I was doing research for another site and was looking at what the top Google searches were, and found “Flat Belly Diet” to be #1 AND #4 of the top 10 searches today….the day the Olympics open! I was surprised, to say the least, but I confess I was just as curious as everyone else….what IS the Flat Belly Diet?
The Flat Belly Diet is a book co-written by the editor-in-chief and nutrition editor of Prevention Magazine, which may give it some credibility at least. It’s a diet that promises a weight loss of up to 15 pounds in 32 days by eating certain foods only….no crunches required.
Based on a Mediterranean-style diet that emphasizes wholesome, unrefined foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, seeds, whole grains, lean protein, and red meat only once a month, you are allowed 1600 calories per day, broken up into 4 meals of 400 calories each, exercise optional.
So what is the secret ingredient? MUFA. MUFAs are monounsaturated fats, and are found in olives, avocados, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, soybean, flax, and olive and sunflower oils and are a required part of every meal on the Flat Belly Diet. MUFAs apparently help you feel more full at meals along with delivering many health benefits.
A two day preparation for this 28 day program includes drinking 2 liters of what they call, ‘sassy water’, that has a blend of spices, herbs, citrus, and cucumber mixed into it that gives a ‘jump start’ and helps reduce bloating-which naturally will flatten your tummy. With a list of 28 interchangeable mix-and-match breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snack packs that make it even easier. There’s a few more details in the book, but thats pretty much the Mufa on it.
So now you know. The Flat Belly Diet demystified. Did you say you want to know how much it costs? A whopping $40 ($31.95 + $7.95 S & H) for the book, PLUS…there’s the online maintenence plan for $15/month. No food included.
If you want to know more about the Flat Belly Diet, you can do your own google search of course, but a good summary you can read (for free) is at WebMD.
Also, here are two critiques of this diet, claiming it is just one more gimmick to slim our wallets in our never ending quest to slim our bodies:
Medicine Net’s, “Flat Belly Diet! Does It Fall Flat on It’s Promises?”
HealthTalk’s, “The Flat Belly Diet is a Scam!”
Basically, it just looks like Prevention Magazine is excelling once again in the marketing department! Any diet with the guidelines the Flat Belly Diet offers will put you on the road to weight loss. This one just looks like another one to throw into the landfill of diet programs, and continue with what has worked for you before….and spend the money on a new dress, instead!
However, it does allow for chocolate (dark only, of course!) four times a day….maybe THAT’S why it’s so popular!
A really good website with loads of free diet information, including a mix and match meal plan that you can print out as a daily menu and a shopping list, along with a good selection of online video workouts…..all for free (you do have to part with your email address) is at Real Age.com.
(just add a piece of chocolate at each meal…..) or not.
Be blessed!
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