Here is a brief, make that VERY brief, introduction to this WOE (way of eating). You can learn a LOT more at the Hellers' official Web site. There they have the carbohydrate addict's mini-quiz, links to buy the books at a discount (which are HIGHLY recommended), and more.

This WOE (way of eating) is better than any other, in my opinion, because you don't have to give up any of the food you love. You just have to watch when you eat it.

This WOE is based on the fact that certain people have a chemical imbalance which causes them to be addicted to carbohydrates. The more addicted you are, the better this WOE will work for you. Take the mini-quiz to see where you stand.

On this plan you have two meals a day with no carbs called complimentary meals, or CMs. Then the third meal is balanced 1/3 protein, 1/3 veggies, and 1/3 carbs with a salad to start. That meal is called your reward meal, or RM. As long as you balance out the carbs, you can have the particular carbs you want.

There are two versions of this program. For CALP (The Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Program) you are allowed to have low-carb snacks throughout the day if you get hungry as long as they are on this list. CAD (Carbohydrate Addicts Diet) is a little more strict in that you are not allowed to have snacks throughout the day. Learn more about the slight differences here.

You will likely lose a lot of weight when you start this WOE, which is mostly water weight. Then the loss averages to about 1-2 lbs. a week. The rate of loss is a bit slow, but it STAYS off. As long as you stick to the WOE, those pounds are gone forever! It's the end of yo-yo dieting, so to speak.

This WOE is designed as a plan that you can live with the rest of your life. That is why we don't call it a diet. After the first few weeks it just gets easier and easier. Trust us.

And if you are coming from Atkins...

This diet still deals with insulin control but from a different angle. The Atkins diet severely reduces carbs and spreads the minimal amount you're allowed throughout the day. You never really satisfy your cravings for carbs that way because each meal teases you with tiny amounts. The Heller's feel that every time you eat carbohydrates you release insulin, so, even though the amounts are small, the Atkins diet causes insulin to be released all day long increasing cravings.

Their approach is much simpler and much more “rewarding” for those of us who are truly addicted to carbs. Eat them once a day during what they call your Reward Meal (RM) balancing them with protein and veggies and eat it within one hour, which controls the amount of insulin, released.

It works on three levels. First, psychologically, you are "rewarded" with carbs for abstaining from them all day. It’s much easier to keep my first two meals lo or no carb knowing that my reward is coming. Second, you only release insulin once a day which is overall, a smaller portion than releasing it all day long. On the third level, it helps you physically, by controlling your other two meals with craving reducing veggies and limited carbs, you will diminish many of the side effects and cravings that continued carb intake promotes.