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The Abs Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life Hardcover – June 19, 2004
Purchase options and add-ons
Or you could spend just six weeks with David Zinczenko, Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health magazine, on THE ABS DIET-an easy and effective program for everyone that is helping thousands of people lose weight, flatten their guts, banish post-pregnancy bellies, and become healthier than they ever thought possible.
What's more, once on this revolutionary new diet you'll look and feel better than ever without deprivation dieting, counting calories, measuring foods, worrying about confusing phases-or ever feeling hungry!
Sound impossible? Let David Zinczenko prove it to you. As editor-in-chief of the world's most important men's magazine, Zinczenko has devoted his career to helping people improve their lives through the latest and most well-researched health, nutrition, and exercise information available.
Now, in the national bestseller THE ABS DIET, Zinczenko reveals his infallible formula that works for both men and women:
- The ABS DIET POWER foods: the 12 best foods (all part of an easy-to-remember acronym) that will naturally boost your metabolism so that you can strip away fat, build muscle, and look and feel great for life. (Bonus: Many of the Abs Diet Powerfoods are even-gasp-carbs!)
- SIMPLICITY: This low-maintenance program is easy to follow because there are no scales, no phases, no calculus-like formulas to compute, and no recipes that take a culinary degree to make. (One of the secret weapons: Satiating smoothies.) In fact, many of the dozens and dozens of delicious meals you can make take no more than a few minutes to prepare!
- INCENTIVE: The plan never leaves you hungry. Instead, it encourages you to eat (a whopping six times a day!), stokes your metabolism, and even lets you cheat now and then.
ENERGY: Designed to help you build the lean muscle that and melt away that pesky belly fat, this full-body exercise program can be done at home in only 20 minutes, 3 times a week, with nothing more than a set of dumbbells!
- LONGEVITY: An easy-to-remember maintenance plan will help you maintain your flat stomach forever.
Thousands of people are on THE ABS DIET, which can help you lose up to 20 pounds in six weeks-all while gaining pounds of muscle!-because it's easy to follow and even easier to stick to. THE ABS DIET also describes some of the stories of people who went on the program and had amazing successes. In those cases, these people ended up changing their waistlines-and their lives.
THE ABS DIET is the best, last and only diet and nutrition plan that you will ever need.
Read about how low-carb diets are making you fat, about how the food industry is putting secret fat bombs in your favorite foods, and about how you can fight back. You'll find out why 95 percent of all diets fail, and why THE ABS DIET is different.
So how about joining on for a six-pack? Yours.
- 12 "superfoods" that will change your life.
- A simple maintenance plan to keep your abs from disappearing
Six weeks to superior strength and sexy symmetry every man-and woman! -lusts after. Men's Health can show you how.
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRodale Books
- Publication dateJune 19, 2004
- Dimensions6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
- ISBN-101579549985
- ISBN-13978-1579549985
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“A must read for anyone who is serious about building a healthy body and changing to a healthy lifestyle. Most diets are based on gimmicks that set you up for failure; this is the first program I have seen that promotes a lifestyle change that anyone can live with.” —David R. Pearson, Ph.D., director of the strength-research laboratory at Ball State University.
“Finally, a diet that's focused on what you can eat, not what you can't! . . . You'll look good, but you'll feel great--and you'll succeed at last!” —Heidi Skolnik, staff nutritionist for the New York Giants
“Clear, crisp, refreshingly sensible... There are few ‘diet books' that I am willing to endorse. I endorse this one enthusiastically.” —David L. Katz, M.D., director of medical studies in public health at Yale University School of Medicine
From the Inside Flap
You have abs.
Yes, you.
And in just six weeks,
they're going to show.
The lean, hard stomach everyone wants is within your grasp-and The Abs Diet will help you achieve it.
In survey after survey, men and women say a lean, muscular abdomen is the ultimate symbol of sex appeal. And in study after study, researchers found that getting a firm, flat stomach is the single most significant step you can take to stay healthy for life. It's simple: To look better, to feel better, to live better, The Abs Diet is for you!
The Abs Diet is not a gimmick. It doesn't bury you in measuring, calculating, counting, or hard-to-understand phases. It lets you enjoy the foods you crave. It's not low-carb, low-fat, or low-anything-else. It's just a smart, sensible, healthy plan that will give you the body you want in weeks. And you'll never feel hungry, restricted, or deprived.
How is this possible? Research at top medical schools has shown time and time again that the best way to maintain a fit physique is to eat more food, not less.
The Abs Diet will show you how to eat to keep your body's natural fat burners stoked at all times so you burn fat and build muscle all day, every day-even when you sleep.
In these pages, you'll learn about the 12 Powerfoods that should become the staples of your diet. (Hint: Steak and strawberries are both in the mix.) You'll discover the two hidden dietary killers that could be poisoning you right now. You'll find out why 95 percent of all diets fail-and why The Abs Diet is different.
(continued on back flap)
(continued from front flap)
And you'll enjoy some of the simplest, most satisfying meals ever created.
The Abs Diet is the best, last, and only diet and nutrition plan you will ever need.
How do I know? Well, I'm the editor-in-chief of Men's Health, the world's largest men's magazine. I eat the latest health information for breakfast, I pour over how to make your body better for lunch, and I want to tell you about it over dinner.
I've got quite a story to tell-about how low-carb diets are making you fat, about how the food industry is putting secret fat bombs in your favorite foods, and about how you can fight back.
So how about joining me for a six-pack? Yours.
-David Zinczenko
David Zinczenko, the editor-in-chief of Men's Health magazine, grew up as an overweight kid in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Since then, he has become one of America's leading experts on health and fitness, has offered advice to men during appearances on Good Morning America and The Early Show, and has twice competed in the New York City Marathon. He lives in New York City and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Ted Spiker, an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Florida, is a contributing editor to Men's Health. His work has also been published in Fortune; O, The Oprah Magazine; InStyle; Sports Illustrated Women; Writer's Digest; Adventure Sports; and more. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
From the Back Cover
"The Abs Diet is a sensible eating and exercise plan, not a fad diet. The Abs Diet Power foods and the Abs Diet Workout are designed to make you fit, healthy, and lean for life. If you want to get on top of your game, this is where you start. Remember: Don't cheat yourself, treat yourself."
-The Rock, movie star
"The Abs Diet is a must read for anyone who is serious about building a healthy body and changing to a healthy lifestyle. Most diets are based on gimmicks that set you up for failure; this is the first program I have seen that promotes a lifestyle change that anyone can live with."
-David R. Pearson, Ph.D., director of the strength-research laboratory
at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana
"Finally, a diet that's focused on what you can eat, not what you can't! The Abs Diet isn't just about aesthetics, though. You'll look good, but you'll feel great-and you'll succeed at last! The Abs Diet addresses the reality of people's everyday lives and shows them how to improve their health through smart eating and exercise."
-Heidi Skolnik, R.D., staff nutritionist for the New York Giants
"Clear, crisp, refreshingly sensible, and as entertaining as it is enlightening, The Abs Diet will reward its readers handsomely. There are few 'diet books' that I am willing to endorse; I endorse this one enthusiastically. If you have an abdomen, get this book!"
-David L. Katz, M.D., director of medical studies in public health at Yale University School of Medicine and director of the Yale Prevention Research Center
Whether you want to change your body to improve your health, your looks, your athletic performance, or your sex appeal, The Abs Diet offers you a simple promise: If you follow this plan, you will transform your body so that you can accomplish each and every one of those goals. As a bonus, The Abs Diet will do something more than just enhance your life-The Abs Diet is going to save it. In addition, just look at what you'll gain:
o A fitter, healthier, sexier body. (Both women and men rate a flat stomach as the most appealing muscle group.)
o Freedom from back pain and injury. (In one study, firmer abs were found to be the most important predictor of one's overall health.)
o A longer, healthier life. (The right diet can fight cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.)
o A better sex life. (Learn the diet-and-
exercise prescription for total sexcellence.)
About the Author
Ted Spiker, an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Florida, is a contributing editor to Men's Health. His work has also been published in Fortune; O, The Oprah Magazine; Instyle; Sports Illustrated Women; Writer's Digest, Adventure Sports; and more. He currently resides in Gainesville, Florida.
Product details
- Publisher : Rodale Books
- Publication date : June 19, 2004
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1579549985
- ISBN-13 : 978-1579549985
- Item Weight : 1.2 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #686,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #179 in Ab Workouts (Books)
- #3,933 in Other Diet Books
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this diet book educational about nutrition and appreciate its simple, easy-to-follow exercise plan that helps lose 1-2 pounds per week. Moreover, the book includes good recipes, and one customer reports losing 13lbs in 3 weeks without going to the gym. Additionally, customers find the book fun to read and consider it worth the price.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the book's nutritional content, describing it as a great way to learn about nutrition and a 101 Good Eating course.
"...mostly for its presentation of wholesome nutrition AND regular weight-training exercise combined with interval training as the double-edged sword..." Read more
"...I'm giving this book a 4 to start because I think he has good ideas, but which way my review goes will depend on the next couple hundred pages and,..." Read more
"...The exercises are very basic and can be done at home with a small investment in dumbbells if you so desire...." Read more
"...The exercise plan is written so you can do it with dumbbells or in a gym. You're put through a total-body circuit very quickly...." Read more
Customers find the book highly readable and educational, describing it as fun to read, with one customer noting it serves as a valuable resource.
"This book is EVERYTHING....If you want to get that dream six pack, then this is your answer....You will have to put the work in but the pay off will..." Read more
"...Alas, I was wrong. This is a good book but if you are looking for instant magic, then this book or any other, will not help you...." Read more
"...Overall, I thought this book was valuable..." Read more
"The book overall is good, but the sections about eating fats confused me...." Read more
Customers find the book simple and easy to follow, with the exercise plan and meal preparation being straightforward.
"...UPSIDE TO THIS BOOK: Easy to read, research supported common sense...EXPOSES the problems with high fructose corn syrup and trans-fat as dangers..." Read more
"...DVD Edition contains decently up-to-date information and tells you exactly what to do and when to do it, based on a six-week fitness course...." Read more
"...It's easy to follow, affordable (you won't be buying tons of meat, Atkins people), will knock out some of your more unhealthy cravings, and will..." Read more
"...with whole foods and resistance training - nothing revelatory but easy to follow and stick with over the long haul...." Read more
Customers find the diet plan effective, helping them lose 1-2 pounds per week and reduce belly fat, with one customer reporting a 13-pound weight loss in three weeks without going to the gym.
"...The Abs Diet is an eye opener, even for someone like myself who has learned some valuable information from Drs. Sears, Atkins, and Agatston...." Read more
"...the day, and I've made it several weeks on those plans and dropped weight very fast...." Read more
"...In addition, they're lighter, have more energy, sleep better, and just feel better overall...." Read more
"...following the exercise plan - which I like a lot - and got a few decent diet ideas out of the book...." Read more
Customers praise the book's effectiveness for building strong abs and back muscles, with one customer noting significant improvements in their physique.
"...My four-book recommendation: Body for Life + Stronger Abs and Back + The Complete Book of Abs + The Abs Diet. Hope this helps!!" Read more
"...but it does emphasize lean meats, dairy & whey powder, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, and whole grains...." Read more
"...After the second week, you'll feel strong, alive, and energized. Do as the book instructs and you'll find yourself flying past the boring sit ups...." Read more
"...of keeping your metabolic furnace primed with whole foods and resistance training - nothing revelatory but easy to follow and stick with over the..." Read more
Customers like the recipes in the book.
"...I also appreciated the easy recipes and explanations on which foods are good for metabolism, weight loss, lowering cholesterol, etc...." Read more
"...is solid, full of seemingly good science, and you get good tips and recipes...." Read more
"...is giving you an outline of how much to eat, frequency, and great recipe ideas. I bought this book and my husband uses it religiously...." Read more
"...I still reference this book regularly for smoothies recipes, meal recipes and snack options...." Read more
Customers love the price of the book.
"...it before and after workouts aids muscle growth -- was worth the price of the book)...." Read more
"...It's easy to follow, affordable (you won't be buying tons of meat, Atkins people), will knock out some of your more unhealthy cravings, and will..." Read more
"...I'm not going to sit here and tell you it was easy, but it sure is worth it. After the second week, you'll feel strong, alive, and energized...." Read more
"...A small price to pay I guess for increased health...." Read more
Customers report that the diet plan works.
"...Once you get the hang of it, it's no big deal, and it works!..." Read more
"...David Zinczenko does a great job, explaining in layman's terms, how the human body loses weight and how to train our bodies to be efficient fat..." Read more
"...It is a diet that you can follow and still function normally, which sets it apart from some other diet plans...." Read more
"Rec'd with no issues!" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2024This book is EVERYTHING....If you want to get that dream six pack, then this is your answer....You will have to put the work in but the pay off will be WORTH IT..........Very fast delivery and the product was in perfect condition......5 STARS
- Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2004Kudos to David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker for this highly worthwhile addition to our understanding of why Americans are so overweight and out of shape. The Abs Diet is an eye opener, even for someone like myself who has learned some valuable information from Drs. Sears, Atkins, and Agatston. The Abs Diet stands out among the rest, mostly for its presentation of wholesome nutrition AND regular weight-training exercise combined with interval training as the double-edged sword that will get real and lasting results.
I haven't been on the diet and exercise plan long enough to give a testimonial to the results, but I think I know enough about the subject to recognize sound and truly helpful advice when I see it. The authors also focus on two harmful substances (manmade) that the other authors do not: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and Trans Fat, also known as partially hydrogenated oil.
I have tried other approaches, but am somewhat disillusioned with the idea of using expensive sugar-free candy and other processed food products to satisfy my sweet tooth. Now that I realize that carbs can be very good for you, I will focus on fruits instead. I also appreciate the authors' efforts to educate us on the difference between beneficial versus harmful carbohydrates and fats. The nutritional knowledge imparted in this book, especially the 12 food groups that are the core of the eating plan, plus the no-nonsense truth that muscle mass is probably our best weapon in fighting flab and staying healthy, should help anyone willing to work patiently at conquering the effects of American living: too much processed and junk foods and too little physical activity. I'm now reading the companion guide "The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide" but will withhold my comments until I'm able to report my progress in losing pounds and inches.
My one request is that their next book be one specifically written for women. Sure, men and women should both benefit nicely from the nutrition and exercise principles in The Abs Diet, but the recipes tend to be too caloric for a woman, especially a small/petite woman who cannot eat as much as a man (no matter how healthy the food is) and expect to lose weight. Women also have special nutritional requirements, particularly calcium and iron. I don't know any women who long to have "washboard abs" but they certainly do like the idea of a midsection that is flat, firm, and feminine. How about it, fellows?
Bottom line: If you want one book to motivate and educate you toward fulfilling your New Year's Resolution to be lean, fit, and healthy, The Abs Diet is the one get.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2010This review will be evolutionary as I finish the book and start implementing it into my next 6 weeks. It's a Wednesday and I want to start into the principles of this book on Sunday, and I'm 75 pages into it so far. However I have thoughts already so I want to list them out here:
Week 0
I am well aware of the idea of eating several small meals throughout the day, and I've made it several weeks on those plans and dropped weight very fast. However, I am trying to stay mostly plant-based and after a few days of quinoa + black beans + broccoli, I'm just not that hungry anymore, and I want more diversity. I also recently bought the book "Power Training", also by Men's Health, and someone reviewing that book recommended this book so I gave it a shot.
At first I am skeptical of Men's Health (even though I buy it) since everyone knows most health magazines exist to pimp out more supplements, and a small set of people know that most supplements are crap. However, I'm keeping an open mind and starting into the Abs Diet.
There are some decent principles here but also some questionable science. First off, one of his power foods is Dairy. Any CrossFit/Paleo or vegan would tell you that dairy is bad, bad, bad news for you. Just read the China Study and find out how bad. Humans are not meant to consume the milk of a 4-legged bovine creature designed to grow an infant cow several times its baby size in under a year. While calcium is great, getting calcium in the form of dairy increases the acidic load on the body, which requires a base to neutralize so the body can maintain pH balance. Guess what base it uses? Calcium, stripped from your own bones. Interesting that the countries with highest rates of osteoporosis also have the highest rates of dairy consumption. You can live without dairy and if you really love pizza, try that new pizza made with Daiya plant-based cheese.
Another big issue I'm seeing in the first 75 pages is his dissing on cardiovascular work. Yes, regular cardio only burns during and briefly after a workout, but high-intensity interval training burns for over 24 hours after a workout. (Power Training references this too) This is why sprinters/ultimate frisbee/soccer players generally are pretty ripped, while distance runners are thin but definitely not ripped. You can read about HIIT elsewhere.
My final big issue I'm going to face in this book is that I'm trying my best to stay on a plant-based diet, or at least pesco-vegan. Part of the reason is I don't like cooking meat, it takes a while, it's expensive, and research from books like the China Study show the relation between high animal protein diets and cancer growth. Another reason for staying mostly plant-based is that more and more research is showing that whole food, plant-based athletes outperform their omnivorous comrades. Some thoughts are that recovery time is less for plant-eaters (again has to do with pH balance as well as our biological makeup, i.e. long curvy stomachs of herbivores vice short stomachs of carnivores).
In that respect I'm angry that the author continues to pimp whey protein, also a dairy derivative. I'm going to do my best to provide alternatives to his suggestions such as the brown rice protein powder (SunWarrior is really amazingly good). Perhaps someone out there reading this in the future will want to try this on a vegan diet, and I know from searching this book's reviews on Amazon that the word vegan doesn't show up yet.
Also remember that it's unreasonable that 6 weeks will give you a six pack if you're 40 lbs overweight, but ideally if the food is good and people enjoy it, you can stick to the plans indefinitely, or at least until you reach your target weight.
I'm giving this book a 4 to start because I think he has good ideas, but which way my review goes will depend on the next couple hundred pages and, more importantly, the results I get after a solid 6-week go on the principles of the book. There is no single book out there that tells you how to get a six-pack on an entirely plant-based diet, i.e. eat this every day, cheat 1-2 meals/week on the same day, and do such and such exercises (like HIIT). I intend to find out if this is doable.
For the record, I am 6'2", weighing between 200-203 lbs, and my Tanita scale reports my bodyfat % at 15%. My target bodyfat % is 8%. I don't care about absolute weight for obvious reasons.
Top reviews from other countries
- BondyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2005
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, sensible and a doddle to read
Men's Health ran an article on this 'diet' a month-or-so ago and I began to adopt some of the principles of this book then; I felt better within a few days. Put simply, you can read this book cover-to-cover in a few hours and start making changes to your approach to food straight away - it's virtually hassle free.
The main principles in the book are focused on eating combinations of the twelve 'powerfoods' that are explained in detail, and eating regularly, six times a day. It's easy to scoff at that latter concept if you're a busy person (like me!), but I've managed to fit the snacks in and I think that this element of the programme is key. It's amazing how much better I feel without going for long periods of time minus food.
The book also provides clear information on the foods that are bad for us, and why some other diets aren't too good for us, as well. At no point is there any confusing science; it's all understandable. Menus, hassle-free recipes and a basic work-out programme are also included and these support the main ideology of the book well. Everything here is, again, easy to understand and, above all, attainable.
Nothing here is rocket science, which is a good thing, but for anyone looking for a straightforward way to making a positive change to their lifestyle, this is a good place to begin.
- userman46Reviewed in Canada on May 3, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
useful book from Ukrainian guy, like him
- Syed S. KhursheedReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2010
5.0 out of 5 stars A practical guide to suit busy lifestyle
The best thing about this book (in my view) is practicality of different recipes that suit a busy lifestyle. The book is written with an assumption that "people are busy and they do not have an army of cooks with them!" which is often ignored in many other books on this subject.
I have been using the protein shakes with 5-6 power ingredients for more than 2 months now. It takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish, i.e., from entering the kitchen to washing up the grinder, which makes it a very practical recipe for breakfast. The protein-shake is very healthy and has a filling effect (it stays for a while in your stomach, before you feel hungry again). Following this book, I changed other eating habits as well and without any exercise I lost 3 KG and I am sure with a little more effort I could have lost even more.
Thanks David, your efforts are appreciated.
- C. NichollsReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2013
4.0 out of 5 stars ABS Diet
The book came exactly as planned so well done to the seller! My only comment is that it's American so lots ofthe jargon and many of the foods are named differently which can be confusing!
- David RReviewed in Canada on January 1, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars Really good
I followed this back in college about 15 years ago and with dedication to the theory its pretty good. Follow the food guide to feel really good. The workouts are pretty generic and ive since subscribed to others that show better faster results but this is a good book to borrow some nutritional theory from.