Flat Belly Diet

The Flat Belly Diet is the plan I am using to jump start my re-entry into weight loss.

The diet was developed by Prevention magazine in response to the discovery (by many researchers, not Prevention) that MUFAs (mono-unsaturated fats), target and help lose belly fat.

Pros:

1. Prevention has researched how to use these fats in a weight loss diet targeting belly fat. This is a bit tricky, because, of course, weigh loss itself is tricky and MUFAs are FATS. People who get MUFA happy gain instead of lose.
2. Prevention has come up with a diet plan based on good nutritional principles, flexible enough for our many varied needs.
3. The diet is basically a calorie-counting Mediterranean — good, fresh fruits, veggies, cheese, yogurt, whole grains and lean meats.
4. MUFAs! Nuts/seeds, the *good* oils, olives, avocados and dark or semi-sweet chocolate!! What’s not to like???
5. Prevention is working hard to flesh out and package the plan in useful ways, which so far include a book, an online community (for a monthly fee), and a cookbook.
6. I’m paricularly fond of the website which creates menus with a gluten-free option, and a shopping list and food log.
7. If you have access to the website there is also a weightloss community and the promise of plan developers to offer support and answer questions.

Cons:

1. I would call the website a beta. Although it is pretty extensive, it still has a lot of room for smoothing and finishing. In my opinion they would make more money if it was free.
2. Everything here (except maybe the Sassy water) has been done before. MUFAs are not new news, although still not widely known or understood. This has caused some to claim the diet is a fraud, or a best, a re-hash.

This diet is clearly not a fraud or re-hash. It is possible to decrease belly fat through the use of MUFAs supported by an appropriate diet without exercise. (I have done that, before buying into the plan.)

As with any diet and fitness plan, exercise will play a part in a complete program and expedite progress. And, the diet is state of the art nutrition.

Prevention has used all their extensive resources to come up with a good-for-you diet that happens to target belly fat. They have the wisdom and the experience to turn it into a complete package and market it.

A determined dieter could glean and apply all the principles available here without help from the book or website. For me, the price of under $40 to put all these tools in my hand beat having to do all the research, create my own menus and go it alone. I bought the book and received 3 months on the website free.

As with anything, we can be sure this is not for everone. And, as always, your mileage may vary.

In my opinion, this diet is comparable to South Beach and Weight Watchers (for good sense) and with the added edge of targeting belly fat. I believe, in some form, it will grow and become a great classic - the next “old standard.” As with any diet plan, it is as good as you let it be.

Let me know if you decide to do it, please!