Abs Diet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Abs Diet is a nutritional diet created by Men's Health Magazine editor David Zinczenko. It is designed to be implemented as a life-style change.

The diet emphasizes the so-called Twelve Power Foods. The diet recommends six small meals spread throughout the day. Each major meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) should contain at least three of the Power Foods. The snacks should contain at least one "Power Food". The name "Abs Diet" does not imply a focus on the abdominal muscles, but is an acronym representing the twelve power foods ("A" for Almonds, etc.). However, Zinczenko says that following this diet, the reader's abdominal muscles will become more visible.

Unlike most other nutritional diets, the Abs Diet gives the reader one "free meal" a week, where they are allowed to eat as much of and anything they like, whether it be of the recommended foods or not.

1 Twelve power foods
2 Eat often foods
3 Eat occasionally
4 Foods to avoid
5 Obesity risks (according to the Abs Diet)
6 Books
7 External links

[edit] Twelve power foods

Almonds and other nuts
Beans and legumes
Spinach and other green veggies
Dairy (fat-free/low-fat)
Instant oatmeal (no sugar added)
Eggs
Turkey/lean meat (steak, chicken and fish)
Peanut butter (all-natural, and limit to 3 tablespoons per day max)
Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)
Whole grain bread/cereal
Extra protein (whey) powder
Raspberries and other berries

[edit] Eat often foods

[edit] Eat occasionally

Baked potatoes
Beer (light)
Butter (light)
Chocolate
Coffee
Lamb
Lasagna
Lunchmeat
Macaroni
Margarine
Chocolate
Pudding
French fries (only if not cooked in vegetable oil)
Graham crackers
Granola (low fat)
Ham
Honey
Ice cream (low fat)
Jam and marmalade
Pork tenderloin
Rice
Sauerkraut
Sorbet
Sherbet
Veal
White wine
Frozen yogurt

[edit] Foods to avoid

Vegetable oil (especially hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils)
Butter
Soda
Foods with high fructose corn syrup
Finger foods, such as: pizza, hamburgers, french fries, chicken wings, etc.,
Greasy foods
High sugar foods and beverages

[edit] Obesity risks (according to the Abs Diet)

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts analyzed the eating habits of 500 men and women and found connections between the way people eat and the risk of becoming overweight. Below are some of the habits that can increase or decrease the risk of becoming obese.

Habit	Changes Risk of Obesity By
Eating at least one midday snack	−39 percent
Eating dinner as your biggest meal of the day	+ 6 percent
Waiting more than 3 hours after waking up to eat breakfast	+43 percent
Eating more than a third of your meals in restaurants	+69 percent
Going to bed hungry (3 or more hours after last meal or snack)	+101 percent
Eating breakfast away from home	+137 percent
Not eating breakfast	+450 percent

The diet also includes an exercise program.

[edit] Books

The Abs Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker. Hardcover (ISBN 1-57954-998-5) 2004, Softcover (ISBN 1-59486-216-8) 2005.
The Abs Diet Get Fit Stay Fit Plan: The Exercise Program to Flatten Your Belly, Reshape Your Body, and Give You Abs for Life! by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker. Hardcover (ISBN 1-59486-409-8) 2005.
The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker. Paperback - Jan 5, 2005)
The Abs Diet 6-Minute Meals for 6-Pack Abs: More Than 150 Great-Tasting Recipes to Melt Away Fat! by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker. Hardcover (ISBN 1-59486-546-9) 2006.
The ABS Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life: For Women by David Zinczenko. Hardcover (ISBN 1-59486-309-1) 2007.