Flat Belly Diet Information

The "Flat Belly Diet" was devised by former "Prevention" editors-in-chief Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass. The diet is based on the Mediterranean diet, and involves reducing saturated fat intake and replacing it with healthier monounsaturated fats. The Flat Belly Diet emphasizes eating whole foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Diet Phases

The diet consists of two phases. Phase one is called the "anti-bloat" phase, which lasts for 4 days. During this time you are to eat specific foods, and a drink named "Sassy Water." The drink was named after co-author of the book, Cynthia Sass. The second phase of the diet lasts for 4 weeks, and consists of eating around 400-calorie meals four times a day.

Diet Basics

During stage one of the diet, you are to add cucumber, lemon, mint, and ginger to 3 1/2 pints of water. This is to be consumed throughout the first 4 days to help reduce bloat and calm the gastrointestinal tract. You can also drink herbal teas. During the first four days you will be eating four meals of around 350 calories. One of these meals is a smoothie.

Phase two of the diet lasts for 4 weeks. Meals are around 400 calories, and you are to eat four times a day. The diet is based on eating a portion of healthy monounsaturated fats at each meal. Red meat does not feature in the diet; it is recommended you only eat one portion a month. Examples of MUFA-rich foods are olives, nuts, seeds, avocados and dark chocolate.

Co-author Sass claims that MUFAs will help whittle down belly fat, which has also been reported on the National Library of Medicine website, and help promote satiety, so you remain feeling full for longer.

Exercise

The Flat Belly Diet program recommends you exercise, and the plan contains a selection of cardio workouts. There are also some examples of resistance workouts provided. However, the creators also claim exercise is not a requirement to lose weight with the plan.

Pros

The Flat Belly Diet is versatile and can be adapted for meat eaters and vegetarians. The basis of the diet involves eating healthful, nutrient-rich foods that have additional health benefits other than weight loss. The diet includes a large selection of interchangeable breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack ideas. These suggestions can be mixed and matched to your individual tastes. There is also a large selection of recipes to chose from.

Cons

Some people may find the diet is too restrictive due to the low-caloric meals. Eating every 4 hours may also be a challenge for some. Additionally, the diet does not focus on polyunsaturated fats, which are also important for good health.