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Abs Diet for Women

Overlook the diet’s grandiose claim of flattening your stomach in six weeks (something highly unlikely to happen in such a short amount of time) … and you have a weight-loss winner.

The Abs Diet for Women focuses on 12 power foods, which make up the backbone of your meals and snacks. They include almonds and other nuts, beans and legumes, spinach and other green vegetables, dairy (including fat-free or low-fat milk, cheese and yogurt), unsweetened and unflavored oatmeal, eggs, turkey and other lean meats, peanut butter, olive oil, whole-grain breads and cereals, extra-protein whey powder, raspberries and other berries. You're advised to include at least two foods from the list in every meal. The first initial of each of these 12 foods spells out ABS DIET POWER.

Fortunately, you don't have to figure out how to include these foods in your meals on your own. The book provides a sample seven-day meal plan, tips for incorporating these foods into your day, and recipes for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.

In an age of diet tricks and gimmicks, the Abs Diet for Women is a solid bet. Overlook the diet's grandiose claim of flattening your stomach in six weeks (something highly unlikely to happen in such a short amount of time) and focus instead on the effective eating and exercise plans -- the combination of which are essential to long lasting results -- and you have a weight-loss winner.

You'll be basing your meals on 12 power foods, which are healthy, wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. While the book's claim that these foods trigger fat burning may be stretching the truth, they are still good choices. The fact that you're eating more nutritious, less caloric foods is more likely the reason you'll lose weight on this plan, not because there's anything special about these foods themselves. You'll also be eating more frequently on this plan -- six times a day. While there is some science to suggest that eating more frequently can be an effective weight-loss strategy, there's nothing magical about the number six.

Because it's designed for women, the diet also addresses things like hormonal issues, strategies for handling emotional eating, dieting before, after and even during pregnancy. While Zinczenko should be credited for including post-pregnancy dieting information, dieting while pregnant should be discouraged.

Is the diet healthy?

Yes. It recommends healthy foods that are consistent with the dietary guidelines for Americans. Another bonus? It weaves fitness into the mix, which is key if you want to keep the weight off in the long run.

What do the experts say?

"This is an overall sound diet," says Elisa Zied, M.S., R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and co-author of 'Feed Your Family Right.' "It's something that could potentially motivate women to change." Zied notes that not only is the eating plan balanced between healthy, wholesome foods, the calorie intake of about 1,400 to 1,600 calories per day is reasonable. Zied cautions, though, against believing in the promise of flat abs in six weeks. "Even if you follow this diet exactly, there's no guarantee you'll get flat abs, which depends on so many other things like your genetics, body shape and activity level," she says. Zied also doesn't like the idea of a weekly cheat meal because it reinforces the idea of deprivation until you're allowed to splurge: "When you're losing weight, you need to create habits that will stick with you for life, and although you don't want to splurge every day, you can still lose weight and enjoy the foods you love regularly."

Who should consider the diet?

Women who want a detailed guide to losing weight that includes an eating and exercise plan. Very active women, though, may find the calorie count too low to sustain their activity levels. Just don't be duped into thinking you'll get flab abs out of this one. You will get healthier and probably drop pounds, but if lean abs are your only motivation, you may be disappointed. Another word of caution: Although Zinczneko does include guidelines for pregnant women, dieting during pregnancy isn't smart.

Bottom line

Even though this diet does over-promise slightly (consider yourself lucky if you do flatten those abs in six weeks), it's still based on solid nutritional principles and it could help you live healthier -- sans a few extra pounds.

Checklist

Abs Diet for Women Books
The Abs Diet for Women: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Belly and Firm Up Your Body for Life	The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide	The Abs Diet Ultimate Nutrition Handbook: Your Reference Guide to Thousands of Foods, and How Each One Shapes Your Body