The Flat Belly Diet is a 32-day plan that promises dieters that they will lose up to 15 pounds. The diet begins with a four-day "antibloat" period, which requires abstention from carbohydrates, alcohol, caffeine and sugar to help promote overall healthier eating habits. During this period, you eat 1,200 calories per day and drink two liters per day of a concoction labeled "sassy water," which is a blend of spices, herbs, citrus, and cucumber designed to reduce bloating, sluggishness and constipation. The following 28 day period offers a mix-and-match menu plan that focuses on wholesome foods and monounsaturated fats.
History of the Flat Belly Diet
Created in 2008 by Liz Vaccariello, editor in chief of Prevention magazine, along with Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, nutrition director at Prevention, the diet is meant to help remove inches from your waistline. While exercise is encouraged, it is not required on this diet. The plan was initially tested by 11 volunteers who reported weight-loss success while following the program.
What Can You Eat on the Flat Belly DIet?
On the Flat Belly Diet plan, you consume approximately 1,600 calories per day after the initial "antibloat" period. There is an emphasis on wholesome foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds and lean protein. The diet recommends eating red meat no more than once per month. On the diet, you eat four small meals per day with each meal containing monounsaturated fat, which is known as the "healthy fat" and is said to help lower cholesterol and help prevent heart disease. The diet incorporates foods like olives, avocados, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, soybean, flax and olive and sunflower oils.
Benefits of the Flat Belly Diet
The Flat Belly Diet encourages dieters to make healthy food choices and improve their overall health by eating less red meat, more fruits and vegetables and less saturated fats. It bears a lot of similarity to the popular Mediterranean-style diet, which has been said to help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Another advantage of the Flat Belly Diet is that there is not a lot of complicated meal preparation and it offers meal-replacement options for dieters on the go.
Expert Insight
While there is some evidence that this diet promotes a good, overall lifestyle of healthy eating and stress reduction, some experts are wary that the diet does not require exercise. Dr. David Edelson, MD, founder and medical director of HealthBridge said, "Anyone can lose weight following diet plan for 32 days, but . . . nobody will attain long term weight loss success without incorporating exercise as an essential lifestyle component." While a diet rich in monounsaturated fats is a good start, there is no magic bullet for losing belly fat.
References
- WebMD: Flat Belly Diet
- Everyday Health: The Flat Belly Diet
- Dr. David Edelson, MD Founder and Medical Director of HealthBridge; Manhasset, New York
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