Flat Belly Diet! Mass Market Paperback – April 24, 2012

I really liked this book and diet. I am 37, exercise 5 times a week (an hour each time) and still couldn't loose my muffin top... so I decided to try this diet. I have now been on it 3 weeks and have lost 6 lbs and and inch off my waist. True, this diet does adhere to the things you should be sticking to anyway... portion control, more vegetables and whole grains. But I think where it is really successful is educating you on all the sodium in foods; especially processed. This is a "low sodium" diet and I can tell you from experience the anti bloating really has made a difference for me. You could also describe it as more of a "natural diet".. or maybe "Mediterannean" diet is a better word.. getting rid of all that processed crap available in stores that say it's lo-cal/low fat but full of other stuff you shouldn't really be eating anyway (like sodium).They do recommend some brands of things that are hard to find, but it tells you in the book how to substitute as long as it has similar ingredients and calories. The diet can be a little pricey to start with... lots of nuts and so forth.. but they last a long time so your not buying them every week. I purchased mine at BJ's and Trader Joes where they are cheaper. I'm sure if you stopped buying all the other stuff (chips, dips,sauces, etc) the cost would probably even out.I find this diet is really successful for me because it's not very restrictive, so I know I can stick to it and really simple to follow.If you are considering buying this book, I found the pocket book a bit more helpful with the food menu's, recipes and shopping. The cookbook is also good. So maybe just get this one from the library and actually buy the pocket guide.It worked for me anyway... hope you found this helpful.PS. I have tried South Beach and it was really successful for me too.. but I couldn't stick to it in the long run.. too restrictive. I have also tried WWatchers and found that successful also, but I find this one more of a healthy, natural diet.PSS. Anyone who is trying this diet.. be sure to try a good balsamic vinegar, salsa verde, and salt free Mrs. Dash... All add tons of flavor with little to no calories! (Trader Joe's Avocado salsa verde is great in the fridge section)Good luck!

I really like this diet. I've done all the fad diets over the years. This, by far, has been the most healthy and filling. Once I've reached my target weight, this will definitely be a life style. So far, in 6 weeks, I've lost 11 pounds.The first 4 days of the diet (the jumpstart, 1,200 calories a day) are difficult, but doable. After that, the book recommends 1,600 calories a day: Three 400-calorie meals and one 400-calorie snack.I appreciate that the 'recipes' are easy to follow and easy to make. I also like that calorie counts are listed for each ingredient and that each meal is planned for 1 person. Once I had my pantry and refrigerator stocked, the rest was easy. I really like the food they recommend.To accelerate weight loss, I average about 1,300 calories a day. I consume three 400-calorie meals, and leave the snack optional. I also divide up my meals. I'll have 1/2 breakfast at 8:00 am and the other 1/2 at 10:30 am. I then eat 1/2 lunch at 12:30 pm, and the other 1/2 at 3:30 pm. It helps keep me satisfied. At 6:00 pm, I have the full dinner. If I'm still hungry, I'll have 1/2 the snack at 8:00 pm (sometimes the full snack).I have all 3 of the Flat Belly Books, (Diet, Cookbook, and Pocket Guide). If you were to buy just one book, I'd recommend the Pocket Guide. It is easy to follow and the meal plans are very tasty.

If PhDs were handed out purely on how many books and magazine articles and web sites and newsletters you read on a particular subject, I would have a few PhDs in the field of nutrition. Which is a fancy way of saying I've read a large portion of the diet, weight loss, nutrition and exercise books that have come out over the past decade or more and have done significant research on their assertions. And while there is some controversy around this next statement, I believe the majority of the research suggests that while the reality of "calories-in versus calories-out" plays a critical role in weight loss and maintenance (and for those who need it, weight gain), our bodies are more complex than just numbers, and other factors come to play, such as the types of foods that are supplying your units of energy and the timing of your meals. Enter the Flat Belly Diet. This book outlines a diet based on reasonable calorie restriction (basically a 1200-1600-calorie diet for women and a 1600-2000-calorie for men), that focuses on incorporating healthy whole foods into your daily menu, such as whole grains and lean protein, and the beloved "MUFAs" - monounsaturated fatty acids (think healthy plant-based fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts and seeds, and even dark chocolate!). The diet includes a 4-day quick start program ("anti-bloat menu") as well as a 28-day menu plan that generally provides for four, 400 calorie meals each day, to be eaten every 3-4 hours. Also included in the book are a number of recipes that are very tasty and not too difficult or time-consuming, along with a slew of very useful fast, quick-cook or no-cook meal ideas and tips for eating out. And while the success of this diet plan is not dependent upon whether or not you exercise, there is also a nice section that outlines a very doable exercise plan if you choose to up your game and burn fat and calories faster (which I'd highly recommend for your health in general). Overall, I think this is one of the better diet books out there, giving you a scientific-based plan for losing weight in a healthy way and providing helpful tips to make it fit into your life, regardless of how hectic it might be. 4+ stars for a worthy addition to your library. And if you enjoy this book, consider investing in the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook, the Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook, the Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide, the 400 Calorie Fix, and the 400 Calorie Fix Cookbook. All of these books are written by the same author - formerly the editor of Prevention magazine and currently the editor of Reader's Digest - and they all contain great recipes (including many "quick cook") and meal suggestions for 400-calorie meals.