Ever heard of the Abs Diet?

C

catwoman

Cathlete
I just bought this new book this weekend: The Abs Diet, Eat Right Every Time Guide.

I'm learning some interesting things about why the body stores fat around the middle, how harmful that is to longterm health, and how to get rid of it.

Did you know that for each pound of muscle you build, you'll burn an extra 50 calories a day - just sitting still? If you were to build just 10 pounds of new muscle, you'd burn off enough extra calories to drop 50 pounds of fat in 1 year - again, simply by sitting still.

So, I guess that all this strength training with Cathe is a very good thing for fat loss.

However, there's a major enemy in the battle against belly fat: High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). If you see a food that has 8 or more grams of sugar, and HFCS is listed as a prominent ingredient (usually one of the first two on the ingredient list), it's a sign you should avoid this food. Stuff like frozen yogurt, soda pop, ketchup, pancake syrup, pasta sauce, commercial candy, fruit-flavored yogurt, sweetened cereals, etc.) There's a whole page of information in the book about the chemical reactions in the body that result from HFCS vs. sugar or "healthier" carbohydrates. This information explains how HFCS adds pounds of fat to the body, especially the mid-section.

If you're interested in seeing more, they've listed a website:

www.absdiet.com
 
Thanks so much for sharing! Does it mention the insulin spike when you consume HFCS? The insulin spike blocks fat burning enzymes from being released into the body so the HFCS is stored as fat.

Do you have the Oxygen Ab issue? It is not the monthly issue but a "special edition". I think you would really enjoy it. It is $3.99, I found mine at Borders.
 
I just started reading the book, so I haven't gotten too far into it...nothing about an insulin spike, yet. My problem is that I'm lactose intolerant and allergic to eggs and peanuts, so that makes 4 of the foods on the Abs Diet "Power 12" a little challenging if not impossible for me to eat. I drink Lactaid, but still have a few problems with it, and can't find the 1% Lactaid (the one I had the least amount of problems with) around where I live, anymore. This will create a challenge in making my food choices on this particular eating plan (I don't like calling it a diet, because it's not restrictive or "faddish" like Atkins).
 
Yep - he talks about the absolute evils of HFCS and trans fats. I love this book and think he's got some great points.
 
Catwoman, I HATE the word "diet" too! I use the term "eating plan":) . I hear "diet" and can't help but think "fad, temporary, seaweed, nothing but grapefruit"...that sort of thing. What I am doing isn't a "diet"...it's "for life"!;-)
 
My ex hubby calls it a "food intake modification program." But diet is so much easier. Besides, "diet" by definition is what you eat, it's not necessarily a weight loss plan.
 
I'm so confused! I've scanned through this Abs Diet book, and it lists whole grain breads and dairy among its "good foods." Body for Life sounds similar. But then I've read David Kirsch's Ultimate New York Body Plan, and it recommends cutting out all that except lean protein and veggies. So how do you get cut and just lose those last few pounds? Are the plans that allow whole grain bread and dairy for people who need to lose A LOT of weight? (And those Body for Life success story pictures are exeptions?) Do you seriously have to live on lean protein and veggies to get cut?
 
I don't have the Abs Diet, but I have the Ultimate NY Plan and it seems to me that Kirsch's book is a "quick fix." He recommends staying on it for only 2 weeks. I believe that he would agree with the whole grains and dairy except for those two week periods that he outlines in the NY Body Plan. Kirsch's Sound Mind and Body is a little more inclusive of grains and dairy.

Hope this helps a little!
Sarah
 
I tried Body for Life a few years ago, and this seems very similar, except that there's no Myoplex on the Abs diet plan. That's good news for me, because I'm not an aspartame fan (and Myoplex was sweetened with aspartame). I had good success on the Body for Life program, but had to stop because 1) I found out about the aspartame in Myoplex, and 2) The exercise program just wasn't working with my schedule. The Abs diet plan (at least so far) sounds just a bit more flexible regarding both the diet and the exercise. It sounds like a plan that I might have better success staying on.
 
I think it all depends on your body. I love the abs diet and I make an awesome protein drink from his concepts. But I was using skim milk and nonfat yogurt in it - and as you said David Kirsch says that most people are lactose intolerant TO A DEGREE and dairy, as well as wheat (even whole wheat bread) will cause bloating.

I did David Kirsch's 2-week plan and cut out all of the dairy and wheat. Result? It made a huge difference! I broke my plateau and really got my weight loss moving again. But he says to add one forbidden category back into your diet the first week and 2 the second. But he says to NOTICE HOW YOUR BODY REACTS!! Sure enough for me - my belly started puffing out a bit when I added that dairy back in.

So now I think that for me, if I really want to drop those last few pounds and maintain a lean body, I may have to follow more closely what Kirsch recommends. I think I may be one of those people who has to eat very clean - no sugar, no alcohol, no coffee (weep, sob, weep), healthy carbs and lean protein.

But come on you guys - this is still life! Food just sometimes tastes really good and social occasions abound, etc. So doesn't it all come down to educating yourself, knowing your own body and how it reacts, and balancing it all in a way that keeps you healthy and happy?
 
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