SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) – As people across the globe struggle to stick to their weight-loss resolutions, some are reporting success turning to a time-sensitive diet.

One way to shed those pounds, according to a new diet book, is to keep track of time. It’s called “The 8-Hour Diet.”

“This book changed my life and I’m never going back,” said Peter Moore.

Moore is the editor of Men’s Health Magazine, and along with David Zinczenko, a co-author of the book.

“This could not be a more simple diet. You eat for eight hours. Fast for 16. That’s all you need to know,” said Moore.

Moore says our modern lifestyle — where we eat all day and night and stay up by artificial lights — has thrown our bodies and metabolism out of whack, making us fat and unhealthy.

The antidote is to confine our eating to eight hours a day, at least three times a week. The goal: to go back to the way our bodies have evolved to eat and sleep.

For example, have your first meal at 12 noon. Then for an eight hour period, eat to your heart’s content. But once the clock strikes the end of that eight hour period, begin fasting for 16 hours.

When you wake up, in the morning, start moving, and drink at least two glasses of water. Get in some exercise. If you get hungry before your first meal at noon, drink a hot, low-cal beverage.

“In the beginning, I’ll admit it, it was difficult because I was used to eating all the time,” said Moore. “But as I got better at it, I realized I didn’t need all that much food all day long.”

Moore says this plan will help reset your body’s natural eat and sleep clocks.

He lost 15 pounds with little effort. However, one Bay Area nutritionist had some questions about the plan.

“Fasting for 16 [hours]. Think about that,” marveled registered dietician Jo Ann Hattner.

Hattner, author of “Gut Insight,” said intermittent fasting may burn fat, but it could also affect your mood, especially in women.

She says if you want to try it, test it out when you’re not working, taking care of kids or operating heavy machinery.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to be driving a car,” said Hattner.

The plan is based on work done by scientists at the Salk Institute. The research involved mice, but the co-authors analyzed how the diet worked in a few thousand web followers. And while the diet has not been subjected to clinical testing, Moore said it works and he’s never felt better.

Moore said the research shows how the eight-hour diet works on a cellular level, by triggering a person’s body to selectively burn fat for energy.

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