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Our Reviewer Says ...
"This is one of the few weight loss plans for men, and there's little to criticize about this diet."
At a Glance
If you've been on a quest for flat abs, the male-centric Abs Diet may be the solution. This diet promises to flatten your stomach in six weeks, allowing you to lose 20 pounds of fat on average. While having an enviable midsection is the most obvious pay-off, creator and editor-in-chief of Men's Health David Zinczenko says that by reducing your waist circumference, you'll also decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes, boost your longevity and improve your sex life.
To help you achieve these goals, you're required to follow six guidelines: Eat six meals a day (three meals and three snacks), make 12 "powerfoods" the focus of your diet, drink smoothies regularly, stop counting calories, watch what you drink and best yet, forget all of these guidelines for one meal a week.
So what are these 12 foods? They include almonds and other nuts; beans and legumes; spinach and other green vegetables; dairy (like fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese); instant oatmeal; eggs; turkey and other lean meats; peanut butter; olive oil; whole-grain breads and cereals; extra protein (whey) powder; and raspberries and other berries.
Exercise is also a crucial part of this program, and although one interval workout and two optional cardiovascular workouts are recommended, the focus is on strength training. Zinczenko's philosophy, after all, is that you should minimize your exercise time while maximizing your results, and in his opinion, strength training gives you the most bang for your buck.
Checklist
- Cost: Minimal.
- Meals Provided: No.
- Diet Duration: Six weeks.
- Fitness Requirements: Yes. The plan recommends six days of exercise for at least four of the six weeks, including three total-body strength workouts, two optional cardiovascular workouts and one interval workout with abs.
- Time Commitment: Relatively low, even with the exercise program.
- Eating Out: Yes
- Alcohol: Not recommended, but if you must indulge, you're advised to limit yourself to two to three alcoholic beverages a week.
- Vegetarian-Friendly: Possibly, as long as you eat fish and eggs.
- Strict/Flexible Eating Plan: Flexible.
