squidkid.

The headline is my preface for taking on any new exercise regime or eating plan. If you are anything like me — or if I am anything like you — if I am going to modify my eating and exercise plan or change these habits, it needs to feel easy, it needs to not take up my time, and it needs to net results rather quickly. Hence why I picked up David Zinczenko’s The Abs Diet for Women. He claims that the plan is easy to follow because:

• Every part of the eating and exercise plan is quick, simple and flexible
• Every goal is attainable
• Every claim is supported by scientific research

I’m not a diet kind of a person AT ALL. But I am healthy kind of a person and I am also reasonable. The author Zinczenko, who was chubby as a kid and now at the top of his game as an editor at Men’s Health, promises to take into account a female’s lifestyle as well as her hormones, including prenatal to post-menopausal women.

Nutrition is a major focus on the Abs Diet. It works around 12 Power Foods high in fiber and protein that will help build muscle, which speeds up the fat-burning process. It focuses on eating 6 meals a day. The food idea goes like this:

ABS DIET POWER Eating List

A = Almonds and other nuts (not sugared nuts!)

B = Beans and legumes (not refried beans — they have too much bad fat)

S = Spinach and other greens

D = Dairy (fat-free or low-fat stuff — and watch for the high-fructose corn syrup in flavored dairy!)

I = Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, so don’t buy the flavored stuff)

E = Eggs

T = Turkey and other lean meats (yes, you can east steak still and ground beef; just choose lean)

P = Peanut butter (not Jiffy or Skippy, which is filled with sugar and stuff)

O = Olive oil

W = Whole grain bread and cerels (no white bread or packages that just say ‘wheat’ — must say whole wheat)

E = Extra protein, which is whey and can be found at the health food store

R = Raspberries and other berries (sprinkle on oatmeal to bring back the flavor of lost additives!)

If you look closely, the food plan isn’t limiting you on weird foods you’ll get sick of. Actually, the focus is more geared to get rid of fake foods. And the list is a lot more extensive than what you see above. If you want a bigger eating list, go here. Ketchup and mayonnaise are included.

The book is somewhat dense, so if you’re not into reading it yourself, I’m going to gleam the most important information from The Abs Diet for Women and post entires here on Squidkid. Apparently is it a super-popular book and has been on The New York Times Best-Seller List; I just know that Men’s Health (along with Women’s Health) are very credited health magazines and thus credited editors, so I trusted the author when I picked a copy up.

So, have I been following the Abs Diet Power? I’ve been eating six smaller meals, and that’s going fine, although I feel kind of hungry more. On Sunday at a dinner, party, I skipped dessert. They were cupcakes. I lOVE cupcakes. But I passed only because I stopped to consider if it was totally worth it for me to have a lot of high-fructose corn syrup. In the past, I’d just shove one in without thinking twice. My real weakness is cheese and I haven’t been able to stop eating that. I just don’t want to say no to stinky, good cheese. Oh, and stopped with the coffee thing and I’m drinking green tea — the author says green tea, water and milk are the best things to drink.

I’m a naturally svelte person, so if you know me, you’re probably wondering why I’m bothering to do this. Because I care about my health! Because there is always room for improvement! And because I represent exercise, I need to live the part inside and out.