like this cookbook to help me stay on track and just in general because the recipes are quick, easy and healthy. My whole family likes the things we make from these recipes.

I am not at this time following his 3 hour diet but I do like the concept. The recipes in this cookbook are so good and healthy! I have been making them for my family and they are turning out to be big hits even my picky eater husband likes the tortilla pizzas ( my favorites so far) and the fruit parfait for dessert instead of fattening junk foods. Also a big bonus is that the recipes are so easy and usually the ingredient lists are pretty short and the recipes themselves are very easy to make. No strange ingredients, I found all of them in my regular grocery store and he focuses on fresh ingredients that are full of flavor without alot of fat (the good, healthy fats are used). I have celiac disease and have been able to substite my gluten free bread items quite easily! This is turning out to be my most used cookbook!