The Abs Diet

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The Abs Diet focuses on eating healthy food in six meals per day to lose weight from your belly first, according to David Zinczenko, author of The Abs Diet and editor in chief of Men's Health.

Build your meals around the acronym ABS DIET POWER and do 30 minutes of exercise two to three times each week to lose weight without counting calories, grams of fat or carbs, or measuring portions. ABS DIET POWER stands for:

Almonds and other nuts
Beans and other legumes
Spinach and other green veggies

Dairy (fat free or low fat)
Instant unsweetened oatmeal
Eggs
Turkey and other lean meat

Peanut butter
Olive oil
Whole-grain bread and cereal
Extra protein from whey powder
Raspberries and other berries

Upside of the Abs Diet

  • The emphasis is on what to eat instead of on all the foods we shouldn't eat, which is a positive approach to a lifelong eating plan.

  • The diet cautions against too much high-fructose corn syrup, saturated fats, trans fatty acids and refined carbohydrates, and emphasizes choosing the healthy -- and lower-calorie, hunger-busting -- foods included in the Abs Diet.

  • The diet encourages and builds in an exercise plan to ensure a well-rounded weight loss solution.

Downside of the Abs Diet

  • The name of the diet is a little misleading. You're not guaranteed to end up with a six-pack in six weeks -- the title is primarily a catchy gimmick to lure readers into this commonsense approach to weight loss.

  • The marketing material glosses over the pitfalls in changing eating habits, making it sound like a piece of cake to drop weight quickly. If only it were that easy!

  • The diet is mostly aimed toward men. Although it doesn't imply that women can't follow the eating plan, some of the recipes (Mas Macho Meatballs, anyone?) are a little heavy on the testosterone.

Is the Abs Diet for You?

This chart can help you see how the Abs Diet fits your goals and lifestyle concerns.

Duration Indefinite
Restaurants Yes, but choose healthier options
Alcohol Avoid for the first six weeks (at least); after that, it's OK in moderation
Caffeine Yes
Special Foods Whey protein powder is an essential part of the eating plan, and not something most people typically have on their shelf at home
Family Friendly Yes
Vegetarian Friendly Yes, if you include eggs and dairy in your food choices