8 Minute Diet

8 Minute Diet

The 8 Minute Diet in the Morning was designed by Jorge Cruise. He specializes in programs targeted to busy individuals who do not have much time to get in shape. This program focuses on exercise for weight loss. Cruise suggests setting aside 8 minutes each morning to do the exercises recommended and you will lose up to 2 pounds a week. The idea is to build lean muscle to boost metabolism and burn fat.

Key points:

• Perform 2 exercises for 2 different body parts each day, 6 days a week in the morning (This only takes a total of 8 minutes. Doing many reps without resting in between exercises burns fat, and training in the morning will elevate the metabolism for the entire day.)
• Eat lots of whole foods but practice portion control – ½ of your plate should be filled with fruits and veggies, ½ should be protein and carbohydrates
• The diet plan includes recommended portions for each food group
• There are also visualization and writing exercises that will help you to work through emotional eating triggers

Foods to include:

• Good fats like flaxseed and olive oil to satiate hunger
• Complex carbohydrates
• High quality protein (low in saturated fat)
• Vegetables
• Dairy
• Fruit and treats in moderation

Pros:

• Great for beginners who are just starting an exercise routine
• Writing exercises are designed to help people understand their emotional eating behaviors and break out of the self-sabotaging cycle of overeating

Cons:

• Can be misleading – although the strength training exercises only take 8 minutes, Cruise also recommends power walking for 30 minutes a day and adding a diet plan to really get the results you want
• The diet plan in the book was abandoned by the author when he wrote his 3-Hour Diet book
• This is not a plan for more experienced exercisers

Sources:

1. “Why Aerobics Is Not the Most Effective Exercise.” Harper Collins Canada.
2. “Jorge Cruise.” Jorgecruise.com.