At-A-Glance Guide
Number of Meals: SIX a day, spaced relatively evenly throughout the day. Eat snacks 2 hours before larger meals.
Base most of your meals on these 12 groups of foods. Every meal should have at least two foods from the list.
Almonds and other nuts
Beans and legumes
Spinach and other green vegetables
Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)
Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)
Eggs
Turkey and other lean meats
Peanut butter (natural, no sugar added)
Olive oil
Whole-grain breads and cereals
Extra-protien (whey) powder
Raspberries and other berries
Secret Weapons - each of the abs diet "power 12" (listed above) has been chosen in part for its stealthy, healthy secret weapons - the nutrients that will help power up your nautral fat burners, proect you from illness and injury, and keep you lean and fit for life.
Nutritional ingredients to EMPHASIZE - Protien, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, fiver, calcium
Nutritional ingredients to LIMIT - Refined carbohydrates (or carbs with high glycemic index), saturated fats, trans fats, HFCS (high-fructose corn syrup --- BAD)
Alcohol - Limit yourself to two or three drinks per week, to maximise the benefits of the abs diet plan (the book went on to mention that if you ARE gonna drink, like, more than 2 times a week, try mixing it with fruit juice....vodka/orange juice, vodka/cranberry juice, rum/pineapple juice, etc...)
Ultimate power food - Smoothies (i already provided one of the many recipes in here). The combination of the calcium and protien in milk, yogurt, and whey powder, combined with the fiber in oatmeal and fruit, makes them one of the more filling and easy options in the diet. Drink them Regularly.
Cheating - one meal a week, eat anything you want.
Excercise program - (the book mentions its optional for the first 2 weeks of the 'diet' - i started right away) Incorporate a 20-minute, full-body workout 3 days a week. Emphasis is on strength training, brisk walking, and some abdominal work.
At-home workout - Gym workouts and at-home workouts are both detaled to excuse-proof your fitness plan.
Abdominal workout - At the beginning of TWO of your strenght-training workouts. One excercise for each of the five different parts of your abs.
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more to come later