Abs Diet: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Stomach and Keep You Lean for Life, this friendly little guide fulfills several purposes. First, The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide condenses the "power foods" recommended by the diet--a nutritionally sound mix of lean proteins, whole grains, fresh vegetables, fruit and monounsaturated fats--into easy-to-read lists that will help with daily purchasing habits. Second, a number of "Abs Diet Endorsements" are included to help you make proper food choices, even if you're grabbing lunch from a vending machine or food court. Lastly, it offers up a tidy handful of new recipes for wraps, snacks and smoothies along with a short-n-sweet workout. In other words, it supplies everything you need from a diet book to manage the diet on a day-to-day basis. The casual hanging-with-the-boys style could be your favorite thing about it, or what drives you crazy. Phrases like "Skipping breakfast is like arguing with the cops; there's absolutely nothing good that can come out of it" can either help reinforce the basics or just make you want to get far, far away from the rest of the jokes, such as, "Oatmeal is the Bo Derek of your pantry--it's a perfect 10".
The ultimate goal is uncovering your own six pack, and benefits like lower blood pressure seem less important than waist size. There's something to be said for to-the-point surface goals, but your attitude about image will likely determine your attitude about the book's usefulness. --Jill Lightner
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