Cheat to Lose "Diet"

Out of curiosity, has anyone tried Joe Marion's diet or "lifestyle change", really, called Cheat to Lose? Basically it is 3 weeks of priming, starting off low carb and then adding them back in for 3 weeks and then more on to the main phase where you start off with 2-3 lower GI days, followed by 3-4 higher GI days, and then a cheat day.  He doesnt count calories, rather his formula for success is based on Leptin, he believes that the 1 cheat day per week (one planned cheat day) raises your leptin levels and keeps your metabolism high during the days you are restricting your calories, thus maximizing fat lost during restrictive days.  So basically during hte main phase you have 6 days where you restict calories (i dont think he advocates as high restriction, probably no higher than 500 but more like 300-400 day), then one day where you eat WHATEVER you want.  Not binge, but eat till you are content and then eat again when you are hungry.  Only rule is don't stuff yourself to the point of discomfort.  Also he says to eat plenty of carbs these are key in raising leptin and will help leptin levels stay high once you start the low GI diet for 2 days following the cheat day.
I think this book helps explain why people who occassionaly cheat actually end up losing weight.  If you restrict constantly then your metabolism slows because leptin levels decrease by 50% after ONE WEEK of high calorie restriction, leptin is crucial for keeping metabolism up and keeping the fat burning process alive. The cheate day helps bring leptin levels up to normal and helps burn fat the remainder of the week when you are restricting cals.  Thus maximizing the restriction process.  So if anyone has tried it, i'd love to hear your opinion and for the rest of you, dont feel so guilty if you indulge every now and then because it is actually good for you!

since i''ve just finished eating pizza for dinner (after cookies this afternoon) I sure hope so!!!!!! (after a week of being pretty good with my eating and exercising)

I've just been reading about this book - it's based on some interesting science.  I'm going to check it out of the library and take a closer look at the program. 

Is there nobody here who's given this a try?

Haven't read it, but I think a large part of the "cheat day" theory is the mentality that it's easier to stick to a lifestyle change if you know that once a week you can eat what you want.

I've never heard of this guy or his book, but what you described is what I've been doing ever since going into maintainence mode.

I focus (mostly) on complex carbs and protein 6 days a week, and on Saturdays I let loose. Actually, I let TOO loose...I end up eating waaayy too much. I'm talking several thousand too many. But, I am maintaining my weight and have been for several months now. I do have a deficit throughout the week, although I'm unsure as to exactly how much. Probably ranges from 3-700.