The ‘No Craves’ Diet

Two doctors, a husband-and-wife team Penny Kendall-Reed and Stephen Reed, have devised The No Crave Diet. They claim they can help you stamp out your food cravings by following their plan, which they have spent five years researching.  “It’s estimated that 80% of diets fail because people give in to food cravings,” Dr Reed says. “Whatever weight loss plan you follow, the desire to snack invariably overwhelms even the most ardent and determined dieter.  That little voice tempting you to cheat is a powerful force!” 

Even celebrities in tiptop shape can have problems controlling their cravings. Jessica Simpson is a big fan of American southern fried food, while Kylie Minogue loves her chocolate and Kelly Brook finds it hard to resist cheeseburgers. “By understanding these cravings and learning to recognise their causes, you can counteract them,” Dr Reed says.

How does the diet work?

“The No Craves Diet is based on research into how the brain controls our hunger,” says Dr Reed.

“By countering the biological processes that make us crave the wrong foods, the No Crave plan will actually make it easier for you to stick to your diet.  “In research, 90 per cent of patients notice a significant reduction in their cravings within 48 hours, and lost an average of 2lbs a week.

“The No Crave Diet teaches you which foods and ingredients increase cravings, and which ones keep you feeling full.”  The diet is split into two phases….

Phase one

This is the weight-loss part which also aims to correct imbalances in your metabolic rate and teach you how to control your cravings.

Those who have tried the diet have lost an average of 18-22 lbs over eight weeks in this phase.  But you can’t stay on this part of the diet forever – it’s only temporary.  You should only follow it for up to eight weeks, because then your metabolism will be on track.  You are likely to have lost a good deal of weight and you will probably stop losing it once your excess fat has gone.  But if you still feel you have weight to lose after eight weeks, you can continue with phase one without adversely affecting your health before moving onto the next phase.  You may experience side effects in the first phase, such as increased hunger, light-headedness, irritability and slight nausea.  These should go after a few days, so stick with it!

Meal timings

During phase one, you must eat three meals a day, leaving…

• Five to six hours between breakfast and lunch.
• Five to six hours between lunch and dinner.
• Eleven to 12 hours between dinner and breakfast.
• And don’t snack in between!

The diet’s founder says this sequence will stabilise your blood sugar, stop you from feeling hungry and help your liver.

What to eat

• Protein at every meal

That’s breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Stick to 1g (1/4oz) of protein for every 1kg (2lbs 3oz) you weigh per day.  So if you weigh 60kg (10st 6lbs), you need 60g (20oz) of protein per day or 20g(7oz) a meal.  But don’t fret if you don’t stick to the exact amount.  Foods to stick to are: egg whites, whey protein shakes, fish (preferably organic), turkey, chicken, back bacon, pork, lean beef and lamb, low fat tofu, low fat cottage cheese and ricotta cheese.  Other cheeses and nuts are allowed in limited amounts.  Sprinkle them on your meals as “dressing”.

• Unlimited salads and most vegetables

By eating these, you’ll replace carbs that you can lose from the foods you give up.  However, fast energy releasing vegetables should be avoided in this diet: potatoes, Swedes, corn. Yams, turnips, squash, pumpkins and other starchy veg.

• Two pieces of fruit per day maximum – no bananas

Fruit is high in sugar, so should be limited.  Bananas are very high in sugar and starch, so should be avoided.  A piece of fruit constitutes an orange, an apple, half a grapefruit, one pear, one plum or a cup of sliced fruit or berries.

• Limited portions of dressings and condiments

Try to use low fat dressings.

• None or very limited alcohol

A maximum of one drink per day.

• Lots of water

Stay away from juices, cordials and fizzy drinks.  One or two caffeinated drinks a day like tea and coffee are allowed with half a teaspoon of sugar and milk.  If you want more than two cups, have decaf.

Phase two

This is the maintenance phase – the bit you adopt for life.  By this time, you should have lost your extra pounds, corrected your hormone and metabolic balance and tamed the messengers in the brain that promote cravings.  “During this phase, you will forget you ever had cravings,” say The No Crave Diet doctors.

How phase two works

• Carry on with your protein meal allowance of one gram per kilo of body weight per day.
• Continue to eat unlimited salad and permitted veg.
• Stick to all the other phase-one rules except….
• Reintroduce restricted carbohydrates by eating more fruit, the forbidden veg and rice, pasta grains and bread.  “The order in which you reintroduce the carbohydrates is very important.”  Dr Reed says “You must slowly intergrate them back into your diet in a particular pattern, and the sequence of reintroduction is determined by the sugar load found in each carbohydrate.”  Start with fruit, then move on to the next on the list two to three days later, and so on.

1. Fruits

2. Whole grains, bread and cereals.

3. Pasta

4. Rice

5. Potatoes and squash

6. Sweets and alcohol

For products that help suppress your appetite, visit the Slimming Solutions Store.

Credit: New Magazine