David Zinczenko | Ted Spiker
1 Almost a 4 star
I would have given this book a four star review, save for the constant self-promotion throughout the book. For gosh sakes! We are already READING the book, can't you save the advertising for someplace else? In addition, the author bashes every other diet he can think of--with the exception of Body for Life (which has nothing he can bash, so he ignored it). No need for that. I'd rather read what's good about THIS and why we need the certain things he touts, rather than read about how bad these other diets are. As we know, Atkins works for a lot of people.
The Abs Diet is one of the only books I know about that is pretty much exclusively for men. A lot of women, however, have found this book to be right for them, too. With this in mind, I wish the author would have specified the fact that women really need smaller portion sizes than men and less calories, as well. This is a criticism I really believe is well-founded. I haven't read the updated version that was exclusively sold by Rodale yet. Maybe that information is in there.
The Abs Diet is founded on solid and current information. It's important to eat approximately every three hours so that our metabolism is at optimal speed. When we do not eat and skip snacks, not only are we more likely to feel we're "starving", and overeat later, our bodies are also more likely to go into starvation mode--and begin to burn muscle for fuel. . . a state we want to avoid.
The author explains how our body utilizes different foods (although I thought the acronym made out of ABS DIET (something else, I forgot), was not useful for me), how our body responds to exercise and rest and how to go about beginning this program.
It's an entertaining read, as well, and the recipes are pretty tasty!
2 Good, but not for me
I like the fact that the authors explain how things work in our bodies (how protein intake relates to the increased metabolism resulting from the workout, and to the muscle growth; which foods are good for metabolism; which of them aid in weight loss or lowering cholesterol levels). Although the idea of having six meals a day does not always fit my busy schedule, the one of snaking with fruits and/or nuts between main meals does seem to be effective in my case. What I like most about the book is the well balance diet that does not exclude any food groups. I am a great believer in the nourishment based on natural foods and The Abs Diet fully supports this belief. Dr. Tombak in the book "Can We Live 150 Years?" farther explains proper food combination and its effect on our bodies. For that reason his book is a very good addition to The Abs Diet. You can find several excerpts of the book at the publisher's website.
3 This book is amazing!
This is the start of my fifth week on this diet and exercise plan.It's great and I am sticking with it for life. The only thing I'm tracking is my measurements. I don't own a scale plus in the book,it says that muscles weigh more than fat anyway so I don't think it's a valid way to track my success.
So after 2 weeks, I lost 0.625 inches on my waist and 1 inch on my hips. After 4 weeks, I lost another 1.375 inches on waist and none on my hips. My waist was 31 inches when I started and is now 29 inches and my goal is 26 inches. So I think I'm well on my way. I have only missed a weight workout once. I have followed the diet strictly and the weight workouts strictly. This is the best diet and exercise plan ever. I love lifting weights - it's exhilirating. If I'm in a low mood then my joy is restored after the weight workouts (I do 3 circuits of the weights and abs exercises). If I'm in a good mood, then after the workout I'm in a super good mood. I'm so glad I discovered this book and plan to buy also the eat right every time guide and the dvd. This diet and workout plan definitely works for
women as well - I am proof.
I've read the book 3 times because it's so motivational and is a well-spring of information.
4 ABSolutely worth a look.
This book reminds me a lot of "Body For Life." It has a very workable plan to lose weight and the diet and exercise strategies are clearly laid out and explained in sufficient detail. Readers will find plenty of pictures too of the exercises that they are instructed to do. Motivational in nature, it's laid back writing style should appeal to many. Readers who like this book might also like "The No-Beach,, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan, A Pocket Guide To What Works"
5 Didn't work for me....
Throughout reading the entire plan, I realized that the theory behind the program would probably take a great deal of effort (as should any healthy program) but also a great deal of concetration. Neither of these two are prominenant in my life right now, so as soon as I began the program, I was soon strayed by remembering to buy this and forgetting not to eat that.
It may work for some people, but I'll have to buy a book on will power before I can really work toward this one.
6 The Closest I've Seen Yet. . .
I've started recommending this book to almost all of my patients (I'm a physician who specializes in weight loss). Here's what works and what doesn't work about the book...
What works:
I've studied almost all of the diets (fad and ivory tower precipitants) that have been written over the past 50 years or so. One major flaw makes most of them unworkable: they take more effort or time than most people can afford. For example: if you want the most high performance diet on the planet, study all the Zone books; but, be ready to spend an hour per day planning and preparing food if you really want to do this one right (and you need fortitude and an IQ that's up there just to understand it). Anyway. . . back to The Abs Diet--when I finish trying out a diet (in my opinion you don't really know a diet until you live it a few weeks), and go back to living what works for me, this is the way I eat. "This" being the "way" Zinczenco attempts to describe in this book.
No, I've never been overweight; but at 45-years-old, I still have the 6 pack. And the way I've stayed lean has been by eating the way he teaches. Yea, blah, blah, blah. . .you may be saying to a man who's never been overweight. But, the people I've helped drop 30, 60, or 100 pounds and KEEP IT OFF all did it by employing a few important elements in this book.
First, buy a blender and use it the way Zinzenco describes. With a blender, I can prepare a delicious, nutritious, breakfast and feed my three sons and me in less than three minutes (and even the third grader likes it). Many of the people I know who are very busy and in very good physical condition past the age of 35 use a blender at least once a day. If you don't do anything else with this book, read and reread the section on blender recepies. Then make the shakes and drink them first thing in the morning and about 2.5 hours after supper (to avoid the nighttime munchies).
Next, learn to spread calories over the entire day. Everyone who's obese (almost without exception) eats most of their calories in the evening (with very little food during the day). The really healthy eat small meals all day long. Zinczenko teaches an easy method for spreading calories over the entire day. One of the most powerful skills for spreading calories is the blender (because it's quick and produces filling low-calorie potions). Throw me in a room with a blender and a few basic ingredients and I'll have your pickiest first grader slurping down the last drop. The obese will be better with the pancake griddle (if they eat breakfast at all, which they rarely do). Their blender's gathering dust in the back of a cabinet. This is not a will power issue; it's a skill issue. Learn the blender skill and you won't need as much will power. Learn it well. It will do wonders for helping you spread your calories through the day. Zinczenko gives you blender potions and even tells you how to choose the best blender (this really is an art form as much as baking any bread).
OK, I'm starting to bore myself. Bottom line, the book is medically and practically sound. Zinczenco is a real live healthy male who lives the life and knows the preventive health literature much better than most physicians I know. You won't count calories, you won't go hungry, you can eat real food, you won't spend all day in the kitchen.
Now where the book is weak:
You will probably not see the permanent weight change you want if you only follow his exercise plan. You might. But, most people seem to need more walking to enjoy lasting weight loss (by my experience and recent research). If you're already close to your normal weight and just want to trim off 15 pounds so you can see your abs, then his plan might work. If you've got more than 20 pounds to lose, tear out the exercise section of the book, throw it away and walk 20 miles a weeek (about 3 miles a day).
Next, many of my women patients feel alienated. He seems to address men as if the women are out of the room for the moment (like the joke about something lasting about as long as you did on your prom night). But, the humor adds the refreshment of hearing someone with a Y chromosome actually breathe an occasional word (at a time when we're afraid to use "he" without balancing it with a "she") as if all men don't rise and fall on the opinion of the nearest woman. More importantly, the eating plan works for both sexes but only if the women can suffer through the jokes and ignore the exercise plan and go for a walk.
Next flaw, there's a swamp of data and research to wade through in the beginning of the book (interesting if you're a physician and enjoy swamps); some of my patients just bore out around page 60 before thay make it to the part that gives results. Also, his explanation of why low-carb diets give results shows some lack of understanding (or perhaps recognition) of the power of ketosis when used therapeutically.
Solution: just start on Chapter 7--that's where you strike gold. Read through (including) Chapter 10. You'd probably be better off throwing the rest of the book away and reading those four chapters about 10 times. Please, don't throw away the whole book.
Actually, this may be the best diet book I've ever read because I know the eating plan will give long term weight loss (because most can happily live with it) and improved health with less effort than any other plan I've seen in print. This book is the closest I've seen yet to the way I actually eat. Again. . .it only works long term if you walk 15 to 20 miles per week and use your blender twice a day (and I'm not talking about marguiritas). If you want to supercharge your results, combine the diet with the techniques taught in the book "Anytime...for as Long as You Want."
7 Cuts through a lot of the diet hype
This book represents the intersection of all the nutritional advice you see in the 'diet' section of your local B&N. You can basically eat from all the food groups. You just have to make sensible choices (whole-grain over white). This program will work for most men & women because it is a significant challenge to their routine life. But for those who are already eating wholesome, sensible food, this book may not provide the answer. Men's Health is notorious for suggesting very little cardio in their 'plans of the month' but sometimes your physique goals can not be won entirely by resistance training & proper nutrition. If you have fallen into a rut, consider upping the ante by taking on a new challenge. Example, try a sprint triathlon (look @ '6 weeks to a triathlon'). Or try a 5K race (check out 'runnersworld.com' for sample programs). Play basketball, even if you suck. Treat you fitness regimen like you do your career-learn new skills, network with others for suggestions, learn from your mistakes, etc.
If anyone needs a free 'mind-map' of this book please email me @ kharsakk2000@yahoo.com
8 Good Information, But Not for Everyone
THE GOOD: I liked how this book gave valuable information on how different foods interact with digestion and metabolism. The eating plan is well-balanced and doesn't starve you from any particular food (carbs, fat, etc.), but it does emphasize lean meats, dairy & whey powder, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, and whole grains. It also provides great info on the scientific reasons why such manmade foods as transfats and high-fructose corn syrup are bad for you.
They describe how most of calorie burn takes place not during the workouts, but from a higher metabolism as a result of workouts (increased muscle requires more calories to maintain than fat). They advise eating six smaller meals a day -- three medium-size meals and three snacks (such as an apple and handful of nuts) -- because your metabolism slows when you starve yourself during the day. How a high-protein diet is needed to repair and build muscle, and also increases metabolism (the authors suggest eating protein-rich foods before and after workouts, otherwise the body begins depleting muscles for their protein; I tried this and it seems to work, increasing my strength and muscle tone from my workouts).
THE BAD: As others have mentioned, the writers base a lot of their philosophy on fairly recent studies of nutrition and health, but as everyone knows these studies are often contradicted and refuted.
One of the biggest problems I had with the diet was its emphasis on dairy products and protein shakes (with whey powder, skim milk, bananas, berries, etc.). Although they were satisfying and filling, the shakes tended to me feel bloated (perhaps this is because of my mild lactose intolerance). The shakes also slowed my digestion to a glacial pace leading to constipation (sorry to get graphic, but it's true). I finally had to cut back on the protein powder and add fresh oranges to the shakes to add roughage. Note: Don't overuse whey powder because in excessive amounts it can overtax your liver and kidneys.
Overall, I thought this book was valuable (for me, the explanation of how protein is connected to an increased metabolism -- how eating it before and after workouts aids muscle growth -- was worth the price of the book). I also appreciated the easy recipes and explanations on which foods are good for metabolism, weight loss, lowering cholesterol, etc. I'd just caution that the diet probably isn't for everyone in totality; you should definitely pick and choose what works for you and discard the rest.
9 What took me so long?!?
I've always read Men's Health, and I've tried a lot of the different plans that they advocate in their magazine issues. When the ABS Diet first came out, I really wanted to try it, but I didn't think that I'd have the time to prepare/eat six meals a day AND follow a workout plan. My girlfriend got me the book for Christmas though, and after reading it, i started the plan in late January (after my good friend, who's a personal trainer, told me that it would never work). In six weeks, I went from 170 pounds and 19.1% body fat to 157 pounds and 15.5% body fat. The best part is that I didn't even follow it religiously. I slacked off a little here and there, but I maintained the plan as best as I could overall.
Now, not only do my pants not fit, but my belts are too big too! The diet has become a lifestyle, and I haven't even considered dropping it. My advice to you would be to buy this book, forget anything else you read or hear, and just try it for 6 weeks. See what happens, and I bet you'll be more than pleasantly surprised.
10 A good book
I read this book and followed the diet regime and it gave me really amazing results. I had tried so many things and other diets but they never worked for me. But I followed this and I got amazing results, I lost about 20 pounds in a two week span, and I realized this when other people complimented me on the weight I lost. Also this diet is so good that you just dont feel like you are on a diet, you never get those withdrawal symptoms, the hunger pangs, etc, in fact it was fun doing the recipes and the smoothies.
You will certainly get good results but I would suggest the readers, do not expect washboard abs in the time it says. Initially you will get results faster but later on you will have to increase the intensity of your workout to loose weight and keep getting the results.
But to sum up, a certainly good book and I would certainly recommend it. Thanks to David Zinczenko.
11 The 1st diet book I have read fully & truly loved
Strong Points of the Book (+):
1- Quick healthy recipes (I especially loved the smoothies).
2- Explanations of scientific terms (cholestrol, Blood Pressure's HDL & why an increase in muscles leads to a decrease in weight).
3- Success Stories of people who followed the diet.
4- Workout schedule (easy & time saving) includes 52 abs workouts targeting all ab muscles + other lower & upper body workouts.
5- Iconic overview of the 12 Power Food Groups and their benefits.
Weak Points of the Book (-):
1- Overemphasizing the benefits of the abs diet (let the diet speak for itself).
2- Negatively criticising other diets (Including The Zone, Atkins, South Beach). These diets have worked for many over the long term. No need to put those down to play up the good features of the Abs Diet.
3- Repetition of the benefits of the 12 Power foods listed in the book. A chapter in the book gives a summary of the Power Foods & another gives a full explanation of the benefits of those food groups, which could have been put together in one chapter. Redundancy is not recommended.
Overall verdict:
A wonderful book with scientific evidence to support the information & facts listed in the book, plus the credibility of the author's experience who happens to run Men's Health and work in it for the past 10 years.
12 Best Diet Book Ever...
I must admit I was skeptical at first, I have tried almost every diet with minimal success. But, I love this diet. The book gives you the basics, and why you need to eat certain foods that help burn fat. I found it very imformative. And the first 2 weeks you don't even need to excercise! I eat six small meals a day and only excercise 3-4 times a week 30 minutes at a time. It has only been 4 weeks but I have already lost 15lbs. and 10 inches. I also recommend the companion guide for when you eat out. It is also great. This book and diet has truly changed my attitude about dieting. I don't even want to cheat, and I feel really good with lots of energy. I recommend this if you want an easy diet to follow, and want to change your eating habits to feel and look better. It is worth every penny!
13 A FLEXIBLE, FANTASTIC RESOURCE TO LIVE SMARTER
I'm a little surprised I haven't written a review on this book before! For people (men and women) out there who want to lose weight this book is for you...PLEASE, do not see this as a "diet"...it is not...it's information that cuts through the diet "crap" out there (why do people still think diets work??!!)...and gives you a detailed outline so that you can target an individualized way of approaching food and exercise...I've used the philosophy/information to come up with a way of living that has lost me 30 pounds in four months (215 to 185) and I've gone down three pant sizes...I've now lent my book out to numerous folks where I work...the upside to this is that I have NEVER felt as though I was hungry and I LOVE all the food that I eat...and I still indulge in pizza, cheesecake, pie...you name it...I just eat smarter...
UPSIDE TO THIS BOOK: Easy to read, research supported common sense...EXPOSES the problems with high fructose corn syrup and trans-fat as dangers (worse than drugs in my opinion)...shame on the food industry...
DOWNSIDE: The emphasis on muscle, while absolutely correct, will probably stretch some readers in terms of equipment...second, while I agree with the idea that using cardio to lose weight is missing the point and it sets people up for failure, I don't agree with limiting it as much as the authors suggest...I HAVE had luck with the interval training though!
BOTTOM LINE: If you can't personalize a healthy lifestyle out of this don't even bother with anything else.
14 Some good, some bad
For starters, I'm in pretty good shape, but I'm always having problems shaking my paunch. So I thought, for the new year, to get this and be more serious.
I think the concepts here are pretty sound, although my knowledge admittedly is not great.
What I don't like is the diet. It assumes that we all eat junk food and, hence, it creates a balanced diet of things that appear junky but aren't so junky. Sorry, man, but I don't need bacon. I don't need saltines for an ingredient for meatballs. I just want to eat good and eat well.
Another gripe is the amount of food. Sometimes I feel like I'm eating too much. My calorie intake sometimes seems like it's too much for me to shake off when I exercise.
Lastly, some of the stuff he suggests, like roast beef, are loaded with preservatives, salt, and caramel color. This is a contradition on some of the things he was talking about in the book. It leaves me confused.
On another note, it was written in the expedient "feel good" manner that a lot of these mags (Men's Health, Businessweek, etc.) are written. I find that somewhat annoying.
Overall, I'd recommend the book if someone asked.
15 Please Don't Eat The Pesticides
It's simple and easy ... eat six meals a day based on 12 "power" foods and workout a few days a weeks. Problem with the 12 foods is that two them -- spinach and raspberries -- are on the USDA list of produce with the highest levels of pesticides. You can get around that by purchasing organically certified spinach. Fresh raspberries have a short US season and don't consider extending it with crops from Chile, where the pesticide problem is more severe. In addition, two other foods from the power 12 are peanut butter and almonds -- terrific foods but it's probably a little difficult for most folks to keep the quantity under control.
16 Great concepts
I'm pretty much at my ideal weight and fitness level, but, at 41 years old, I'm always looking to get just a little bit healthier and in better shape. I bought this book because the concepts presented seemed logical and reasonable. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the book lived up to its promise. The eating and excercise concepts presented have helped me zero in on what I should be eating - especially for snacks - and the many abs excercises provided are a great compilation of ways to vary my daily workout. Although I am not "dieting" per se, I think the information in this book makes it a top-notch reference and serves as a reminder to me to stay on track with healthy eating. To me, the book should've been named "The Common Sense Fitness Program" since it provides more of an eating lifestyle plan than another diet program.
17 Back to Basics
Funny how we're all looking for the magic bullet to get rid of the weight (or whatever is ailing us). Note that it's always "something else" or "someone else" that's the cause (or cure) of our unhappiness - never us. At any rate, this book may well be the proverbial magic bullet we've been looking for. But, it doesn't work unless you do. Imagine that.
Buy it. Do it. Live it. Remember, life is short. Play hard.
18 Valuable but no revelation...
On one hand, it's nice to a see a health/diet book that IS geared towards men, as opposed to much of the diet/fitness industry, which is clearly geared towards women and how/where women gain and keep their weight. The 6 meals a day eating plan isn't anything new but I like it. The nutritional information doesn't seem to break any new ground (trans-fats, saturated fat, white flour/sugar are bad; high fiber, high protein, whole grains are good) but is still worth collecting in one place - and needs to be preached until America and its food producers figure it out. On the other hand, the tone of the writing seems to be geared towards the well-heeled 20-something/30-something who can't/won't cook for himself, isn't awake until 6:30 am, strolls into work at 9, can work out for an hour at lunch and then has nearly nightly "business dinners" - doesn't describe anyone I know. The book may be more autobiographical than we thought.
Weaknesses? I don't buy the author's contempt for aerobic exercise. The foundations of the exercise program are traditional moves, many of which use gym equipment and weights that most couch potatoes don't own(but which MensHealth.com will only too gladly sell you). Joseph Pilates' name doesn't appear anywhere (probably waiting for the author to "discover" him). No mention of modifying/substituting some of the Abs Diet Power 12 foods to accommodate food allergies (people with allergies to milk products,wheat,nuts, etc can kiss much of the diet plan - especially the ubiquitous "smoothies" - good-bye). Not even the hint of a bibliography or references for the information. You don't really know where he came up with this stuff.
This plan may work for some people, but the writer's audience doesn't include everyone and the sources for much of the information are a mystery.
19 YOU need this book!
Anyone who has ever struggled with weight or simply wants to firm up an already slender physique NEEDS to invest in this book! David Zinczenko is an awesome author! He will help keep you motivated with his knowledge and his humor. He will give you insight as to how to lose weight, tone up and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. The recipes in the book are delicious and easy to make. The workouts are quick yet effective. You can't go wrong purchasing this book.
20 Learn How to Eat
I have been using the 6 small meals a day concept for a few weeks after reading about it in the 2005 Men's Health Total Fitness Guide. The Abs Diet is great! And yes, it is geared towards men.
I would suspect that any book written by a woman editor of a woman's magazine might be slightly geared towards women... If you are looking to lose weight, get in shape, and want to put your fitness goals on auto pilot, you should get this book. The reason most diets fail is because people fail to really change the way they eat. Most people simply fail to change! Diets and most exercise programs are way too complicated! Unless you are trying to be a super model or Mr. Universe, you need a plan that is simple and works in every situation life throws at you.
I want to thank author for telling me about a alternative to coffee that is absolutely delicious. Its caffeine-free and comes in 8 delicious flavors. Just google it under "s oyfee" to find it.
Most importantly you need to change the way you look at food and eating otherwise you wouldn't be reading this review right? This may be just the book to help you do it! If you have been struggling with your body and physical health and looking for an answer, this book has a great plan to help. The title should actually be "Learn How to Eat."
21 A great way to loose weight and get lean
The Abs Diet is a great book for any reader looking to loose weight and build lean muscle. Even though the studies are not formally referenced, as a student of nutritional science, I assure you that they are all real (even those doubted by another reader). I have studied and tried other diets, mostly the highly promoted low fat diet and the Abs diet is a sensible diet without food cravings that other diets sometimes force. The exercise portion was actually the driving force behind my purchase, as I was looking for a way to build a lean body. However as I read through the book I realized the nutritional information is credible and sound. I highly reccomend this book to anyone looking to live a healthier life. Also, the one thing I didn't like is, that the book is clearly directed to a male audience.
22 Good, but somewhat unrealistic
First off, this book is great for anyone who's sick of such garbage as the Atkins or South Beach Diets. Although it is more of a man's "diet" due to its rigorous exercise program, it is universal for the most part. The diet itself is somewhat unrealistic seeing as most Americans cannot eat Zinczenko's almonds and bizarre snacks every couple of hours and eat the prescribed foods when eating out or on the go. For example, fast food is terrible, but it is nonetheless an unfortunate reality for many time-pressed Americans - even those with 6 pack abs.
The book earns its keep and 4 star rating largely upon its helpful photos, explanations of training regimens, and lastly for its actual "diet" information. Recommended only if this is to be a lifestyle choice for those serious about fitness, not merely a fad diet that you will abandon after merely losing 5 or 10 lbs.
23 Good advice but easier said than done.
Great Book, but six weeks is a long time to stick to any diet and excercise program (even this one). I found this book to be very imformative and would recommend this book to anyone wanting a fast, practical way to get lean abs. Still, I'm convinced from my own experience that the only way to really stick to any diet and excercise program is to permanently change your lifestyle. This can only be accomplished through changing our habits. I stumbled upon a great book entitled "The Power of Habit" that does just that. "The Abs Diet" will give you a great plan to flatten your stomach, "The Power of Habit" will help you actually do it.
24 This book changed my life!
Battling an eating disorder, I didn't think I would ever be comfortable eating again. This book helped me gain MUCH NEEDED weight, resume menstruation, and feel comfortable with my body. I now eat foods that are healthy without harming my body. I look better than I ever have. I have energy, stamina, and not to mention...a six-pack! This book is a lifesaver!
25 I still have a gut and its week seven
I read, I tryed, I still got a gut. If you did it 8 hours a day for six weeks you could look like the pictures.
26 This diet works for MEN
I gave this book four stars because my 59 year old dad followed the diet and lost over 2 inches off his waist in 4 weeks, just by following the diet alone! I tried it and I actually gained a few pounds...oh well. My dad really liked this diet and he developed healthier habits as a result of what the book suggests. I had no idea that this book was for men, I guess I should have noticed that the author is the Men's Health editor.
27 The Abs Diet Book
The Abs Diet is a great book for any reader looking to loose weight and build lean muscle. Even though the studies are not formally referenced, as a student of nutritional science, I assure you that they are all real.
I already started applying these principles with my own well-being by giving up my coffee habit. I drink a product I found on the net made from soya beans and it's not only delicious but good for you too. You can find them at www.s o y c o f f e e .c o m.
I have studied and tried other diets, mostly the highly promoted low fat diet and the Abs diet is a sensible diet without food cravings that other diets sometimes force. The exercise portion was actually the driving force behind my purchase, as I was looking for a way to build a lean body. However as I read through the book I realized the nutritional information is credible and sound. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to live a healthier life. Also, the one thing I didn't like is, that the book is clearly directed to a male audience.
28 To Good to be True
Amazing! Watched with growing interest recently as Good Morning America put a couple of viewers on The Abs Diet for six weeks and unveiled the results. The woman, a mother of four no less,lost 19 pounds. The before and after photos were more than enough to convince me to get off my [...] and take control of my own 'spare tire'. As if only to drive the point home, one of the other 'test cases,' a male photographer, dropped 21 pounds and announced that he plans to run the NYC marathon. After an enthusiastic week on the plan I am happy to say that I already look and feel better and am amazed at how fun it can be to eat six-times a day. I can't wait to get going on the exercise portion of the plan and see how it adds to the few pounds I have already watched burn away. This book is easy and the diet managable - I can only hope for half of the results I witnessed on GMA. Who knows - maybe I'll run a marathon (although not the NYC) myself.
This is a really interesting book about how eating affects our health. There is a lot of useful information in here to provide much thought about what to eat. There are also interesting references for wellness products. The author does suggest you go off coffee slowly before you start the plan. This would minimize headaches during detox. I couldn't wait to get started so, of course, did it all at once and had the most horrible awful headache for 4 straight days. I finally broke down and had a 1/2 cup coffee one day instead of taking aspirin and that did the trick...for the moment. Now I'm completely caffeine-free and don't miss it at all. My doctor prescribed a wonderful replacement for coffee made from soya beans called "soyffee". [...]
29 A "Diet" Book That's Both Comprehensive and Frank
Kudos 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.
30 Women
I enjoyed reading the book, and recieved very helpful imformation, but it really dose't talk about the female body system and how it will responsed to the diet plan. I read one review from a woman, that was basically areadly in phiscal shape, just needed some help with her stomach area. She gave the book high reviews. I would like to see the book with more women points of view next time. I am looking forwared to finging my Abs again. Thanks for a great book
31 A. Weiss, author of the BackSmart Fitness Plan
One of my patients brought this book to my attention and after doing the workouts - I thought it had a good approach to exerciseing the midsection. With that said I thought a few of the movements would put a trendmous amount of stress to the lower back region, and ,many patients over the weeks have come in with lower back strains after trying these movments. Elimate the lower abdominal movements with the straight leg and you should be okay. Overall I liked the progressive steps in the books- back pain suffer beware.
32 Holy Cow It Works
This diet has helped me to drop 3 pant sizes (was a 42 and am now a 36) and 38lbs in 8 weeks.
I have tried so many differnt guides, plans, work out routines.
What sets this program apart is that it tells how to eat properly. It doesnt cut out the fat, or cabs or protine. Instead it tells you how to properly balance evertyhing with old fashion proper eating habits.
It even laid out an example meal plan for the week. If you can read this review then you can follow the book and get great results.
33 The Big Picture
If you're looking for a great diet plan..look somewhere else. Same goes for a great excercise plan for men and especially women. David's plan works for this 63 year going on 45 guy. I will not recommend it because the ideas work for me, but because there's a bigger more important issue than just the excercise or diet picture in this book. In only a few pages he summarizes our greatest health risks: HFCS (high fructose corn syrup; Trans Fats (i.e. partially hydrogenated oils; and dealing with the glycemic factors-indexes, carbs and a resulting "load factor".
David is not only in the health business, but he's a magazine salesman and what a better way to market a book than to play the "diet" card. Even he hates that. This is a book to bring awareness to your overall health or lack thereof. He has touched the most on the dangerous health issues and the underlying reasons we, male and female, are such a bunch of artery clogged, obese, dying sooner than we should individuals.
Did you ever buy the entire CD for one song? We all have. Same is the case here, except this tune could save your life and help you control your health.
The important message in this book should be heeded by everyone, young and old. It is a wakeup call for all you folks chasing the diet fad. This book will cause you to spend more time shopping for food that won't kill you than chasing an easier way to loose that big gut or fat ass. Thanks for the opportunity.
34 ABSolutely dull eating plan mixed with some good info
Here again is yet another book that though it has DIET in the title claims that it is NOT a diet but a way of life. In fact the author warns you to stay far away from low carb diets but the diet he shares looks very similar (with the exception of the addition of protein powder) to the "South Beach Diet" to me.
The diet tries to include women but it really is geared to men. The vitamin recommended is for men. The actual menu plan is a one size fits all for men (no difference for women). And then the author claims that the Abs Diet is built around foods you crave - peanut butter, roasted pork loin and lobster. DAVID! What are you thinking? Yes men tend to crave meat but a majority of women crave chocolate and bread (chocolate is not included in the diet)! His advise to use instant oatmeal rather than the oldfashioned type is also surprising as instant is supposed to cause blood sugar surges.
David claims that most people when following the plan will be able to see definition in their abs within 6 weeks. But David, doesnt share that most women will never have defined abs because most women have a natural curve to their bodies and they would have to have a very low percentage of body fat to get that lean to show definition which is rare.
David does explain cholesterol and some other medical issues in very simple terms. Kudos to him for that. But some of his explanations were more opinions than based on actual fact. The
diet is so much of a diet with protein shakes and similar meals each day, salads and turkey and so lacking in pleasure that I am not sure people can stay on it for a long term. He even says on page 104 "Heck I don't care if you eat the same thing every day for a week." which pretty much sums up the meal plan ..BORING.
BTW recipes are not exactly enticing either from p. 142 `"Smear the mayo on the tortilla".
David does give you permission to cheat once a week which is curious as this is not supposed to really be a diet according to the book but a way of life despite the title.
To give credit David has been associated with "Men's Health" for years and he has a very comprehensive section on exercise. But he states that you lose more weight with lifting weights than you do with an aerobic activity such as running. Again I disagree, take a look at runners - most are very slim. Compare that to bodybuilders. I am not saying lifting weights is a bad thing just that running will burn flab off faster.
The book also includes some good testimonials ie "I turned flab into muscle" but alas no supporting before and after pictures.
35 Healthy Lifestyle
This is the best "diet" book ever. I don't consider it a diet book rather a healthy lifestyle. I'm sick of all the low-carb foods out there, and he sets it straight and compares the good carbs from the bad carbs. If you really want to lose weight, this book is the best. I've honestly lost 13 lbs and I'm still counting. My abs are starting to show also!!! It's a great feeling. Also, once a week, you can have a cheat meal of whatever you like and still lose weight. I've recommended this book to my family and friends and they honestly love it. I don't know how anyone can be negative towards this book when he is stating the truth of nutrition and exercise. Even my personal trainer has agreed that the book is excellent!!!
36 Information is sound, and balanced nutrition is stressed
I am in the medical field and work ina critical care setting. I do not agree with some of the other reviewers because this book, in my opinion, was a good look at how balanced nutrition is able ot be achieved. The first 75 pages are more of a motivation reason of why you should be eating correctly. It is not another "low carb diet". I don't even think its a diet, its more a way of looking at food the way we should - without the partially hydrgenated oil and the high fructose corn syrup. You may have confused this with low carb. Vegetables are typically low in carbs and calories as it is, and fruits are a natural carbohydrate that allows you to feel satisfied longer. I use this book for motivation to get back into the habit of eating more balanced. The smoothies recommended actually taste pretty good and are easy to make. Not only that, but you do feel satisfied afterwards.
While I would not advise only following it in 6 weeks, I think its a sound plan. I think the claims it makes are a little over the top, but this book should be more about eating to maintain and improve your health, not just to lose weight. I particularly liked the sections describing some of the major contributors to a decline in health in the average AMerican and what natural foods can protect against them...they are decent descrioptions that are related to the everyday person.
As someone who is very much into health and reads up on alot of nutritional research and physical diseases and ailments, I recommend the book and the foods it describes. Just don't expect the loss in 6 weeks.
37 Terrible
This book is TERRIBLE. It spends the first 75 pages trying to sell you on the idea which is stretching it from the start. I already bought the book just get into it already, is what I felt. After reading the book twice the only concept I could really garner was to just eat smoothies forever and occasionally a modified version of the Atkins or South Beach Diets, which is funny that he uses so many high protein lo/no-carb recipes, since he takes a few pages to bash each of those diets to begin with. Stay away your money is better spent elsewhere
38 Good for women too.
This book is really geared toward men, but I want to get rid of post baby belly so I'm trying it anyway. I really feel that I'm getting there. The fact that the book is about excercise and not just diet leaves me more confident that the results will continue.
39 This Book has become my Bible
I have NEVER read a book that has inspired me to become HEALTHY like this one has. I needed to diet and was in a major diet "rut!" The best thing about his plan is you really dont feel like you are on a diet. It is all about getting your body healthy. I am going on my third week of the plan and I have lost 6 pounds and my body feels much tighter. My whole outlook is better because I am not starving myself with some crazy diet or eating a bunch of crazy foods that other diets recommend. This is SO easy to follow that I will incorporate my entire eating lifestyle based on his plan. This is not just 6 weeks for me this is how I will live my life. If I can do this, please beleive me ANYONE can. Don't let the author being a Mens Health" editor deter any women from this plan, I am a woman who is enjoying this plan to its fullest extent and trying hard to get my husband to conform. All in all 6 STARS from me!
40 Great for Some
I'm a diet fanatic and buy just about any reasonably presented book on this subject. This is a sensible diet that makes sense and works for most people who are not metaboically resistant. Eating six small meals a day rather than 3 large ones is a good idea, and tends to match the Zone diet in this area. Balancing carbs with protein is also a good idea and matches several other diets out there. The author advises you to eat oatmeal in the morning for breakfast, but you need to be aware of something: first, make sure you buy the old fashioned kind that takes about 5 minutes to cook. Do not eat that instant stuff. Second, if you eat a massive dose of carbs, as oatmeal contains, for breakfast, you can count on being ravenously hungry witin about 2 hours as your body compensates for the spike in your sugar levels from the carbs.
Fianlly, this book is really not about developing great abs. It's just a catchy title. If you lose weight, your abs will naturaly look better. Buy this book if like me, you benefit from the constant encouragement found in reading new diet book--but overall, stick to a basic plan of sensible calorie consumption, avoiding stupid carbs found in sodas and candy, and get some exercise.
41 What did you expect?
I've read a lot of diet books in the past couple of years...come to think of it, about as long as I've been sitting behind a desk. I bought the "Abs Diet" book because it was a very straightforward, honest set of "rules" that will lead to great results. The book is a quick and easy read as well as informative and enjoyable.
Fad diets, including the low-carb craze, that require you eliminate or go overboard on any one thing are like a 3-legged table with one of the legs missing. The "Abs Diet" isn't magic. It's based in eating whole, healthy foods without a lot of crap and follows more of "everything in moderation" approach to diet and exercise. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to #1 be healthier, and #2 look better. They offer an online subscription service too that can be quite helpful (although not as user friendly and inexpensive as Calorie King's, it's still pretty good).
42 From a lay author, to lay readers
Undoubtedly, the author has the personal discipline to stick to an almost-vegetarian diet and exercise moderately. Yet, he struggles with the basics of the science of health and distorts most of its principles when he tries to explain how diet and exercise work.
The author does not specify his references other than citing vague names without dates or context, yet he criticizes other diets, such as the South Beach diet and Atkin's diet. The advocates of those diets are well educated professionals with deep understanding of the physiology of nutrition and exercise that the current author lacks.
Even if you do not mind spending the $24.95 in such a layman's reading, you would gain a lot of misinformation by reading this book, which I attribute to the author's inaptitude, as follows:
(1) The author advocates a diet (that consists of nuts, beans, green vegetables, diary, oatmeal, eggs, peanut butter, olive oil, whole grains, whey, and raspberries) and claims that eating "MORE", not less would promote better health. He thus totally omits the principle of conservation of energy, which implies that eating less, and moving more is the way to maintain optimum bodyweight.
(2) The author prescribes bizarre and unproven eating habits to deal with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer such as eating more apples, drinking more tea, and drinking alcohol.
(3) The author invents useless information such as the "Glycemic Loads of Food", page 276, by multiplying the glycemic index by the available amount of carbohydrates per serving of that food. That is a flawed and useless way of judging the glycemic effect of food.
(4) The exercise programs in this book are meant to fill the remaining pages, since they do not have a characteristic strategy that stands out as unique or different from common weight training exercises. Moreover, the author erroneously believes that strength training with weight burns more calories even after the exercise is over. He explains that with the "afterburn". He thus confuses tissue regeneration for caloric expenditure. He repeats that mistake when he claims that eating proteins burns more calories (25 for each 100 calories) compared to eating fat and carbohydrates that require 10 calories to burn for each 100 calories of intake. He never cites a reference for such bizarre information.
(5) The abdominal exercises in the book are modest in performance but are analyzed erroneously. The transverse abdominal muscles are claimed to be worked out in rollover motions that target the rectus abdominis and the lower abdominal muscles are claimed to be worked out in exercises that target the iliopsoas. That is apart from the general mediocre execution of many other exercises such as the side bends for the obliques and the seated press for the shoulders.
(6) The author believes that up to 25% of the energy of ingested food is consumed in just digesting that food, and that up to 80% goes into basal metabolism, and only 10% to 15% of the energy is consumed in exercise and activity. Thus, he concludes that one could burn energy by "doing nothing" other that following his diet and in SIX weeks could see results. That is a miscalculation.
Although the author only claims that he is the editor-in-chief of Men's Health magazine, he has tackled very complex disciplines with very poor homework.
43 Easier for Men than Women
This diet is probably better suited to men than women from a stereotypical point of view. I say that in the sense that men generally enjoy lifting weights more than women and it is easier for a lot of men to give up on sweets and candy than it is for women. For men the harder part is beer, pizza, buffalo wings, etc, etc. To answer another reviewers quandry, yes you do lose more weight lifting weights than you do running. In running you tend to burn muscle for energy rather than fat. By increasing muscle mass you increase your Metabolic Rate which helps you to burn fat exponentionally. This is explained in the book and in Men's Health magazine where the book is promoted. That should be clarified though as losing weight and losing fat are two completely seperate things as it is highly possible for your weight (mass listed on the scale) to increase, while your clothes become loser. On other diets, where you eat less and run non stop, or on the atkins diet where you cut a lot of water weight, you go from a 200lb bowl of jelly to a 185lb bowl of jelly.
The focus is eating 6 times a day from a group of foods that are permissible, staying away from the rest, and drinking lots of water. Smoothies with fresh fruit, whey protein powder, and yogurt is one of the cores of the diet to help keep you full. And it encourages you to cheat one or two meals a week and to have your favorite foods so as not to deprive yourself totally.
If you are woman though, and you dont mind lifting weights than this is perfect for you too.
44 Not good if you don't like almonds
I just started this diet and only need to lose about 5 lbs, but at the end of my 2nd day here, I am already tired of eating nuts. None of the other snacks really appeal to me either - I'd really prefer a donut. Some of the exercises, like the back extension, can't be done at home unless you have a back extension bench in your living room.
I agree that this book seems to be more suited to a man, because I never ate this much when I wasn't dieting. I do like the sense of humor and the writing style, though, but there isn't much variety in terms of what food you can eat - and what is there, is definitely not cut out for someone who can take or leave nuts and low-fat ice cream.
45 This book is easy and the diet managable
Amazing! Watched with growing interest recently as Good Morning America put a couple of viewers on The Abs Diet for six weeks and unveiled the results. The woman, a mother of four no less,lost 19 pounds. The before and after photos were more than enough to convince me to get off my butt and take control of my own 'spare tire'. As if only to drive the point home, one of the other 'test cases,' a male photographer, dropped 21 pounds and announced that he plans to run the NYC marathon. After an enthusiastic week on the plan I am happy to say that I already look and feel better and am amazed at how fun it can be to eat six-times a day. I can't wait to get going on the exercise portion of the plan and see how it adds to the few pounds I have already watched burn away.
It says coffee is not permitted. I love coffee. I love the smell, the ritual of grinding and brewing...I love everthing about it. About 3 months ago, I found that right after drinking it I would feel sick to my stomach. So, I gradually cut that out and started dring soyfee soy coffee (...). I would put just a smidge of half and half it it. It was a wonderful caffeine-free substitute for coffee; I would only have maybe one cup in the morning. I felt it was more of a gentle way to wake up. I have not had any caffeine since. I never thought I would ever give up coffee much less caffeine but here I am ... FREE!
The most noticable difference I feel is sleeping better. I am surprised since at the time I gave up caffeine I was only drinking one cup of tea per day. But I am definately sleeping better. Perhaps it is a combination of being de-toxed from all the crap I was eating. All I can say, is that it is definately worth it.
This book is easy and the diet managable - I can only hope for half of the results I witnessed on GMA. Who knows - maybe I'll run a marathon (although not the NYC) myself.
46 Easy for people who don't know how to diet and exercise
I'm only starting my second week on the plan and its already made a big difference! In just 1 week I've already lost almost a full inch across my waist...and the most important thing is that I'm feeling better and feeling like I look better! The plan is so easy to follow, the book is humorous, the food is good, and the workout is perfect for someone who isn't sure how to get into a regular exercise and healthy eating program. After a week....I don't even need to refer to the book when I go to the supermarket...I already know what I should and should not buy, and what to look for on labels. I recommend it to anyone who is starting out and needs to be pointed in the right direction!
47 Easy to read, understand but not written for women
I saw this book promoted on the Today show, and decided to get it. The book is easy to read and understand, providing some important information about how the body metabolizes the fats and sugars we eat, and the things we really need to read in nutritional labels to follow the plan's guidelines. There are some helpful photos in the book of some ab exercises you can do at home or in the gym that did not seem too hard to follow. There were also testimonials in the book .... The largest downfall of the book is that it is written for men. The testimonials were from men who followed the diet and exercised a lot. Since men who diet lose more than women - especially in the belly areas, I am skeptical how this diet would work for women. The recipes are simple and the 7 day suggested meal plan was helpful to get a better picture of the plan, but again, the food intake (as far as calories) seemed to be geared toward men and not women. So, if you follow the meal plan and are a woman, you'll have to guess on the food portion in order to have some benefit. I am going to try this diet, but unlike the people who are int he testimonials, I won't be exercising every day. So, I am not sure how this will work. The basic principles of the book are great though - eating six smaller meals and eating the power food groups. So, maybe that will be enough to go by. But, you can also get this basic information on the diet on the men's health website and save some of the money on the book until in goes on sale ....
48 sensible and it WORKS
My fiance has been following the abs diet faithfully. He likes the food he eats for breakfast, lunch, and snacks; we both like the food we eat for dinner. The meatball sandwiches and the baked beans are both terrific. Most importantly, he just called to tell me he's lost 12 pounds and his blood pressure is down.
49 A solid foundation for lifestyle change.
Have you ever considered what would happen if all diet books worked? We would have a society of reasonably proportioned people, normal dimensions would be positively epidemic... in other words, the vast majority don't work.
Why so? Because they are based around gimmicks employed to make them marketable, so that they provide an 'answer' - "it's your carbs/calories/lack of soup/exercise patterns etc.!!!" These strategies are prescriptive, and rarely work for more than a few weeks. This book is rare amongst diet books because it is lifestyle based rather than prescriptive in this manner.
This diet has several included points that make it much better than other equivalent books. Most importantly, it recommends weightlifting for its metabolic and body composition benefits - tick. Also, it recommends you split up your meals througout the day to keep your blood sugar levels constant and your nitrogen balance positive.
These are two excellent, excellent recommendations (amongst others) that every athlete, trainer or bodybuilder worth a pound of protein has known for years, which NEVER appear in mainstream diet books. The author's knowledge of physiology is better employed than many other books which gloss over theory as if the common reader was retarded and provide directives instead of explanations.
However, this is not without its flaws. The "Abs" idea is this book's gimmick. Whether or not your abdominals show up is entirely dependant on your bodyfat level, and will hardly be improved by these very entry-level exercises. People with even a mild to moderate amount of training knowledge will find the exercises in this book absurdly simplistic.
There is no need to go into nitpicking about where my training ideas and methodology differ to the authors - this is designed to be an introductory book, and hopefully something that a newfound fitness enthusiast might graduate from, and procede to something more advanced. Any of the diet books by Dave Draper or Bill Pearl are excellent, old-school and cheap, and will provide you with the tools to REALLY change your body, not just drop a few lbs for summer.
So, 3 stars - As far as a diet book is concerned for an untrained invididual, this trumps others. However! all the information in this book is available for free on the internet and in greater detail from a qualified dietician or ISSA certified trainer.
50 Buy This BooK
First of all the people who say this is a diet book haven't read the book carefully. I'm a 50 year old geezer that has tried lots of ways to get rid of my a flabby stomach for years. Three weeks and eight pounds later I think I found the solution. It's not a diet book - it's a plan for healthy living without the flab.
51 Good honest information
I think I have read every diet book written and I doubted that this book had anything more to add to my knowledge. 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. Covered here are basics that can help anyone, even someone that is not seeking to loose weight. Your food intake is composed of a balance of foods that are all good for you. Only the traditional junk is left out. There is an emphasis on fiber and protein that will keep you filled up without overeating. Sorry no bacon! I have religiously charted my progress in terms of calories, and clearly on the days that I follow the diet, I always consume less calories than I utilize, which equals weight loss. (and I do this without any agony) On the days that I stray, I tend to overeat! Duh!! Exercise is focused on the mid area (abs) but includes aerobic as well. You abs show by reducing fat (everywhere including the abs area) and building muscle. Basically adding muscle increases caloric demand. As we age we loose muscle etc. Additionally, the book has a great series of illustrated exercises, that can be done in a gym or at home. Too many books expect you to have access to a gym or have $5K worth of equipment in your home. Not required here. A worthwhile read for sure!! Oh by the way, I have actually read this book cover to cover several times, unlike some of the reviews posted here. It works, what more can be said.
52 Sincere and Beneficial
I just finished the book and today is my first day on the six- week diet, Monday - late August.
The writer is extremely knowledgable about fitness, nutrition, exercise and innovation. While most of what he goes out to tell us is vastly informative, if you're well aquionted with working out and eating right, a lot of it is a rehash of everything you already know but are too lazy to apply. That was my problem with the book. He told me very little of anything new. But...
What he did teach me about was hugely valuable. Not being perfect, I didn't know everything about the values he was teaching and things like various ab exercises and how to prevent different diseases with fitness were new to me. Either way, I just took my before pictures with my fiance' and we're off and running with the diet as of today. Looking forward to the progresses and results.
All in all, there were a few things that worked for me and many that I already knew about like workouts, the good things about 6 meals a deal, fat, salt, sugar, etc. The encouraging words of those who had finished the diet and came out strong are excellent. If I end up losing 20 pounds or more, I will come back and give the book an extra two stars on general purpose.
OCT. 20TH 2004 and I lost 15 pounds but people i know say i look better and more toned. i might have lost more but i cut myself cooking and couldnt use my hand for the weight workout. give it a shot because i will continue on!
53 Solid Exercise and Nutritional Advice
As a broad-shouldered, large-twitch muscle male in his mid-30s who wrestles with abdominal junk, these types of books have an instant appeal for me. I didn't particularly think this was a diet book but more of a manifesto for how to go about cleaning up your act if high-fructose corn syrup and couch surfing make up too much of your daily time log. It talks about the importance of keeping your metabolic furnace primed with whole foods and resistance training - nothing revelatory but easy to follow and stick with over the long haul.
Most of the Men's Health publications are nutritionally solid and filled with good gym regimens - if you are looking for more of a diet, try their "Belly Off" book. The exercises in "The Abs Diet" are a bit rudimentary for anyone who hits the gym more than once a week but provide a nice framework for moving on to more complex exercise groups. I think the book skews towards the male reader (not surprising given the day job of the author) but both sexes will find the material useful.
54 Diet and Exercise
Let's keep this simple.
Don't buy another diet book.
This one has the basics you'll need to become and stay healthy.
1)Exercise for 15 minutes twice a day. (Find activities that will raise your heartrate by at least 10% for 900 seconds). A higher heartrate has a positive correlation with calorie burn, which inturn has a positive correlation with a healthy body.
2)Before you turn off your alarm down a 60 calorie or less item. (This jump starts your metabolism for the day).
2)Eat a balance portion of fats, carbs, and proteins seven to eight times a day.
3)Start chugging. As long as you are over 100 pounds drink 1/2 ounce of water for every pound that your fat body carries. If your weight is 120...drink 60 ounces of water a day. If your weights 400 pounds...drink 200 ounces of water a day.
55 I Have A Better Recommendation
I watched Good Morning America yesterday and saw the results of the ABS Diet. I rushed over to Borders in my area and read about half of the book.
First of all, this whole ABS Diet is nothing more than a marketing ploy. This is a weight loss book, simple.
The diet includes way too many calories. This author has you eating around the clock. If you are like me, and you are already eating too much, this book will only help you to gain weight, not lose. And the exercises look complicated. This author is with Men's Health and this looks like a man'b book to me.
Since I was at the store, I took a look at Jim Karas' book, Flip The Switch. He was on the segment yesterday for the ABS Diet.I saw his book listed on the ABC.com site. Karas is the guy who helped Diane Sawyer lose all of her weight. I decided to buy that book instead because it all made much more sense to me.Simple eating plans plus an easy to follow exercise program.
If you are ready to buy a weight loss book, buy Flip The Switch and pass on the ABS Diet.
56 Lacking.....
I think it is misleading and wrong to advise people without taking into consideration their individual circumstances. I also believe that folowing the basic guidelines will be helpful for many, but reading other reviewers losses of more than 2 pounds a week is a sign that the advice is vague and possibly contrary to the goal designated on the title. As a certified personal trainer I know that it is well documented that any losses in excess of 2 pounds a week is unhealthy.
I think that Bill Phillips' book "Body for Life" does an incredible job of detailing in easy to understand terms the basic theories one should follow in order to lose weight and gain muscle. I have enjoyed and done well on his advice for years. A better buy.
57 A healthier approach to weightloss!
I have long sought a weightloss plan which allowed you to take a sensible approach to eating, while incorporating all of the food groups. The Abs Diet is it. I began the diet a couple of weeks ago and have begun to see results in the loss of belly-fat. As a middle age woman whose genes have suggested a predisposition to a "thick middle," I have found that the diet alone has left me totally satisfied, while eating the foods that I like, in sensible nutritious amounts. I have lost my craving for sugary foods through the fruit that I eat everyday, and I have found that the small amount of pasta and bread that I eat has overcome the craving for carbs. South Beach and Atkins watch out! I expect that when I begin to work out again(I am recovering from shoulder surgery) I will experience major results, while living a healthier lifestyle! I am a vegetarian, so I must carefully monitor my protein intake. The inclusion of 3 snacks a day has allowed me to ingest a healthier level of nutrients.
While this book was written with men in mind, my only criticism is that it should have included a feminine side as well!
58 I thought we weren't supposed to count calories...
Let me start off by saying, I'm not condemning this book. I didn't buy it to educate myself on how to eat right and exercise - I already knew that from the half-dozen or so other books I have read on the subject. I was curious to see Mr. Zinczenko's take on the 12 power foods and exercise regimen. In short, my conclusion is that the rate of weight you are expected to drop following the plan to the letter is unhealthy.
By that I mean that his book specifies the 6 meals you are to eat a day and the simple exercises that go with it. Even though the book tells you time and time again not to count calories - for curiosity's sake I did anyway for the first week just to see what Zinczenko's power foods and portions came to. My conclusion is that I averaged 1600 calories a day. Couple that meager amount with my exercise routine and I have a net effect of about 1000-1100 calories for my body not burned off by exercise.
Based on my 6' 2" frame and basal metabolic rate, I'm likely to have a calorie deficit of about 1500 calories a day. Simple math tells me I would lose a minimum of about a pound every two days. In fact I lost 4 ? lbs the first week. Sounds good doesn't it? Well the problem is most nutritionists (and I have talked to several) will tell you not to lose more than 2 pounds per week on any plan. You risk cannibalizing your own muscle for energy and therefore set yourself up to gain it all back in the future. In other words the average man should probably take the slow and steady approach and feed themselves about 2000-2200 calories a day of healthy food.
I guess my point is, that while the science is good and Zinczenko's motivation seems rational - when you really look at what he has you eat and how much, it is a starvation plan whether he admits it or not. Breaking it up into six meals is helpful, but at the end of the day I find myself craving more food. The portions suggested in the book are not realistic for long-term maintenance.
59 silly, silly, silly!
Abs diet?
come on. Does fat know where to go?
Oh, Mr. Oreo, please don't go to my abs, go to my calf?
If you think fat has intelligence and won't go to your abs, then you need a shrink, not a diet book.
60 anything to prepare me for my wedding day!
My wedding is in three months- I am getting kind of zany. I've bought some helpful things on Amazon for my BIG DAY!
It's the "Abs Diet" for the Bikini on my Honeymoon. (Has been great, except for the cake tasting last weekend!)
A singing Lessons CD- "Voice Lessons To Go" by Vaccarino so I can surprise my husband with our favorite song at the reception (and not embarrass myself).
Pilsner french tapes- for any attempt to converse with the taxi drivers.
The "New Sex Now" DVD, because I want to start things off with attention to all details (if you know what I mean!)
And God knows what else I may buy today!
61 Invaluable information, truly effective.
First off: I'm in my fourth week of the plan and I've lost over 15 pounds, more than one size down in my waist, feeling great, and not even thinking I'm on a "diet".
Second: If you bought this book and you're already a fit person like some of the reviewers, you need to pay better attention. This isn't "an abs workout book", it's a diet.
Bottom line: Intelligently presented, logical explanation of how (and why) you can change your lifestyle to make drastic and effective changes for life. Just by my undertaking this program, my better half has lost 8 pounds as well (and the extent of her participation is that we eat the same meals pretty regularly).
I'd never tried a diet before this one because, frankly, they never made any sense to me. After reading about the plan on the web site, I had to read the book. Once you read it, you'll believe. It's fact, not fads.
62 Balanced, Helpful Information - But Not For Abs
Ninety percent of this book is about adopting and maintaining a diet and exercise plan that will reduce body fat percentage, increase LBM, and lead to a more healthy body. The information in the "Abs Diet" can be beneficial to beginners to nutrition, weight training, and cardio, but for those with the basics down, it likely contain information already known. Here is a reiteration for the umpteenth time of the following: The Glycemic Index (GI). Avoid the starvation mode by eating small, balanced, and nutritious meals throughout the day to keep the metabolism up and running by eating approximately every 3 to 3.5 hours. Keep your body adequately hydrated. Avoid sugars, fructose and corn syrups. Really? The basic theme of feed the muscle burn the fat, that has been regurgitated for years now.
The only portion of this book that focuses on defining the abdominals and obliques is the last chapter. So why the title?
This book is put forth by two authors with backgrounds in health and nutrition. David Zinczenko is editor and chief of "Men's Health" magazine, which gives advice to the perrenially out-of-shape and uneducated, according to its own statistics on it market base readership. The title "Abs Diet: The Six Week Plan to flatten your stomach," is another attempt to ride the recent health wave of out-of-shape Americans who are spending billions to obtain any information they can get their hands on regarding anything that is 1. "healthy" and 2. will make them look better.
For someone to shed the fat that covers their abdominals they need to very knowledgeable about their diet to a "T" This takes lots of time, trial and error, and consideration, while simultaneously living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a properly executed exercise regimen. All these things mentioned, can NOT be done in a mere 6 weeks. The title alone insinuates and perpetuates the myth of "spot reduction" when it comes to reducing body fat percentage.
Those who seek instant gratification with little effort or long-term foresight will be the buyers of this book. Check out Tom Venuto.
63 It's a Diet Book!
I am slightly overweight, 5.8 and 180lbs. I have been working out six days a week to get my body into better shape (not that I am not-actually I am fairly muscular). I have been working on my abs so I went to BN and looked throught this book and read significant parts. So it is a diet book with an emphasis on the abs. Overall, it is a good sensible book but it is still a diet book and diets scare people, at least it scares me. I did learn something that will alter my workout. I was doing more cardiovascular exercises than weight training but I now I am going to devote half the time for eachl. Why? muscles help you loose weight even after you are done working out. If you want a diet book read this one.
64 EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, EASY EXERCISES AND DESCRIPTIONS
I'm in pretty good shape, but I'm tired of doing the same exercises. I really liked the chapters on ab exercises-cool ideas for different ways to get a six pack.
65 I'M ON THE ROAD TO A NEW ME!
When I saw the title of this book, THE ABS DIET, I thought it was just for muscleheads. But it's not! The author, the editor in chief of Men's Health, has a way of explaining why abs are important for everyone and what a good lean waistline means for your overall health. I'm not sure I need to walk around like some guy on the cover of a magazine, but I'm going to do this diet to lose the 15 pounds that I've been swearing to lose for the past 5 years!
Get this book. It's like none that I've ever seen.
66 Great for Beginners....BUT
This book is a great read for people new to eating right and weight training. It is very easy to follow and to understand.
The no measurements, no calorie counting is a strong point of the book as is the basic workout for a weightlifting novice. Having said this, anyone who is familiar with weight training and clean eating(i.e. Eat 6 times a day, plenty of protein,low glycemic carbs, etc.)will not really find anything new. Your better off just buying the issue of Men's health that covers your 12 Power foods and saving yourself the money
67 Already lost 5 lbs!
I bought this book the moment it came out, and already I've dropped five pounds. Yet...I feel totally energized. Amazingly good writing for a fitness book, and truly genius science behind the easy-to-follow advice.
68 Abs Diet by Zinczenko
Do you want rock-hard abs? This book will help you to devise
strategies to attain them. Strong abs add support to the back. Musculature in the abdominal area acts as a shock absorber for musculoskeletal stresses inherent in a variety of multi-directional body motions. The authors recommend that you take a good multi-vitamin with
chromium, B6 and B12. Tea-drinking provides all-important
anti-oxidants to combat diseases of all kinds. Peanut butter
is known to have a benefit in promoting testosterone. Omega-3
fish oil is found in tuna and a variety of fish products.
Almonds, beans, frsh turkey, fat-free dairy, eggs and olive oil are an important mainstay for the abs diet. Bananas are a rich
source of potassium (K). This book will help you to focus on
an overall strategy for developing and maintaining abs. A beauty of this work is that it covers the many dimensions inherent in transforming flab into a permanent musculature. The work is an
excellent value for the price charged.
69 It worked for me. Really.
Okay folks, here's the skinny (pun intended). I was one of the guys profiled in the book. It really did work wonders.
I dropped quite a bit of weight and felt great-- for the first time in years. I dropped about 3 pounds a week, with a little plateau in the middle. The cool thing was, when I started, I had an arm and knee injury that kept me from working out, but I still dropped the weight (it really seemed like it melted off at times). Then when you kick in the workouts they talk about, everything gets even better.
The food is great (well, it's what you eat now anyway). It's really more about a paradigm shift in your habits. Eating more, not less, is what this thing is about. Now, can you plop down in front of the tv and stuff your face with a bag of chips? Heck no. If you want a diet that lets you do that, go find that alternate universe where that sort of food doesn't cause a heart attack, kick back, stuff your face.
Look, I've done Atkins and I've done everything else. I felt like s*** on every one of those diets, even if I did drop a pound or two. This one was different. I actually *felt* better. I didn't feel greasy inside, like with Atkins. Just mentally and physically, this one is the best for me.
Having tried a ton of other programs/systems, I can honestly say this one is good. Is it for advanced guys? Maybe not, heck, you guys don't need a book on how to get in shape anyway. Go do your 10,000 crunches and work (and admire) your pecs. But for the rest of us fat hacks, this book is very helpful. Loads of new ways of looking at what food is good for MEN (some new ideas in here that go against a lot of what we've been taught). Also, written in a very casual, fun format.
I've fallen off the wagon a couple of times, but gotten back on and picked up right where I left off. I'm not perfect and I know it's not gonna happen overnight. I've been eating horribly for 25 years. That's quite a habit to break. But guys, it's not about guilt, it's about being around to see your kids grow up. This book makes it easy to get back on and get your life back, even if you falter a few times. The way I was going before doing this program, that was in real jeapardy. Get the book and good luck.
By the way, I'm staying anonymous on this, just don't want to deal with a bunch of emails.
70 This book rocks!
I saw this at the bookstore and when I say that The Rock endorsed it, I bought it. After taking a spin through it, I can see why-it's a diet book that talks about how to eat right and exercise right, as opposed to all the other books that either do one or the other. Pretty funny to read, too. If you want to lose weight, buu this book.
71 This book is a winner
It's a cool way to think about eating. You don't have to worry about thinking too much, but you're not limited in the kinds of food you can eat. They've got this acronym system set up-ABS DIET POWER-so all the good foods are easy to remember to incorporate into every meal. All the food's good and I've already tried a couple of recipes. The ones I've tried are so good that they taste like they're bad for you! I'm hooked.
72 this book really works
I was one of many that was featured in this book with a success story. I tried it for 6 weeks and it really does work. You never starve, your not as limited to what you can eat like "atkins or south beach". the food is good, the recipes are easy. i can't say enough about this. i lost weight and body fat. i still stick with the plan and i have maintained the way i look, feel and weight. Again, this is the way to go.
73 not for advanced guys
Don't buy this book if you are an intermediate to advanced fitness enthusiast. I just made the mistake. The information is really basic and Im steamed at wasting money on such a terrible book, believe me when I say this is a waste of money:) Instead I would recommend Arnold's Encyclopedia or I think there was also a good one by Joe Weider-both of which say...there are a lot of dumb situp movements that do nothing...but these will give you the best results....thats what I was looking for...
74 Finally a Real Way to Fight Fat!
I'm blown away by both the bright writing and the science in this new book. This book, from the Editor in Chief of Men's Health magazine, leads the way in showing the way to fast and permanent weight loss.
Dr. David Katz, a public-health expert from Yale, and Dr. David Pearson, the head of the Human Performance Lab at Ball State University and one of the world's leading fitness experts, come out in strong support of this book. So does The Rock and the head nutritionist for the New York Giants. It's easy to see why. The authors have covered EVERY angle. Whether you're looking for the best fitness, nutrition or health information, this book delivers big time!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Abs Diet sets a new standard, and puts all other diet and fitness books to shame. I'm recommending it to everyone I know.
75 lousy book--but it does have its uses
My husband just bought a copy of this "book." Thought it was a complete waste of time. I will give it one star, however, because it helped to take the wobble out of our dining room table.
76 Lame, lame, lame
I picked up the Abs Diet and the L.A. Shape Diet while shopping recently. Was very unimpressed by the Abs book. Very boring information, nothing surprising at all. Buy the L.A. Shape Diet instead. It's by an obesity researcher at UCLA and presents a much better way to get in shape.
77 The Abs Diet
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!
This is the most entertaining, informative and doable diet and exercise plan I've ever read. AMAZING! Finally, a book that's based on solid science, not gimmicks. Forget Atkins, the Zone, Weight Watchers and the rest. This is the only book you'll need if you're want to look and feel great. I'm only a few days into the plan and already I'm noticing a huge difference!!
All of the recipes, exercise descriptions and health lessons (the books tells you how to fight diabetes, high-blood pressure, cancer and more) give you everything you need to stay in your best shape for life!
It's The Perfect Book!!
78 Finally, something that makes sense
At long last.....a book that doesn't make me wish I had majored in chemistry to get through it. Unvbelievably refreshing to come across a book that has REAL people in mind, people that have jobs and responsibilities yet are looking to get a grip on their health and waistline. I thoroughly enjoyed the easy to follow principles, which believe it or not make sense, and the entertaining and down to earth language in which the book is written. Not to mention the easy to follow workout with both comercial and home gym options...another sign that the author has REAL people in mind. The Abs Diet is written in such a way that makes you feel the author is speaking with you and not AT you, Mr. Zinczenko's writing style flows like a conversation with an old college buddy making it an enjoyable read on top of being informative. The principles are to the point...make perfect sense...and are not nearly as intimidating as most "diet books." Also, unlike most diet books, it instills you with an overwhelming sense of confidence and a desire to achieve as opposed to dispair. Not only have I decreased my waist size, increased muscle and started to see my own "six-pack," I feel like I have more energy to get through my day without a need for the ineveitable afternoon "pick me up" i.e. coffee/sugar break. I've passed along the book to friends and family so they too can see just how easy it is ...just in time for the beach no less.
79 Fab Abs!
I've only been on this diet for a few days, but I love it!! It's one of the few diets out there where they actually let you EAT!!! There's no calorie-counting or anything like that, so it's pretty simple to follow. Even after a short time, I can feel a difference and I can tell it's going to work, because it'll be easy to stick to. It's a really good, solid plan -- and hey, the book is pretty darn funny, too!!!
80 Awesome for women too!!
This book is fabulous! For the past two years I have been trying every diet out there to get rid of the weight I gained while I was pregnant. Zinczenko's book is so easy to comprehend and the exercises are fun and quick. The recipes are really great and my kids think they are yummy too! I have only been on the program for a couple of days now and already I see and feel a difference. I know in a few weeks, I'm going to be showing off my abs in a bikini for the 1st time since college. Every woman out there should read this book!
81 Abs - olutely Fabulous
It's clear why The Rock and the head of Yale University endorse this book! It's the best one I've ever read. It's clear, humorous, and refreshingly sensible in approach, and finally offers up a plan that's easy to follow and one that you could stick to for life! You'll learn about nutrition, about fitness, about boosting your looks, your health, your athletic performance and your sex appeal. What more could anyone ask for?
82 Amazing Plan for Both Men and Women!
Throw out every diet book you own! Ignore all the other exercise prescriptions out there! The Abs Diet makes them completely obsolete!
This revolutionary and scientifically based plan sets a brand new standard in weight loss and fitness! It's both entertaining and informative (just like in Men's Health magazine!), offering up all the tools you need for fast and permanent weight loss--without gimmicks. If you want to start looking, feeling and living great, and without feeling like you're sacrificing constantly, the Abs Diet is the book for you.
Really, it's the best investment you could make in your health.
83 The best diet and exercise book to date!
This book reaches a new pinnacle of success as the best illustration of diet and exercise to date. Zinczenko's writing style is both smart,charismatic, and imaginative, forcing the reader to want more and more and become extremely motivated.
Backed by sound medical research and scientific proof, this book explains in detail, nutritional information and strength training techniques that will literally transform one into a lean mean fighting machine. In addition to sample meal plans and workouts and the nutrition analysis of thousands of foods, the book provides a stimulating and refreshing change to the boring, tedious, unhealthy practices of Atkins and other similar bunk diets. Look no further-Buy this book now!
