About the Program
The Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise promises that you’ll shed 2-3 pounds of belly fat and up to 9 pounds overall each week following this diet. His theory for losing weight is based on what is called the carb-swap system.
Cruise says you must learn how to calculate the “sugar/carb” value of your food choices in order to maintain an intake of a mere 15 grams of sugar daily while eating six servings of carbohydrates per day. He says it’s easy enough to learn this technique by reading food labels.
Jorge Cruise says in this book that his previous theory about losing weight with exercise and heart-healthy foods was wrong. He encourages you to eat burgers, bacon, sausage, and the like and says you will still lose weight because you’re limiting your sugar intake. Less sugar in the body means your insulin levels remain more consistent throughout the day and the body won’t be tempted to hold onto fat, which means you lose weight.
Foods You Can Eat
The diet is based primarily on fats, vegetables, and protein. You’re allowed to eat blueberries and blackberries only from the fruit category. You can still enjoy potato chips, ice cream, cheeseburgers, and pizza and still lose weight. Dark chocolate is permitted along with champagne, wine, and beer. He recommends 8-10 glasses of water per day.
You must avoid:
– Mixed drinks or cocktails
– Candy bars
– All processed foods
– Foods with artificial sweeteners
– Skim milk and other low-fat dairy products
– Fruit – other than the two mentioned above
– Fruit juices
Exercise
Cruise says exercise is not necessary in order to lose weight while on this program. However, he does mention that abdominal exercises and a 20-minute power walk per day once you lose the desired amount of belly fat could be beneficial, but is optional.
Costs
The Belly Fat Cure can be purchased in hard-copy format for $12.00.
Pros
– Fast food isn’t off limits (good news for some people)
– Meal plans are provided – each one targets specific eating styles
– Promises you’ll lose up to 9 pounds weekly overall
– Encourages you to find an accountability partner to help you stick with it
– Easy plan to follow
– Delicious recipes
– Learn to read food labels
– No calorie counting
Cons
– Heart-healthy exercise is not encouraged
– High fat foods are not limited
– Some recommended foods can only be found at a health food store or market that carries organic and whole foods – can be pricey and difficult to find
– Health experts say healthy weight loss is only two pounds per week
– Not endorsed by health experts or nutrition experts
– Portion control is ignored
– Not easy to make substitutions
Summary
Cruise is a well-known fitness trainer who has helped thousands of people lose weight, but this particular approach seems to be drawing the wrong kind of interest from health and nutrition experts. The Belly Fat Cure does not promote heart healthy foods, nor does it recommend exercise, which is key to a strong heart and strong cardiovascular system.
Will you lose weight on this diet? Yes, you will. However, it is not a diet that is easily maintained for life and may actually cause nutrient deficiencies over time, which could very well mean health problems in the future.
