Abs Diet Guidelines

More than any other areas of the body, the abs are the center of attention for many diet and exercise program. This is not surprising for aesthetics and health reasons. On one hand, flat abs is good to see on any individual with the exception of pregnant women, of course. On the other hand, fat around the middle has been linked to increased risks for diseases like diabetes and weakened heart function.

One of these diet programs is proposed by the editor-in-chief of Men's Health Magazine, David Zinczenko, which is called the Abs Diet. Basically, it is a six-week plan designed to flatten the stomach, make for a leaner body and result in a healthier lifestyle. The guidelines for the Abs Diet are fairly simple and very commonsensical, too.

Eat Six Meals a Day
It may seem counterintuitive to flat abs to eat six meals a day instead of the usual three. However, there is a science behind the recommendation that can be simplified as follows: You are creating an energy balance in your body that keeps your body feeling full and satiated for most part of the day. Thus, you feel less need to binge on food later on.
The Abs Diet recommends that larger meals be alternated with smaller snacks. Basically, you eat your mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks two hours before lunch and dinner, respectively, and one mid-evening snack 2 hours after dinner. Of course, you must eat your healthy breakfast.

Eat the 12 Power Foods
David Zinczenko came up with 12 power foods that must be included in all six meals of the day. Since these foods can be combined in hundreds of combination, you will not feel bored with the menu and you get all the necessary nutrients in one meal.

The 12 power foods are also easily remembered by using "abs diet power" as the acronym, thus:
•A- Almonds and other nuts
•B - Beans and legumes
•S - Spinach and other green vegetables
•D - Dairy fat-free or low-fat milk only as well as yogurt and cheese
•I - Instant oatmeal of the unsweetened and unflavored varieties
•E - Eggs
•T - Turkey
•P - Peanut butter, preferably the organic kind
•O - Olive oil
•W - Whole grain breads
•E - Extra protein in the form of whey powder
•R - Raspberries and other berries

These power foods can be made into smoothies, which the Abs Diet also recommends regular consumption for flat abs. An 8-ounce smoothie can be used either as main meal substitute or as a snack. For example, vanilla yogurt, uncooked instant oatmeal, chocolate whey powder and peanut butter can be made into a smoothie as a complete meal in itself.
Of course, drinking plenty of water and abstaining from alcohol are also part of the Abs Diet guidelines. Water helps in fat burning while alcohol helps in fat storage, thus, the advice.

Lest you think that the diet is so strict that you will be tempted to backslide into your old eating habits, think again. The author recommends eating anything you like one meal in a week just as long as you planned for it. And do follow the exercise plan, too, for faster and better results.

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