The Flat Belly Diet

I am 57 yrs . old and this year I started to put weight on right under the ribcage and belly. I never had it go there. I couldn't even hold it in. I hadn't changed eating habits in fact I have always eaten relatively heathy but it must have been too many calories. But it was like everything I put into my mouth went to my stomach and stuck there. So I saw the flyer in the mail and thought this is it if it doesn't work I give up. I would have to starve myself to loose weight. I have been on this diet for 6 days and have lost 5 pounds. Yes no salt and fewers calories did it and having the menu planned in the jumpstart. I think it is the easiest diet to follow and the food is home made to my own taste. My only complaint is the Flax seed oil. First it is very expensive and secondly it tastes fishy. In stead of the oil I bought the capsules and even those come back on you with a fishy taste. I'll finish the bottle but won't buy it again. I'll use flax seed or meal I have always used instead and account for the calories. I don't enjoy having to count calories but I guess we should get used to it to save ourselves from the calorie overload being pushed at us every day from all the food products out there. It really doesn't take that much time and it is something good I can do for myself. EVERY meal is 400 calories (most diets cut you down to 1200/day for women, this is 1600) and I am full after eating and your supposed to eat again in 4 hours. I have a hard time thinking about eating a snack I am just not needing it, I am thrilled that choclate is not forbidden and my favorite has always been the dark so that is a bonus. What is really nice it is only 32 days total and you can use the diet whenever you want to take off a few pounds or just stay on it. I am enjoying the Sassy water,I add more ginger. It has a wonderful fresh cooling taste. What is most important is I don't feel deprived I am happy to see weight loss so soon and I know it is easy to do and the food is good, I am in control again! My husband is eating all the samr foods and he is not complaining.

Wow! I just finished reading 6 pages of posts! We've seen many posts from people airing grievances--to you, I say, "I'm glad you got it off your chest (this is a change from my annoyed positon yesterday, when I was just hoping you'd go away). If someone was on the fence, trying to decide whether this was the plan for them, you may have helped them decide. Whether or not that is a good thing, we'll never know." Many wanted specifics because they hadn't received their book yet. To you, I say, in all sincerity, "Read the book! You can't get all the info you are looking for; you are going one day at a time, wondering what to do next. If you fail at this, you may end up blaming the diet, when you weren't properly following it at all. Give it a proper chance by reading it first." Some posts were encouraging. It's encouraging to hear from those who have seen results, as well as from those who have a specific question or problem.

The posts have been pretty philosophical, and that's a good thing, but I'd also like to see more on the practical side. For those of you that have been doing this for a while, what helped you stick to it? What did you like about it? What tips do you have that would help others?

We bought a hot-air popcorn popper. I eat it with a chocolate-peanut butter MUFA, balancing the calories. I melt the chocolate and peanut butter in the microwave and set aside while I pop the corn. Then I scrape the mixture onto the popcorn and toss it for a couple minutes, using 2 spoons, until evenly spread. The first time I did this, I ate it with a spoon. I took the popper and ingredients to my sister's a couple days ago (she's trying to shed a few pounds, too) and she really liked it. She said she liked it better cold. I put a little bit in her refrigerator to see if the texture would be the same and if it would harden so we wouldn't have to have gooey fingers. That worked great. One thing to be CAREFUL about is the seeds. Any unpopped kernels will stick to the chocolate. The air popper does a much better job at popping kernels than microwave, but it's still important to be careful, especially if kids are going to eat it.

As far as meals in the book, I thought the pepperoni pizza would be a favorite because I really love pizza, and was "dying" for some after the 4 days of the jumpstart. It was good, except that I found I really am not a fan of "faux meat." Yes, I do like tofu, but I guess I'm just not keen on it masquerading as meat. I'd rather have just a cheese pizza. I tried the pineapple-ham pizza last night, and it was good, except that the gorgonzola really took over the flavor, and I couldn't taste much else. Next time, I will swap those calories for a milder cheese.

The California turkey salad with a pear has been one of my personal favorites, though I made it with chicken and almonds. I was glad to see that in the book. I have two new favorites--the turkey-cranberry muffin and the pesto ham & cheese sandwich. I am thinking of developing a chicken curry salad with celery and grapes. Since we're not using mayonnaise, what would you suggest as a binder? Plain yogurt?

Does tking Omega 3 fish capsules count?

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Whatif you can't find spearment leaves, what can you use in place of them?
Thanks, Dee

What if you don't have spearment leaves, what can you use in place of them?

Oh man totally agreed - love the carnival image. There are no "breakthroughs" in weight loss. Eat less, learn portion control, eat good, wholesome foods, throw out all the processed foods, exercise. Indulge once in a while. Seriously. That's what works. People are so effing stupid.

I am very interested in finding info about this book. Trying to buy the book but websites for Amazon and Barnes and Nobles says the book is not available until the end of October. How is everyone getting this book?
Can someone share some of the recipes? thanks

Does anyone know if using Stevia (which is a natural organic all natural sweetener) is allowed on this plan?

I left the recipe as a comment on the prevention site check it otu http://buzz.prevention.com/jumpstart-your-flat-belly-diet-with-sassy-water/

I got my book a few months ago after reading about the diet in Prevention Magazine and have misplaced it somewhere in the house. Just went online to buy another now that I am serious about starting the diet and now see they are backordered--I am assuming it is a second (or more) reprint.

Good luck all. I love the sassy water which I have tried just to see what it tasted like.

Well I today I started my third day of the jumpstart. FYI I started at 140 On thursday morning. this morning ,Saturday, I was 136.4! I know it's probably fluid,but it's nice to see the scale move. I will post another update later.

What about coffee? Did anybody drink coffee and still lose weight?

I am on my 3rd day of the diet and I have to say it has been hard. I do not care that much for sweets, but I have been craving salt. The spices they allow you to add to the food does not add enough flavor. I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not it is ok to use a salt substitute. I did buy one for people wanting to eliminate salt out of their diet but I am afraid to use it. Can someone answer this for me?

Thanks,

I am not overweight but I had a spare tire around my middle. I started eating Mufas with every meal and only eat nuts, which is a mufa, for a snack. I'm beginning to see a waisteline after about 4 weeks of eating Mufas. My problem is that I seem to have softer than normal stools and a lot of stool. Is this normal?

Don't waste you money, I got the book cheap, but on the four day pre diet you'll spend $100.00 just buying the food you'll need for the first four days, and I had at least half of it in my pantry already, can you imagine what it will cost for the rest of the diet for 28 days, after 4 days I only lost an inch off my gut,and I almost lost my mind trying to cook two different meals every day for me and my children and husband, the food is good for you but if you just follow a healthy lifestyle you could easily lose the weight, there are no quick fixes, don't diet, diets don't work, a healthy way of eating and move to lose is the only sure way to lose inches.

I have the book and gonna start tomorrow I just don't know how much sassy water to drink in a day anyone know and whats the sassy water suposed to do?

ha ha

Hi! will this diet flatten my tummy? i don't go for loosing weight since if i drop a pound I'll be underweight, probably because I eat fruits, vegetables and fish and egg whites only, and very less fat.

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me if Yogurt is allowed on this program? My hubby and I are used to eating it every day. My book is coming in the mail soon (purchased on Ebay last night). I am excited about starting this program. Thanks for all the good advice on this site.

Has any one finished the diet I would like to know if it work for you I'm on my 3rd day lost a 1 to 2 pounds so far

yes you can have yogurt but low-fat organic good luck

The thing I like about fad diets is that they give people structure and motivation.

All of the books say mostly the same things, but if people are having success applying the principles in this book, then that's awesome.

Please i will like you to tell me what to ear to enable me have a flat belly.

I purchased this book months ago after seeing it advertised in Prevention magazine. I also bought a subscription to Prevention magazine that seems to repeat the same advice monthly. The book was too pricey for what I got out of it. The foods and menus are too complicated, especially because of the specific ingredients and trying to prepare something for the entire family.

Also, Rodale calls constantly with offers of "trial" books free for thirty days with the "free" gift consisting of a small pamphlet that advertises even more pricey books.

I agreed to a "trial" copy of "The American Medical Associations Family Medical Guide" at the price of nearly $45.00. I found the same exact book at Border's for $5.99. Needless to say, I returned the medical guide even though I had to pay to return it.

I agree that you can search the web for better, easier to follow diets for free.

All of the flat belly diet
methods possible, those councils who have already helped. See here: http://tubedirect.net/index.php?q=all-about-flat-belly-diet
absolutely free! Highly recommended

I see the book is now being sold at Costco for $14.95, which is way cheaper than I purchased it for.

Although I do agree and like the mediterannean style of eating (mufa's) it is not always easy to incorporate them into a meal. So I just try to limit calories to 400, also not easy, and include a mufa.

My weight has gone up and down. . . depending on how much I adhere to these new rules.

I haven't started the diet yet, just ordered the book. Can any one tell me where they found the spearmint leaves? Thank you for telling me about half.com I might go find the recipe book they wanted so much for.

I haven't started the diet yet, just ordered the book. Can any one tell me where they found the spearmint leaves?

I want to begin the diet soon and want to know can I just use one kind of cereal in the morning (I don't like Cream of Wheat). Also, can I use one fruit for all the smoothies, instead of purchasing all of them?

Lynn, I know it's been several months since your post...but this is good information to have. If you are on a low potassium diet, have high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes, you should check with your doctor before using the salt substitute. Most salt substitutes use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. This can cause hyperkalemia (elevated potassium) which can cause kidney failure or cardiac arrest in people whose kidneys can't process the potassium. Just something to keep in mind. I think Mrs. Dash has potassium chloride, but I don't have any on hand to verify this.

I started the diet today and can't stomach the Sassy Water. It is disgusting. Perhaps I did something wrong since others say it tastes o.k. Mine tasted like bitter cucumbers. Absolutely gross. Any ideas???

I am just wondering if anyone knows if I can drink coffee,tea or juice after the first 4 days?

im not sure about this diet, but ill find out if i ever have time to do it.

well i really luv the program n hope to get more details from u n also uargue u to continue this works

I have been working out 5-6x's/wk for the past 6 months and have not lost one pound. I have 3 kids with 3 busy schedules. I'll be 42 next week (yuck). I also have a gluten intolerance. Just wondering if anyone out there is also Ciliac and if this diet really works. I am a very petite build and need to lose about 10-15 pounds. I will continue to exercise but I would really like to shed those extra pounds. Thanks in advance.
Swampho

dont you think you excecise to much. If you do then you wont lose any weight why dont you try a curves gym. Its only 30 min and it does work.

Are you supposed to drink only the sassy water for the entire diet or are you allowed to drink other calorie-free drinks once you are done with the 4-day anti-bloat part?

Today is Dec 29th and I started the diet two days ago. I don't think the food is tasteless - just a matter of giving up salt! The first day I was so full I couldn't eat all of those tomatoes! I think this is something I can stick with because it tells me what to eat and I like that. I don't have to count the calories or figure out the menus. I have a lot of weight to lose, and especially around the middle (can't even call it a waistline)and am looking forward to some of the recipes. Like the lady said - you can eat the same ones for every meal if you like. I like that because if I make a lot of it, I don't have to cook as often! Lazy, huh?

I agree with the food being tasteless on the jumpstart. It was the hardest 4 days for me. I only have 13 pounds to loose but only lost 1 on the jumpstart. I found it difficult to follow the rest of the diet because none of the recipes were laid out in a weekly plan. All had so many ingredients it was more work and expense than it was worth. Eating the chocoloate and nuts seemed to make me gain weight not lose. In addition I have a glueen sensitivity and everything in the diet is whole wheat. I would like to know if there are any substitutions for those ingredients... Soy pasta, etc.
All in all I feel it is a hard diet to follow if you have a busy lifestyle.