David Zinczenko - the editor for fitness magazine "Men’s Health", created a diet plan Abs Diet. The magazine is written mainly for men, but the principles can be applied to anyone.

For many years most athletes, fitness models, and bodybuilders have applied the same basic fundamentals to their diet. Principles like eating habit of 5-6 times per day, building muscle, eating lean proteins, and aiming to eat whole unrefined carbs.

Many dieters believe that calorie restriction is the only way to lose weight. They do not follow these principles and hence failed to lose weight.

Useful Information

Hidden under the glossy marketing-speak in the Abs Diet, this book contains sensible and workable ideas for fat loss. The principles are not new, but simply repackaged for a different market. In fact the program is quite similar to Body For Life.

Whilst the book "The Abs Diet" - having visible abdominal muscles is about attaining very low levels of fat - rather than any magic diet, special exercise, or special piece of equipment. Attaining defined abs is difficult and challenging - but it sells, and many men now consider visible abs to be the pinnacle of a good body.

The 12 Power Foods

The Abs diet contains a 7 day meal plan, made up of 12 ‘power foods’, along with recipes. One meal per week is designated as a ‘cheat’ meal - where you eat anything you want. The book advises avoiding foods like fatty meats, processed/refined carbs, high-sugar foods.

The Power 12 Foods

1. Almonds and Other Nuts eaten with skins intact.

2. Beans and Other Legumes

3. Spinach and Other Green Vegetables

4. Dairy: Fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese

5. Instant Oatmeal: Unsweetened, unflavored

6. Eggs

7. Turkey and other lean meats. Lean steak, chicken, fish

8. Peanut Butter - All-natural, sugar-free.

9. Olive Oil

10. Whole-Grain Breads and Cereals

11. Extra-Protein Powder(Whey)

12. Raspberries and Other Berries

If you are wondering why almonds, spinach, raspberries, and turkey were singled out — nothing scientific — it just helps to make a tricky acronym - absdietpower !

Cardio and Weights

Essential to the diet program is strength and interval training. This is based on the assumptions that building muscle increases metabolism which will assist in burning fat.

This is what the author says in response to spot reducing:

"…you can’t spot reduce per se. That’s a myth. But if people lose weight - particularly if they’re doing some moderate exercise at the same time - they’ll lower their body fat and will likely notice that loss in their bellies since that’s where most of the fat lives…"

Unfortunately this isn’t quite true. Women, in particular, carry most of their fat deposits around the thighs and hips. Also, belly fat can quite often be the last place that fat disappears from. However the book does is aimed at men which may explain the authors comments.

Conclusion

The Abs Diet dissembles to be something new. However it is just a basic guide to strength training, good nutrition, and exercise. It provides good sensible nutritional advice. If a dieter follow it correctly, then it gives good result in weight loss and improve overall condition.