The Flat Belly Diet
The latest diet frenzy has hit: The Flat Belly Diet - featured recently on Good Morning America.
The diet is written by Prevention magazine's Editor in Chief Liz Vaccariello (along with Nutrition Editor Cynthia Sass).
What's it about?
The central premise of the diet is that of Monounsaturated Fatty Acids - MUFA for short. The Flat Belly Diet calls for a MUFA food at every meal.
According to exciting new research, MUFAs can actually help you lose weight, specifically around your middle.
What foods contain MUFAs? Olive oil, sunflower oil, flax oil, avocado, nuts and seeds.
The diet also talks about eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and limiting meat intake. In fact it sounds very similar to a traditional Mediterranean diet. The suggested meal plans are set at 1600 Calories per day.
The program recommends "optional" exercise such as; 25 minutes brisk walking, or a strength training workout including Lunges, Squats, and Pushup Rows.
Sadly, there are many things about this diet that seem a little (or a lot) over-exuberant. All the material points to a direct loss of abdominal fat from the diet -- this is a very bold claim and there is no apparent evidence to back it up. When body fat is lost it tends to disappear from all over the body. There are also claims like:
- Lose up to to 15lbs in 32 days
- Trim up to 12 inches of fat
- Tighten, tone and flatten your tummy
- Look and feel sexier
These are the buzzwords that draw in the crowd. The book costs $31.95 and the online program appears to cost around $15 per month (although there is a 3 month 'free' trial available).
The Flat Belly Diet espouses a healthy diet - but it is hardly "Breakthrough Science". Eating a certain kind of fat is no miracle weight loss cure. However - in all fairness - there is some research (such as this and this study in the British Journal of Nutrition) that demonstrate how replacing saturated fats in the diet with MUFA's can result in favorable outcomes.

Still deciding if to purchase yet another diet book. BUT for a FLATTER BELLY, I can highly recommend T-Tapp's "Half Frog Sequence" (better body basics).
http://www.t-tapp.com/home/
Real results, not hard, not time consuming, easy on back and knees.
Replywhat is in the sassy water i'm not going to spend 30 bucks to find out someone tell me the secret!!
Replydenali, take a look through the earlier posts of this topic for the Sassy Water recipe. It's been posted 2 or 3 times.
ReplyLemon slices, cucumber and ginger. It takes awful. I couldn't keep it down.
ReplyEat oatmeal to cut colesterol and celery. My son-in-law just lowered his by doing this. Also, look into the zone diet-its all about portion control but no food is off limits. My daughter went from a size 12 to a 4 on the zone.
ReplyI started the 4 day jumpstart on Saturday. I made the mistake of not taking my measurments. But I've lost 3 lbs!! The food is so gross, without seasoning. I'm going to start the 30 days on Wednesday...I have a positive outlook the meals and recipes in the book look so good and filling. My mom is on this and she says that she's never hungry between meals. I mean you can do this for 30 days..but keys is to make it a WAY OF LIFE. People who fail at this, are usually the people the "modify", "wing it" and "do their own thing", then they say that this is a fad and it doesn't work. Stick to it to get to a better YOU!!
ReplyThanks Erica, good luck to you! I ordered the book and am waiting for it. I got the sassy water recipe of the internet. I really like it, it is quite refreshing. I think I could do without a whole cucumber because of the smell but I do like the taste.
ReplyHi, I ordered the book but I haven't recieved it yet and I am consurned and have a few questions.
First is that I am a vegetarian and What should I do about the meats in the meals???
Second is that I do no take in 1600 calories a day and that seems like a lot to me and I am consurned if i increase my calorie intake to that much that I am goin to gain wieght.
I am about 5'2 and considered obese at 175 lbs. I wear a size 11 and would be happy to drop about 20 to 30 lbs and wear a size 7 or 9( dont think i could wear any smaller due to large muscular thighs and calves that never get smaller and wide hips) I am VERY interested in doing this diet and my husband will probably join me on it when he returns in town from work. I can't wait to try it and see the result.
Do you guys have any advice or tips you can share with me to make this a great expierence?
Thanks so, Ashley
Replyusually if you consume fewer than 1600 cal per day and you are overweight, you aren't eating the right times during the day to increase metabolism. That is stressed in this book. So I would follow it exactly for the first week, then if you see no changes, knock off more cal. from each meal. But, stick with the 4 meals per day, or you will NOT see any results.
ReplyHmmmm. The calorie count of each ingredient (after the 4 day jumpstart) is listed. You can look up the number of calories that are allotted to the meat in a meal and maybe substitute as much tofu or other vegetable protein to get that many calories. Would that work??
ReplyThis is day 2 for me on the Flat Belly. Going well so far. I find the smoothies a little hard to do when you work. I know some people have complained about the food being bland. But if you add the spices that are listed, the food is not bland. No problem dropping the coffee in the a.m. as it was decaf. Find a little struggle in the afternoon when I would normally have a diet cola soda. Just drink the Sassy water though.
ReplyIn the United States, producers of olive oil may place the following health claim on product labels:
Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about two tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day.
In the US, olive oil is not consumed in every household and thats too bad.
ReplyI would like to know more about the "sassy water" also!
ReplyI have tried to lose the belly fat with products that dont work. The Cortisols...I bought an Ab Lounge, and did it for an hour at a time... I have tried reducing my food intake, etc... no luck.
What is interesting to me, is that in all my searching, I stumbled across "the Daniel Fast"; this Flat Belly Diet seems to be a copy of that 21 day program.
It comes from the Bible, and is just healthy eating. No meat,nothing manipulated by man,nothing fermented, no sweets,no caffeine.
I will begin the fast this week, and will let you all know the results in a couple of weeks. I wont be buying ANY book!
I just started day 2 of the jump start, and I had to go back and re-read the section about the jump start a couple of times, but it doesn't say you can't have caffeine, it just says no coffee, tea, or carbonated beverages that are highly acidic. I was worried for a minute because I am trying to follow it as close to the letter as I can and since I'm a total caffeine junkie I took a few no-doze to get me through it. Yesterday I took one in the morning, one after lunch, and one after dinner when I felt the headaches coming on. I was surprised that 3 of them totally kept the headaches away since I normally drink 8-10 Diet Cokes in a day (yes, I know that's not good), but today I just took the one mid-morning and the headache hasn't started again. I think this might help me wean myself off of my caffeine habit as well!
ReplyMy mum is starting this diet, and I think it's a great start for her. I was skeptical, but I glanced through the rules and reasoning and found the information sensible. I am still a bit skeptical of the 4-day jump start due to the products being consumed, like corn flakes and Rice Krispies. Neither product has any nutritional worth. It's like those ridiculous Special K commercials where the women have lost a bunch of weight because of the cereal. That Special K plan consists of replacing two of your meals with Special K, which has no content. It tastes fine, but that's because it's loaded with sugar. I do not see the benefit of adding these worthless cereals to your diet, except that maybe they process through your system quickly to help you detox??? No idea.
I did realize that I am already kind of on the diet. I tried eating 5 small meals a day, but found it too difficult to get satisfaction out of a 300-calorie meal. I would inevitably go over in one of my meals and skip the next, etc. I started eating 400 calorie meals and love it. I am much more satiated and can go 4 hours without eating a snack usually. That never happened in the past. I make sure to have a protein with every meal, which happens to be a MUFA quite often. My sister was on a trend to beoming a diabetic, when her doctor reined her in and gave her some guidelines. The main guideline she was given that I find the most helpful is having whatever that meal's protein is first. The handiest thing for me to eat is a cheese stick. I munch on that while I figure out a meal or a snack. I also buy cheese curds so that I can have a smaller amount of protein and still have most of my 400 calories for my meal. You don't need to eat all of the protein, but just a little bit. It stabilizes your blood sugar, helps you feel better, and helps your body process the rest of your meal, carbs, etc. better.
When I do all of this, I have noticed weight dropping off and/or clothes just fitting better. I think a lot has to do with trying to give up white flour. I already do not eat much refined sugar. When I don't eat white flour, I have definitely seen weight come off. It's hard to not eat it though, so I've gone back to bread and pizza, and then the pounds come back. That's a lifestyle choice I'm still grappling with. I don't know if I can give up white flour as a permanent choice. I know it makes my tummy feel better, but I also love making bread and pizza... I don't really believe in diets, as whatever changes you make really have to be for you and what's realistic for you in the long term. You can't do something just because a book tells you or it's the latest trend. That being said, I do think this diet has good fundamentals and could and will be beneficial to many people. For those of you that it doesn't work for, is it really the diet, or is it that you couldn't stick to something that doesn't ring true for you?
Common sense and moderation go a long way. Although, when you're brought up eating canned fruits and vegetables, processed breads, and sugar-laden foods and beverages, common sense probably depends what side of the fence you're on. Oh, which reminds me, to address food tasting bland at first... If you are used to processed foods which have lots of sodium, sugar, flavorings, etc., then you will find food to be bland initially. It's unnatural to your senses to eat fresh things. Give yourself some time and you won't believe how yummy fresh foods taste.
Sorry this post is so long. Didn't mean to offend anyone.
Good luck to all!
ReplyBefore you spend the money on the book, check it out at the library first.
Replythis diet is like all others all you have to do is buy the book buythe plan buy the food...listen all you really have to do is eat smart I'm diabetic I eat what i am supposed to eat and walk walk as much as you can 40 mins min. I do 70 mins everyday walk faster you cover more ground but walk ...two things about food eat what your blood type says is good for you you can find that on here and eat fresh foods as much as you can find drink lots of water live smart
ReplyBridget,
I order the Flat Belly Diet book a week ago, Can you give is the exact amounts of the water and other ingredients?
Thanks
Replycan you get the diet (menu) online? or do you HAVE to buy the book??
ReplyCan u Buy this book in New Zealand and if so Where
ReplyI don't know if you can buy it in New Zealand. Can you order it online?
ReplyDo you need to use the cucumber in the sassy water....I can't stand burping it all day and I did with it just being in the water.
ReplyRemove the seeds first, that is what causes the gas. Or if you have access to English cucumbers, use them.
ReplyI bought the book! I have only been on the diet for 6 days and love it. I dropped a quick 9 lbs (I know, a lot of water weight). I love the meals, my favorite I think is the Tuscan white bean dip (or something like that) I could eat the whole thing instead of dividing it up(but I don't, I wait), the breakfast tacos are fabulous also. I do have one thing to say, I work out 3-5 days weekly and have always tried to eat healthy. I do know that caloric restriction is key, but find it hard to do because I love food. I think that some of these wonderful foods help me feel that I don't need more, or can wait until tomorrow to finish it off. The foods taste so good, that I want to savor and not devour. It kinda just helps put everything back in perspective as far as serving sizes and calories of specific foods, the good foods we should eat etc. Things that I think we all know but don't live by. My 9 year old daughter has started making me prepare her some of my foods because she likes them too, cant be bad then right? Now I just need to start incorporating it into all of our family meals (which is easy by chapt. 8 recipes), and my husband can join the diet with me unknowingly!!
ReplyIf you are thinking about buying the book and can make yourself follow it, you will love it!
Hello, I am on day four of the jumpstart. I was doing pretty good, mind you headaches were awful due to lack of caffeine. Yes I am going to drink my coffee tomorrow I usually only drink 1-2 cups with milk and only before noon anyway so I think I can fit it into my 28 day plan.
ReplyAny way just wanted to let you know, yesterday I was feeling like eating (I am an emotional eater, I wasn't hungry)I had made my son a batch of chicken caesar salad wraps (he's 19)and I thought maybe one wouldn't hurt, alas I decided to weigh myself first, then ladies after only 2 1/2 days I had lost 4lbs. Hooray for me SO, I Didn't have the wrap, KUDOS again.Tomorrow I start my 28 day plan and I am so looking forward to it. Tired of being in my 200's my goal 160lbs. Just want to be healthy. See Ya
All these diets are starting to look the same. Eat a balanced diet low in saturated fats and simply carbohydrates. Add in lots of fruits and vegetables.
ReplyHere's the thing for me. I do great everyday, eating the right foods, exercising for an hour, meditating, etc. When it gets to be about 10:00 (I'm a night owl, and usually can't sleep until l:00 or so. ) Therefore, I end up eating junk like icecream or bagels, maybe some cereal before bed. How can I stop this habit? My stomach truly feels empty and growly.
I know I shouldn't get after dinner, and it obviously disturbs my sleep. What can I do to still fill full, without extra calories and junk?
ReplyHi, Teresa,
ReplyYou can't go to sleep until 1:00. What time do you get up? If you get 8 hours of sleep (not a fair assumption) you would get up at 9:00. Could you eat at 10, 2, 6 and have a snack at 10 p. m.? And cereal is a pretty good choice! The tryptophan in the milk could help you get to sleep, too. Personally, I'm trying to keep my meals about 9, 1, 5 and 9. I get hungry when I'm up too late, too.
Way to go!!! I agree. People should just buy the book and try it. The worst thing that could happen is if you did not lose your desired weight you would be alot healthier then you were before you started. Lets face it, most people are in the shape they are in because of their bad eating habits. Have you ever seen what are in peoples carts at the grocery store? And we wonder why there are so many fat people today. Just try the book. I'm sure you will not be sorry!
ReplyWay to go!!! I agree. People should just buy the book and try it. The worst thing that could happen is if you did not lose your desired weight you would be alot healthier then you were before you started. Lets face it, most people are in the shape they are in because of their bad eating habits. Have you ever seen what are in peoples carts at the grocery store? And we wonder why there are so many fat people today. Just try the book. I'm sure you will not be sorry!
ReplyHey everyone. Just heard about the Flat Belly Diet. Does anyone know where i can find online a free copy of teh Flat Belly Diet Book? (too much money for a book) or some reciepes somone can give me including the 4 day jump start. i would greatly appreciate it. My e-mail is jomayra69@hotmail.com
ReplyThis diet sounds good. I really need something for my belly I gain all my weight there I look pregnant about 4 months. Crazy. I also had to stop excercising because of my achilles tendon problem can hardly walk.
ReplyI was wondering if someone can post the 4 day meal plan. I would love to see it before I get the book. I tried to get the book from the library and there is a waiting list for it
Thanks
Christine
I have been on the Flat Belly Diet for 2 1/2 mos, and have lost 33 lbs so far! I have not exercised at all, although I am talking myself into not taking the lazy way through this! The diet is very workable, and I have made it through two weddings, weekend vacations, and a holiday weekend (ncluding wine and martinis)and still lost each week! Any diet has to click at the correct time for each person, but this is not difficult to follow with a little planning -
ReplyI'm interested to know if you follow their recipes, or do you come up with your own 400 cal. meals?
ReplyOn a previous posting, a breakfast option on the 4-day anti-bloat program said I could make the following choice: *1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce or 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds.
Is 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce really a substitution for 1/4 c sunflower seeds in the jumpstart phase?
ReplyNO, when I did the 4 day, you had both sunflower seeds and unsweetened applesauce and cereal and skim milk.
ReplyI have tried the Flat Belly diet and have finished the 4-day jump and am into week 2. I have lost 6 lbs. and my belly seems flatter (my pants are looser). I have heard for years that monounsaturated fats help reduce cholestoral and help you lose weight. I do believe it. For all those who don't like sunflower seeds, there is a whole list of "mufas", including 1/4 C chocolate chips, olives, all nuts, etc. the diet is very versatile. I am never hungry and enjoy the food. There is also a list of things to eat out. Like any diet, if you follow it 80% of the time, you will lose weight, so for those of us that like an occasional out to eat or splurge....just do it! I'm excited to try this diet for at least a month. The $30 for the book is money well spent if it works...and I have yet to find out.
ReplyPeople looking for these recipes can go to Prevention.com and pull them up: Capellini with Pine Nuts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and ChickenTIME: 20 MINUTES
SERVINGS: 4
4 oz whole wheat capellini or angel hair pasta
3 oz dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
8 oz chicken breast tenderloins, cut into bite-size pieces
1/8 tsp salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4-1/2 tsp red-pepper flakes
1/4 c sliced fresh basil
1/2 c pine nuts, toasted (MUFA)
1. PREPARE pasta per package directions without adding salt. Meanwhile, soak tomatoes in hot water 10 minutes or until soft. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of water, and chop.
2. HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat while pasta cooks. Season chicken with salt. Add chicken, garlic, and red-pepper flakes to skillet. Cook, stirring, until garlic turns golden, 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and reserved water and cook 2 to 3 minutes until chicken is completely cooked.
3. DRAIN pasta, add to skillet, and toss. Add basil and toss. Divide pasta equally among 4 bowls and sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons of pine nuts. Top with more basil, if desired.
Nutritional Info Per Serving
387 cal, 22 g pro, 36 g carb, 6 g fiber, 19 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 33 mg chol, 562 mg sodium
Flat Belly Diet Bonus
ReplyFlavor-packed ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes, nuts, and fresh herbs eliminate the need for high-fat cream or butter sauces.
Okay. This is what I did to lose 20lbs. I work out 5 days a week. Cardio. Elliptical machine or the Treadmill, for either 30, 45 or 60 minutes. I weight train as well, with weights at home. I eat no more than 400 calories per meal. I don't eat meat and drinks a lot of water (sassy water!)and I've lost 20 lbs since December. It may not seem like a lot in that amount of time, but guess what? I wont gain it back fast either. I've lost inches and I've gone down a dress size and I have not starved my self. I do a "cleanse" of either caster oil or salt water flush every 2 weeks. I feel great and look great too. Oh! I take a tbsp of flax seed orally every morning. I work out in the morning before work, because if I wait until after work, I will be lazy and I wont work out. I try not to eat after 7 or 8pm...but if I do I make myself a shake..8 oz of soy milk, a cup of frozen fruit, 1 cup of vanilla yogurt and some flax seeds. If you are consistent..and stay on it..you will see the results. It feels good when people at work tell me that I'm an inspiration to them and have started drinking sassy water. People who say any diet doesn't work, they are probably the one who don't incorporate the "diet" to their lives. It's a lifestyle. Consistency is the key....If you "cheat" one day... just start tomorrow and don't feel guilty. DO IT DO IT DO IT.
ReplyOn week 2 and have lost weight and inches. Just followed info and recipes found online. Wondering if there are any other restrictions beyond the 4 meals of 400 cals. Can I drink coffee, ice-tea, etc... as long as I'm not adding calories. Also can I have a non-fat latte as one of my snacks?
ReplyI Just bought the book and shopped for the 4 day plan today. spent $85. I need to lose a couple of lbs, but am really more interested in the health benefits, lower cholesteral etc. I have a thyroid condition and am always tired so I'm hoping that eating the better food will help with that also. We just bought the wii fit too so that is my exercise. It's a good workout for the couch potato's out there. We all know that we should eat better and smaller portions - some of us just need that little shove that following a "diet" gives us. They sure make it easy by providing the shopping list and the menus for us.
I'm starting tomorrow. Good luck everyone!
ReplyI'm not having any problem with the diet. The Sassy water is OK and I don't mind the food but I am so depressed. I have been crying all night over the silliest things. A friend told me that is because I am such a carb head and I have not been eating any. My body is craving it. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, for how long will it last, my kids are running for cover..
ReplyI have IBS/diverticulitis flare ups. Will this diet make it flare up? Or would it be okay to be on?
ReplyWell on the 4 days for breakfast y ou have to have a 1/4 cup od sunflower seeds do you think that will give you a flare up.
ReplyI am on my 2nds day of the clat belly. I have to say I AM HUNGRY. After dinner around 7:30-8:00 lat night my head was killing mw ans I was starving. I had to have a couple of spoonful of unsweetened applesauce I am not a fan of the smoothie either. I am really interested to see if I loose anything in the 4 days. I cannot see myself losing anything, but I am trying to stay postive.
ReplyI will let you know what happens.
I am finishing the 4 day jump-start. My husband is doing this with me. This is what we think. Being coffee drinkers - nothing excessive one or two cups a day period -we had a horrible time the first couple days from headaches and general weakness. We do feel less bloated and have lost weight. Although the timing for myself was horrible as I started my "28 day womanly visitor" just about the time we started the diet. I want a brownie so badly I could kill..... My husband lost 6 pounds. I lost 4. Not bad for four days. The food isn't bad - although the first day I thought it was really bland. As I got further away from any seasonings I realized I really do like corn flakes without my usual packet of splenda. They allow you to season with Mrs. Dash original - we used that and thought the rice and chicken were great. No complaints there. I do feel like a bird eating so many sunflower seeds. BUT, I am craving junk like crazy. I want a pizza, coke, and a brownie.... I miss my coffee too. We were not terrible eaters before and rarely ate pizza, etc. Maybe it is the whole idea of being on a DIET that is doing it. But the weakness is STILL THERE after 4 days. Both my husband and I have jobs where we constantly move, lift, sweat, etc. Both of us have felt shaky this week. He said he didn't have energy to lift his arms. We are going to continue a bit further with the diet. This next week we get to try some of the recipes and mix things up a bit more. The sassy water was just nasty!!!!!!!!!! It tasted like pledge in the am, cucumbers in the afternoon, and pm. Wasn't a favorite. I like plain old water.
ReplyFlat Belly is the best thing going,when you feel hungry or a sweet tooth eat a Luna Bar (meal replacement bar) make it your snack remember four 400 cals per meal, I have some seeds 2 tablespoons I usually have some pumpkin seed (raw) I get mine from Traders Joe's, you will see reaults...I went from 180 to 166lbs IT WORKS
ReplyHAPPY IN PASADENA CALIFORNIA
Well we my husband and I have officially ended week one after the 4 day jump start. He has no lost 12 pounds. I have lost 7. Both of us DO FEEL BETTER. The coffee urge is leaving... occasionally I get the craving - But I think it is more emotional - end of day type of thing. We had "pizza" this week and found out we LOVE IT from the recipe in the book. We are doing regular water..... When we needed something sweet we treated ourselves one morning to the recipe for Banana Sundae Oatmeal in the morning - It allows some chocolate - it was YUMMY! We feel more energetic! So far I am a believer - would like to lose more though.... men always lose so fast it is disgusting!
ReplyI tried this diet and may have stuck to it if it wasn't for the sassy water. I have tried it twice now and the taste of the water gags me and I throw it back up. I have even held my nose to try to get it down. By drinking it with a meal and I lose the meal and all. Any suggestions?
ReplyIt's truly amazing that you folks think this flat belly diet will get you a flat belly, without any exercising! Come on folks!!! Get real! The only thing that is going to get flat, is your wallet when you lay out the bucks to purchase this book. Exercising is such a crucial part of our lives -- as well as good eating habits! And a bit of self discipline.
ReplyI agree one hundred percent. I think that this flat belly diet is just a starting off pint for begginers or for people who just need a little push. Of course, in this diet, there is a crucial need of exercise is this program and that's how everything works out. Its all in the starting before the pushing.
ReplyI have this one dietary supplement and it says on the bottle: "Flax Seed Oil". Now I am just wondering, would it help and be considered a MUFA? If so, should I take it at every meal or just once daily?
Reply