What is the Abs Diet?

The Abs Diet is a book and diet plan. Written by David Zinczenko, editor of Men's Health magazine, with Ted Spiker, The Abs Diet focuses on ways to get a leaner more muscular abdomen, a healthier body, and increased sex appeal. Those who follow this plan are supposed to concentrate on building more muscle as well as eating protein. Doing these things is intended to help the body to burn more calories. According to the authors, working to eliminate belly fat will also help to lessen the risk of certain diseases, such as diabetes.

Those who follow The Abs Diet consume six meals each day. They don't count calories like in other dies. Instead, they focus on certain power foods. For example, followers of this diet eat two or three power foods three times a day as part of their main meals. Then, when they eat three smaller meals or snacks, they make sure they include one or two power foods with those as well. The Abs Diet doesn't dictate exact portion sizes; followers rely on lists of power foods to help them make choices that are already designed for meeting their goals.

The Abs Diet doesn't rely on food alone for achieving a leaner, tighter abdomen. Instead, followers embark on an exercise plan that includes strength training and abdominal exercises. The workout plan may even incorporate aerobic exercise. For example, someone following The Abs Diet would do strength training three times weekly and abdominal exercises twice per week. Aerobic exercise is optional and can be included two to three times weekly.

The Abs Diet concentrates on eating sensibly. Unlike fad diets, it doesn't eliminate whole food groups or require followers to eat one type of food every day for a certain period of time. It does require followers to concentrate on whole grains and making healthy choices, however, and dieters do need to avoid sugar and unhealthy drinks like soda. Instead of starving, this diet allows followers to eat more often, simply partaking of smaller meals. It also involves drinking lots of water and striking a balance between the amount of protein consumed and the carbs dieters eat.

The power foods in the The Abs Diet include almonds and other types of nuts, beans, green vegetables like spinach, dairy products, oatmeal, eggs, lean meat, peanut butter, olive oil, whole-grain breads and cereals, protein powder and berries. Besides the power foods, the authors also mention many foods that should be eaten often, such as applesauce, lentils, citrus fruits, canola oil, mushrooms, garlic, fat-free popcorn, sunflower seeds, and sweet potatoes. Even such things as shellfish and dark chocolate make the list of eat-often foods for this diet.