Flat Belly Diet

Madison: Did anyone try the Flat Belly Diet and have any long term success losing the belly fat? I am only trying to loose the very unattractive fat around my belly, I am really bad at push ups and since I am on my 30s ( I am 33) I don’t seem to be able to get rid of that extra fat. I have read just a little bit about it but it seems like you don’t necessarily loose the weight where you want it. Thanks

Linda: I just didn’t think there was anything unique about this Flat BellyDiet that targeted the fat in the belly area….it just seemed like a standard weight loss diet to me. The way i see it, the only way to ensure weight loss specifically from the stomach is to do crunches or situps. Sure you can watch what you eat for your overall weight, but there’s no magical food that ’s gonna make your stomach flat. At least this didn’t do it for me.

Denise: Yeah, you know, the first place i ever loose weight when I’m on a diet is from my “cleavage” area. And sure enough, on this Flat Belly Diet, it turned into the Flat Chest Diet…yet again. I guess I thought this one was going to be different since it supposedly takes the weight off from where you want it too. But i just don’t think any diet is really capable of being that “smart”. I guess i’m going to have to go back to the crunches, to my dismay. Or else save up for liposuction!

Jackie: I like the idea of being able to eat some fats, like avocadoes and nuts, and even dark chocolate! but how is that going to flatten my belly out, for sure? I think that dropping carbs and not drinking is the best way to go…but who wants to do that? So, even though you’re not supposed to have to exercise with this one, I’m going to try eating these yummy things, and following the diet, and see if it works. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?

John K.: This Flat Belly Diet say’s that a flat belly is all about “food and attitude.” Well that’s just a load of crap. Your attitude is not gonna make your stomach flatter that is just a bunch of new age nonsense. The diet’s ok, but it is nothing special and it is misleading when it says it is going to give you a flatter stomach. It didn’t do that at all for me. In fact my gut was still there even after i had lost some overall weight.

Sadie: This is another one of those take advantage of your stupidity diets. I can’t believe that whoever came up with this thinks they can convince people that they’ll end up with a beautiful flat tummy without exercise! I mean, who’s kidding who? The only way to get rid of any kind of stomach is to do about a million crunches, and I actually have one of those ab rocker type things that I really like, but to think that you can sort of melt it away with the right kinds of eating is just silly.

olivia: Super difficult to stick to the Flat Belly Diet. I gave it a try because it was Cynthia Sass book but overall I do not recommend it. I was so hungry all the time during those 28 days where you are supposed to stay on a 1600 cal a day and that was after I berrely survived the “anti bloat jump start” which is basically 4 days during which all you do is drink that mix of herbs and citrus ect… Oh and did I mention I didn’t loose the weight where I wanted it? Thumb down!

Allison: what they say about the flat belly diet being about attitude made sense to me,since I have read in recent years that stress contributes to belly fat, especially in women. But I think they take that concept too far without exploring exercise options. I actually like to exercise and once I remembered that and started walking and doing some ab work then I finally started to see the results I wanted. Who knew I could do so well all on my own?

marisa: Well, I have to say i bought into this, and now i do feel rather stupid for it. I guess you hear so much about “super foods” for this and that, you tend to think maybe food does have a magical power or something. But i knew i had never heard of any diet that makes your stomach flat…i was sceptical, but I guess bcs it was put out by the people who make Prevention magazine, I should trust it. But then i saw they put out all kinds of scammy type of diets, like the “peanut butter diet” which was rediculous. I was fooled, but not anymore. This doesn’t work.

Jane: I followed the diet for the most part (very difficult to stick to) but I did loose the weight I was hoping to loose and I am hopping to keep it off. I did do plenty of exercises, especially crunches, which I know they don’t talk about in the diet so much. So it was a lot of work if you are up for that.

Lane: well,I am not going to give Flat Belly Diet a total thumbs down b/c I found some recipes I like and I am always interested in new food combinations that taste great and are healthy but like other people have said it really makes a difference when you include a little exercise. It does not have too be strenuous or like 40 minutes of situps a day. But why would they not want us to exercise if we have the will and desire? that seems odd to me. Keep looking, but check out the ziti!

Aileen: Every time I quit eating bread, potatoes, rice, that kind of thing, my stomach goes way down. I wonder why that is? But even if I lose weight, I still have a bit of a stomach, and I know that’s because I’ve had four kids; I exercise like a mad thing, but I know that the only thing that’s going to finally give me a flat belly is a tummy tuck…so for right now, I’m going to go easy on the carbs, keep exercising, and save my money for a plastic surgeon. The flat belly diet is nonsense.

Kim_MO: I just read that Oprah is doing a 21 day fast and if she can do it so can I. I was sort of following the Flat Belly Diet plan but it was not really working for me. I think I need to shake things up and a cleanse like this ought to do it I think.

carolyn: Wait, so just by not being stressed out, you can make ur stomach flat? i don’t know if i believe that…..I know a lot of stressed out people who are really tiny.

Amanda: There’s only one reason I tried the Flat Belly Diet: because I HATE SITUPS AND CRUNCHES MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. They are torture to me, and yet my stomach is my biggest “problem area.” It figures, right? But i was definitely open to the idea of a diet that might take care of that problem without me having to do situps or crunches anymore. Well…not surprising…it didn’t work. What a shocker, that you can’t get a 6-pack from eating certain foods! This was just a very misleading diet that gives false hope to all of us who wouldd LOVE to never do another situp ever again.

Cassey: The Flat Belly Diet was a total disappointment for me. My husband and I happen to love all the fabulous “unsaturated fat ingredients” that are on the list of things allowed to eat and I never thought we will get tired of them. Unfortunately we did and as a result can’t even look at an avocado anymore.

Aimee: I so wanted the flat belly diet to work because I’m so very tired of that bulge below my belt, but it’s another disappointment in a long line of supposed quick fixes. I don’t really know why I fell for it in the first place, but I did, and now I’m even sadder than when I started. I know I shouldn’t be depressed about such a silly thing, but I am, and does anybody have anything that will make this go away? I’m feeling awfully desperate about the way I look…

mia: Terrible diet, not enough variety, I couldn’t stick to it. Thumb down.

Shelley: The Flat Belly Diet is not what I need. Anyone know if there is a slim thighs diet? I cannot wears shorts and I am so embarrassed at the lake. I am afraid that if I job or something they will just get bigger…

Bambi_88: I would so like the flat belly diet to work! It’s a little hard to figure out why eating certains kinds of fats would help your belly go down, but I’m still trying it…after a week, I don’t see much of a difference, I mean I’ve lost about 4 pounds overall but it’s from everywhere, not just my stomach. Maybe with some more time the good fats will start to burn my bad fat! I know that carrying around extra belly fat is an indicator of other health problems to come, so it’s important that I make this disappear. Let’s hope it works!

Kate: I am thinking about rewriting the book and including a workout plan in it. Would you guys buy it:)?

Kelly_p: Wow, that Flex Belt thing sounds just like what I need. I did the flatbelly diet and of course didn’t get the results I wanted because I hate crunches and to me it really seems like that is what you need to see result. I will give the belt a try, thanks!

Tabitha: Specialized diets like this the Flat Belly are so passe. With so many good programs, recipes, and even meal delivery available why would anyone do this? I tried it with my sister for a week or so, got bored and binged. Now I am taking an appetite suppressant and following the Zone. Much cooler and saner and I am actually losing lbs. so there!

Katrina: I’ve read recently that the Flat Belly Diet is a scam…my question is what are MUFAs? Apparently that is an important part of this diet, that all of the meals have to have MUFAs in them. I don’t evenknow what that is.

Terry: To me the Flat Belly Diet was a success. But it’s not an easy task but all the unsaturated fat products you are allowed to use are just simply delicious, especially used with fresh herbs. I would say that i love to work out and I am sure it is part of the success of my story. Good luck all!

Bonnie: Well, like one of the other posters said above, I can’t complain too much about the Flat Belly Diet – I did lose weight on it. But as far as getting a flat, sculpted tummy, I;m not seeing it. But i have to give it a thumbs up just for the weight loss.

Rosalinda: I am so tired of my belly hangingover my jeans. Even after following the Flat Belly diet as best I could I still have a pooch. I would exercise if I had more time but right now with three small children I cannot take that time for myself. I would like to try another diet since this one is not working. help?!

Carmel: My belly is no flatter, and that’s for sure, but this diet makes a lot of sense to me, some how. I mean, it cuts the heck out of your calories, and that’s a good thing, and there’s enough fat in it so I don’t get too hungry, but to make it work even better I’m going to add some (a lot!) of crunches to it and kick it into high gear. Then I’ll bet my stomach will FINALY go down! It’s worth a try, at least.

frank: I don’t know what a MUFA is, but I know what a MOFO is, and that’s what i would call the people who came up with this dumb diet. It doesn’t do anything. its just a big gimmick.

Aimee: I just got an email about the french women diet that shows you how to lose belly fat fast. Screw the flat belly diet which My husband is calling the fat belly diet since I actually gained an inch or two on this crappy plan.

anonymous: I believe MUFA’s is an abbreviation of Mono-unsaturated fatty acids.

Kiley: This Flat Belly Diet was very similar to the Mediterranean diet, i thought….they want you to eat lots of nuts, oils, seeds, avocadoes and dark chocolate. I find it interesting that the Mediterranean diet doesn’t claim to reduce fat directly from your belly. So why does this diet make that claim? Because it’s full of it, that’s why. I guess it’s an oK diet, but it makes me angry that they lie.

Cherise: Have you ever tried guacamole without the chips? That’s pretty much what this diet boils down to. After awhile, even the foods you were in love with turn out to be gag worthy, and what’s the good of that? And forget about a margarita! Life’s too short for this kind of deprivation…in fact, I don’t think I’m going to diet anymore at all and be one of those people who are in LOVE with their bellies (all those beer drinking guys you know…) and not worry about it anymore.

Stacy: I know that I am flabby because I have not been taking care of myself these past few years. I am ready to work and reduce my portions. The Flat Belly diet is a half assed effort, if you pardon my language, I am ready to hit it hard to lose the junk. what is the answer? a supplement? or home equipment? someone please steer me in the right direction because obviously on my own I choose the worst plan ever!! ha.

Vanina: I am a very petite size but I have that terrible extra fat hanging over my belt and like a lot of you (it seems) I hate doing crunches, they hurt so bad. I was wondering and I may sound stupid here, if I did the Flat Belly diet, would I lose anywhere else other than my belly? Thanks

Danni: Why would anybody think this would work? Fat isn’t something you can target, you’ll lose weight everywhere, but why in the world would you think that your body would say, “uh, oh, my stomach really needs to go and I think I’ll dump it now!” That’s ridiculous! As is this so called flat belly diet…

Keisha: If I had two free hours every day to workout and freshen up afterward I would but as a working mom I just do not right now. I hoped the flat belly diet would provide the tools I need ot lose weight, especially in my mid section without the time investment but no such luck. I tried it in earnest, it does nothing and I am looking for something real and right to help me get on my way back to looking good and feeling really good.

Lisa: I feel like with the angle of the “stress reduction” the Flat belly diet is sort of hinting at Cortisol, which is a stress hormone and this is big diet fad right now in pills and stuff. But i read that a lot of the big regulatory agencies are warning people that Cortisol pills don’t work. So i have to wonder if this diet is even valid at all.

Laura: I hate situps, and found the Flex Belt http://www.theflexbelt.com/guarantee It works and I do not have to do crunches anymore. I wear it while I’m watching TV, I’m not kidding. And it works…the thing is you pretty much have to exercise those muscles to see a difference in your abs. And the FlexBelt does that…and I don’t have to suffer while it’s doing its thing. I love this, it’s pure genius.

Linda: I bought into it because it was on the today show. The sassy water made me nauseous!!! And I didn’t feel like eating. I was so nervous the first 2 days and had a bad headache. After this plain old unsweetened iced tea will taste like champagne!!!! So much for a flatter belly for my wedding!!!!

sandy: I have been on the flat belly diet for 2 months. I have lost over 15 lbs. I have not had a desire to cheat since the food choices are so good. i also, do the flat belly workout every day. the routine focuses on the belly and core. I have never done a routine like this and think it is making all the difference. although i need to loose 10 more lbs to get to my adsolute perfect weigh I know i will be there soon. I drank the sassy water for 1 day and could not contiue, felt like drinking pickle juice, i altered it and just removed the cucumber. it was great, i am now off all soda, all caffine (which is a big deal for this starbucks girl) and red meat. I know my next check up with be good news. what motivated me to do anything- my bmi went to 25.1 for the first time ever i was overweight officially.. I was fooling myself, looked ok but was not in shape. now i sleep better than ever, feel better than ever, more energy, no pms just feel good! go flat belly diet!

Ruth S.: Just eating my way to a flatter belly didn’t really sound smart to me so I opted to do the exercises too while on the Flat Belly Diet. I had no troubles following the meal plans and even enjoyed the exercises (some of which seem to help firm a bit). After 32 days though, my weihgt was the same, and my waist measured the same. It was not the 15 lb loss I was hoping for. and the sassy water was about the most disgusting thing ever. Would not attempt another month, its not worth it.

Audie: I went on this diet and followed it to the letter and actually gained weight and an inch in the waist. Not to mention I was starving all through the first 4 days!!

Anonymous: I have lost alot of inches and about 9 pounds of the 15 I gained quitting smoking since I have started this Flat Belly Diet. I didn’t have to worry what I ate before quitting smoking and now I have found a way to eat healthier and not smoke, I have eaten alot of healthy foods I never would have eaten beofre and I feel great. Menopause and being over 50 has been harder to lose but with this diet that I bend the rules a bit and still lose inches and getting a flatter belly. I have been very satisfied and I believe if I followed it to the tee I would lose more. I also have given up lattes, beer, butter, salt and lots of greasy foods and have replaced with avocadoes, nuts, grains, raisins etc and feel and look beter and as my grand daughter says we are all eating much healthier for our hearts and “gram you still got it going on” and I get on my elliptical trainer now as I believe no matter what anyone says exercise is a must.

liliane: The Flat Belly Diet was too limiting; i felt i was eating the same old foods over and over again (i NEVER want to see another avocado for the rest of my LIFE). And I prefer to be able to have certain foods in moderation, like butter and salt. etc. And i noticed, as some have said above, that you can’t simply lose weight from one place in your body before the others. There’s NOTHING in this diet that commands your body to lose weight from the stomach first. how silly! I should have known.

rose: I am 47 and had maintained my weight thru diet and exercise until I was diagnosed with a uterine fibroid. I weighed 120 and went up to 145. Spinning classes and aerobics were not helping. I figured I would lose the weight after my hysterctomy. I didnt. I gained it. After exercising, watching my food intake and trying the Hollywood Celebrity Diet which had worked in the past, my efforts were futile and I was at my wits end. I decided to try Flat Belly and follow it, and if it didnt work, I would know something was wrong. IT WORKED!!! I have not been able to get into my clothes for a year and a half, and after 2 weeks my clothes actually zip! I am back down to 125. I highly recommend it and it targeted my waist and belly which is where I was having the problem.

judy: hmm. i didn’t get any results with Flat Belly Diet. I should have known it was too good to be true, the idea of getting a flat stomach without doing a single crunch. I didn’t even lose any “overall” weight, much less specific belly weight. This one was a dud.

Judy O: I think people are having unrealistic expectations for the Flat Belly Diet. Comments such as “it didn’t give me a sculpted belly” “I didn’t get a flat belly” that is not what the diet was about. It tells you that you will lose belly fat (which you will if you eat and drink the sassy water) and inches all over and weight all over. Remember, everyone’s bodies are different and loses weight in different measures and speed. This book gives you the tools to learn how to eat less while keeping up your usual routines. It does not tell you not to excercise, it suggests walking and anything else you may be able to sustain. Come on people! you all should know by now you have to eat less, eat better foods, and move more. Move more than calories you consume. This diet is good and yes it is hard to go down to the amount of cals you need to but if you give it a chance your stomach will shrink and you will learn to eat less and keep moving therefore losing weight. Give it a chance. What? you thought after drinking a glass of sassy water and a few almonds you were going to awake to a six pack belly? I think if you take a hoodia or diet pill suppliment, learn how to eat like this most of the time and at least walk a few times a week you will see a big difference in the way you look and feel. All of these books are not fads they are methods and tools to show you how to eat the right kinds of foods for life not for 2 minutes!

bridget: Judy O. You just said that a consumer who said “I didn’t get a flat belly” about a diet called the Flat Belly Diet was being unrealistic. Getting a flat belly is not what the Flat Belly Diet is all about? Maybe they ought to change the name then because that is what i thought i was going to get. I know that to get a “six pack” or really sculpted msucles you do have to work out. But still, it seemed there was some kind of science behind this FlatBelly Diet that specifically caused weight loss from the stomach. I know this cuaght my attention and lots of other peoples too and so i wondere if the name was just a bit of a gimmick. which is not to say the diet is bad for weight loss but tis not gonna do for your stomach what you might think. I am adapting some of the better advises from this book and also i am going to buy a hoodia suppliment like you said. But yeah, they should jsut change the name then no one would be disappoitned.

JoAnn: I went on the FlatBelly Diet 11/1/08 and after 32 days lost 12 lbs and 5 1/2 inches, i was so happy, I am now on day 63 and have lost 9 total inches and lost 15lbs, I eat lots of food and this is after the holidays which I overdid. Whatever it is in all these ingredients, they are working for me. Also I used take so many naps, now i have energy, I am not irritable and I am full I actually have to force myself to eat what a pleasure. Thanks Flat belly.

kim: I started doing the Flat Belly Diet on 9/14 online program, i was very ecited that i could get a flat belly with just “food and attitude” and not a single crunchh because i have trouble with crunches due to my back. i made meals with lots of MUFAs in them, foods with olive and canola oils and also lots of nuts and occasional chocolate. I did not exercise at all as per the instructions. Well at week 4 i had lost 3 lbs and my belly looked the same. This was a severe disappointment for me as i had followed the diet quite closely. I think maybe for my metabolism, all the nuts and oils were a bit too much. I think maybe i am going to start looking for a metabolism booster and try a regular diet now. MUFAs are not a miracle cure, i hate to be the bearer of the bad news.

Eve: I have been on the Flat Belly Diet for 3 weeks and have lost about 4 lbs. I excersize regularly. This diet has been disappointing. It’s too general. The calorie intake for a 6′2″ male can’t be the same as a 5′5″ woman. My husband was trying to follow this with me and was miserable. The worst part of this diet are the recipies. Instant oatmeal, frozen waffles? yuk! Not healthy either. The recipies are embarrassingly bad for the most part. The minimal results are not worth eating so poorly. I would expect more from a nutrition magazine editor. Way to general. Doesn’t say if you can at least drink herb tea or green tea – just no tea or coffee. I don’t recommend this diet.

Jane: I was amazed that the Flat Belly Diet did not address the GI values of the foods they had you eat. I can see why people were hungry on the four day introduction. Most of the foods were very high on the GI scale. Also, the book did not address the issues of food allergies or vegetarian needs but sent you to a web site that you had to pay to sign up for advice! that should have been in the book.

lAURIE: Hi I have been on the diet for 22 days and the first 4 I lost 7 lbs and 5 inches. I did not stay on the diet like I should have so I did not lose wieght but lost 9 inches from my wieght line. What I noticed is if I don’t exercise besides my busy on the go job and eat 1200 to 1350 calories I can continue to loss wieght slowly but if I follow the diet to the T and exercise on top of what I do at work I would be able to slim down. Stress really keeps me from my goal of 30lbs and I have proven to myself that calories do count and if you really stick to the program you will lose inches and weight. Thanks

Madison: Hello, I was on the Flat Belly Diet for 5 days, not sure it counts to add a comment but oh well, I’d like to share my little experience with it. It’s basically 3 words : I was Starving! Seriously, congratulations to all of you who had success with what at first sounded like the perfect diet to me and turned out to be very extreme. I am envious of your success but at the same time I just know that this one was just not for me. I am still looking for the diet that would fit me perfectly.

Dawn: I find the Flat Belly Diet very helpful! It steers you away from artificial non-fat foods your body cannot process. I love the Mufas and have fun fitting them into different meals. I add a lot of vegetables to meals that have zero or low points and I have an exercise program that includes walking and lifting free weights. I am delighted to have discovered their book! I actually lost 6 pounds and 6 3/4 inches all over my body in the first month. And my belly looks much better!!!!

Pamela, Cleveland: You guys are amazing! How do you do it? I am so hungry and it has only been 4 days since i started the flat belly diet. I think today is my last one. Does anyone know something not as extreme? I only need to loose 10 pounds or maybe less.

Pat: I fit the required Mufas into my weight watcher points and found it really boosted the weight loss – instead of losing an average of 2.5 lbs a week I lostan aver age of 6 lbs per week. And, I never felt hungry on this diet combo. I also exercise about 30 minutes four times a week. Now that I’ve reached my goal weight, I only use occasionally when the scale tells me I need to watch it.

Este: Seems like a lot of negative comments are from people that haven’t followed this book. I found it really helpful. It’s the first time I’ve tried a diet that works. I’ve lost 15 pounds in a little under two months. It’s fun following the meals and now I’m really paying more attention to calories. I see my weight going down every day and my pants size has dropped. The MUFAs keep me from being hungry too.

Deb: My husband and I started with the 4 day anti-bloat jump-start part of the program which is what is recommended before beginning the regular part of the Diet(the remaining 28 days). After 4 days on that part of the diet and after following it explicitly, I weighed myself and found that I had GAINED 3 pounds and my husband had GAINED 2 pounds. Needless to say we were really disappointed! Because I’m 53 and dealing with metabolism issues indicative of my age and having to fight for every pound lost, I didn’t think I could afford to experiment with a possible 28 day weight gain on the rest of this diet after having just gained weight on the strictest part of the diet! So, in fairness, we’re giving the diet a “?” since we are not following through with the rest of it. We’ve decided to stick to the way we ate before this diet which had the figuratively speaking philosophy of “If you can’t grow it or shoot it, don’t eat it”. Another words – fresh fruits, veggies, grains, nuts, and animal proteins (we don’t eat a lot of meat or dairy though). Eating that way has provided me with a healthy weight loss (36 lbs.) and lifestyle change which has definitely helped to relieve the cravings for the bad stuff. Good luck everyone and I commend you all for following the path to better health…it’s not always easy is it!

Mitch: I read all the comments above and am in shock you all complain about the exercise well I have the book and it says ” even though we don’t recommend not exercising, you can do this diet without it, BUT WE RECOMMEND A DAILY EXERCISE ROUTINE.” and also those of you who complained the most gave it the first four days and said screw it….thats the wrong answer, if you give it a chance the whole 32 days you will see results. I am just starting this diet and am really looking forward to it. I gave this diet a ? cause I haven’t gotten far enough into it, but I really just wanted to say to all you lazy people who OH MY GOD I DIDN’T LOSE 15 lbs IN 4 DAYS. You’ll never lose weight or get the look you want because you’ll never stick to anything long enough to see results. I plan fully to come and comment back after the 32 days and give a full rate of the flat belly diet.

Mary: I started this diet in January 2009 and have lost 43 pounds since. I’ve had 3 c-sections and the last one created a “spare tire” around my middle that I had never had before. This was the only diet (and I hate calling it that because really what it is is a lifestyle change) that I could stick to for more than a couple of weeks and that actually worked for me. My spare tire is gone. My husband commented to me that this was the only diet that helped me lose weight over my entire body rather than just one area so I look very proportioned now. I have 16 pounds to go to get to my goal weight and I know I can do it. I’ve never felt starved or deprived on this diet and I hardly ever get cravings anymore. My exercise plan consists of walking 2 miles per day. I would like to introduce some weight training to my plan but I’m not quite ready yet. I would recommend this diet to anyone who has had trouble losing weight in the past. I’ve tried every single diet out there and so far this is the only one I’ve been able to commit to long-term.

marie: The flatbelly diet seems ok as an idea. But the book is a farce as the diet is based on USA products and as such should not be advertised anywhere else. The book is actively advertised in Australian magazines and nowhere is it mentioned that the diet suggestions, or the diet itself is fully relient on buying, and preparing, products that are not available in Australia. Nor is there a list of Australian substitutes. As such the book is useless to Australian (or other groups outside the USA /Canada) consumers. Buyer Beware!

QUEEN HUNT: Started diet on 9/11/09 lost 7 pounds as of 9/15

Julie: 9/24/09. I’m considering starting the diet, perhaps w/modifications, after reading thru everyone’s comments to date. I’m quite aware that it’s a modified Mediterranean diet, and the Mediterranean diet has good health benefits overall, so I’m willing to give it a try, as I need to lose wt everywhere! To Jane: Some of your concerns re. food allergies, etc. are addressed in the Pocket Shopping Guide (although, I noted there’s no substitution for cucumber, which I’m not allergic to, but which talks back to me after eating it, so I avoid it! I have enough problems with acid reflux as it is, so I already know what foods I’ll need to avoid, which may include the ginger and the mint! A vegetarian friend told me to put lemon juice in water, and I’ve found that helps, so perhaps that could be an alternative sassy water, for those who can’t take the original formula-I use stevia or Splenda to sweeten it; stevia doesn’t affect blood sugar levels, for any diabetics out there who need to know). I ordered the original book to look for gaps not answered in the Pocket Guide, and only found some of my answers, but probably not enough to want to keep the larger book. Marie: Take a look at the Pocket Guide to see if it’s more helpful for finding foods in your country that can be substituted. Hopefully, they’ll get the word that they need to hook up with local people to develop food lists that are more country/region specific. Otherwise, I suggest googling the ingredients of various products and brands to see what are in them that Ms. Sass thinks works best, to find your local equivalent. I got the impression from the Pocket Guide that they were already trying to address some of the concerns brought up here. Good luck to all of you, no matter which diet/exercise plan you end up on!

Alice: My husband and I started with the 4 day(torture) diet on 9/10/09. As 0f 9/30 I have lost 9.5lbs and he has lost 8.5lbs. Those first 4 days were not fun and yes, we were both hungry all the time. But after staring with the regular plan, I am full and often have to remind myself to have the snack. I live in a small town and following the diet requires special trips to a natural food store- not on my regular route. Which does require extra time and expense. But I have found it to be worth it. I make out a weeks worth of menus then shop so that I always have the ingred. on hand. The receipies I have 3 teenage boys who have no need to diet. My husband and I do our own thing for breakfast, lunch, snack then I prepare a healthy dinner for everyone- I usually offer a few extra sides for the boys. For the most part the meals have been tasty and easy (we love the Mexican Pork Tenderloin)- as with any recipe book there are some clunkers– But over all the food is good. Many of the sandwich combination are different but I like the flavors and there is so much variety that I can always find something that I want. as far as exercise– I did not do anything for the first 2 weeks- then I joined a 2xper week class and started on my treadmill for 30 min a day + some strength training. My goal is 35 pounds and I plan to follow this plan until I lose it all.

Alice: UPDATE– After 32 days of following the flat belly diet- I lot 13lbs- I did not measure myself before hand but I have lost about 2 pants sizes. After reading thru some of the above posts- I wanted to comment. This diet does cause you to lose weight only in your belly– no diet can do that. What this diet does is help you to lose weight, which affects your belly– also the food choices on this diet are the types that do not cause gas or bloating, which in turn makes your belly look flatter. No diet alone will give you 6-pack abs– cardio and strength training are a must for that. In order to lose the weight and be fit and toned you must do both- diet and exercise. Good Luck!

Jamie: This diet is wonderful. We can’t be naive and asume that we are going to have a flat stomach by just eating a healthy diet…its not possible. But what this diet does is rid out the processed foods that we Americans tend to over eat. If you do any research your will find that this diet is incredibly close to the Mediterranean diet. People that follow that diet have been proven to live longer fuller lives with less ailments. I enjoy the Flat Belly diet because it offers wholesome easy to follow recipes. If anything, you should follow the diet and make a lifestyle change. The book does not promise a miracle- you yourself need to put the time, energy, and sweat into it and you will see results. Too many people expect a miracle cure. Follow the diet and you will see some results in a month. People on the comment boards are complaining that they’re only lost 7 or 8lbs. HELLO- Do you burn just as many calories as you are eating. People need to stop blaming this book and take a good hard look at their diet and lifestyles. This book/diet is the best thing out there because you don’t cut out any foods, there is no dangerous cleanse, ect.

SaraA.: I know people are a bit put off by the fact this diet seems to make false claims about flattening your belly through diet only, I would like to point out that the creators do recommend you exercise as well – their “not one crunch” thing is literally meant to mean “we make you do ab exercises – just no crunches”. I’ve just completed the 4-day jumpstart…other than the sassy water which I could not stand and ditched after Day 2 – it was not bad at all. I lost a total of 4.8 lbs and 3.5 inches off my measurements. That’s awesome for someone like me who weighed 142.8 to begin with with measurements of 35-29-37 which went down to 138 lbs and 34-27.5-36. I did a little cardio and a little ab work during those four days to ensure I was getting as much as I can out of the Jump-start. It’s worked very well and even though I know it’s just water weight and it may not be permanent, seeing that difference on the weight scale has motivated me to continue eating healthier and exercise more since now I know I CAN lose weight. I’ve been struggling with the fifteen pounds i’ve gained since about a year ago and I’m glad I’m on my way to losing it. I’ll write another review once I’ve completed the full 32 days, but for now…definitely a thumbs up, especially for those who don’t know where to start. The structure is nice to begin with.

AshleyH: I LOVE the flat belly diet! Just finished the 4 day jump start and lost 7 pounds! Did you catch that? SEVEN POUNDS!!!! I know it is water, but heck, you’ve got to start someplace! I have read tons, and tons of things on nutrition and weight loss, I would be happy to clep a few college courses on it… and this book seems pretty darn nutritionally sound. The only other diet that I had success on was that stupid low-carb diet and I was always lethargic and sleepy and as soon as I went off, the pounds came right back on. I have not been hungry yet, the food is delicious and quick to prepare (which is important for me seeing that I am a teacher and have little spare time). This program was recommended to me by some co-workers who were able to reach their goal weight on it. I am thrilled to finally find something that I can stick to and live with. I plan to continue this diet to the book until I reach my goal weight of 125 (currently weigh 178, but I am 5′7″) and then a modified version for life. Give it a try guys and quit whining. You can do crunches all day long and not see your rock hard abs that are buried under your beer gut if you don’t adjust your eating.

AshleyH: Just felt like I should add an extra thumbs up to conteract you knuckleheads who didn’t even read the book.

Libby: WHY are people rating this who have never tried it????? I am on week 2 and didn’t go on this diet to lose weight, but rather, to straighten out some gastric problems I have. I am enjoying the diet immensely, but it may be because all of the foods it advocates are some of my faves (chocolate and peanut butter!) I am eating sooo much healthier and have much more energy. This book is so helpful because it helps you eat less calories and not feel so hungry because your body is NOURISHED with satisfying foods and you are actually getting enough healthy fats in your diets, which satisfy your body. It does tend to steer you away from processed foods and overly sweet foods. I’ve had no cravings at all. I look at calories like money- I have a budget each day that I can spend. I can exercise and do things to “earn” more calories or not- it’s up to me. Since I am a small person, I dont have many calories to spend and I HATE feeling hungry, so I try to spend my calories wisely. This diet really helps you do that. It also has helpful calorie guides and descriptions of what servings look like. The recipes are delicious and EASY!! I have lost weight and have slimmed down. how much, I have no idea. But my belly is FAR less bloated and I have had no gastric upset in over two weeks- a miracle for me!

Gayle T: I’m on day 4 of the diet and am very happy with the way i feel. my energy is higher than it’s been in a LONG time and I’m not having my usual cravings–which probably were a resut of overeating refined carbs and junk anyway. my skin looks fresh, and tho i haven’t weighed myself since beginning the jumpstart, i can feel and see a difference in clothes, etc. One thing i need to caution you all about which i discovered today, and maybe why some of you didn’t lose / lose what you’d hoped–be careful of the calorie counts in the nuts and seeds–they seem to be under-reported–some by quite a lot. check calorie websites/ books for accuracy. It is absolutely worth it to WEIGH AND OR MEASURE your portions! It is so easy to underestimate what we are actually taking in. That plus journaling to keep track of intake is very helpful and even necessary for true success. I do work out because it is such a part of my life / day i can hardly get thru a day without my “runner’s high” and cardio jump. Plus, exercise is vital for overall health–don’t knock it if you can do it. heck, i’m up by 4:15 to make sure i fit it into my busy schedule. If you can’t stand the food or feel deprived or have other issues, no law says you can’t modify it to fit your life, but everyone is different and has different body types and not everything works for everybody. Also–of course not all of us will or can get an ‘instant’ flat belly, tho fat will probably come off the belly. the human body is designed to burn fat from everywhere as it is needed or as calorie intake doesn’t meet expenditure. i can’t wait to see how the month plays out for me, and I wish all of you THE BEST OF LUCK!!

Joanna: Did anybody who gave this diet a thumbs down even read the whole book? It never says that it will give you wash board abs. It talks about targeting the bad fat that hangs around the organs around your abdomen area and helps to get rid of that. It’s not going to happen right away. The 32 day thing is just a measuring tool because americans are impatient and if they advertised ” lose 110 lbs in a year” no one would buy the book! You have to keep at something and create good habits. If you are over- weight, your abs are not going to show. You can do ten thousand crunches and have a six pack, but they will be covered by fat. To the people who say this diet is restrictive, you must have skipped the part where it says you can create you own meals-they just need to be under 400 calories and contain a MUFA. The only real limit is your imagination. I have been on this lifestyle for 28 days and have lost 13 pounds. The down side of this diet, I thought, was the 4 day jump start. I felt like I was starving to death and so after the second day, skipped to the real meals. If you are in it for the long-haul- that being, you are going to make this a lifestyle, just do yourself a favor and skip to the 1600 calories a day. I feel great eating this way and I have broken through my sugar addiction. With other diets ( I did WW)- I was starving and after about a week would have a serious binge and ruin all the progress I had made that week. Read the book and try it before you give this a bad review!

Kathy: I have been doing this for about a month. I am very active and have had a gut that I have never been able to get rid of. I have lost 6 pounds and feel like I am eating a ton of food. Any diet that allows you to eat chocolate is high on my list. I can’t say the 6 # came off just my belly because I still have a small belly but am happy with the results, so far. I think that this is more of a lifestyle change than a fad diet. It has made me more aware of what’s healthy and how important watching calories is. After you follow the meals they plan for you, it is easy to throw together your own meals. 400 calories including your MUFA and 4 times a day!!! Oh yeah, I love to eat nuts but it can be hard on your stomach so make sure you pull your MUFA’s from lots of different food groups throughout the day!!! I am usually one to diet for about a week and then absolutely blow it because I am starving. I never go hungry on this. I love dark chocolate and if I am craving it, I get to eat it!!!! Not every diet is for everybody! You just need to find one that suits you!

suzie: My husband heard about the flat belly diet on a doctor program on television and suggested I try it. I bought the book and started the program 01/04/10. I have lost 16 1/2 lbs and 7 inches !! I love to eat and this has helped me learn how to make smart choices. I have not been hungry at all. The smoothie for a snack, I can hardly finish the whole thing. I am sharing my sucess with anyone serious about losing weight. Thank you for the Flat Belly Diet !!

Sam-22: I am on the jumpstart at the moment, one of the things they say in the book is that u will never go hungry. Well why is it i am literally hungry in the arvo, straight after tea, and before bed, nearly makes me sick. FALSE ADVERTISING AND WRONG, who the hell can u go to for this…. should be illegal. I have lost only 1 kilo in 2 1/2 days!

Chris: I started the Flat Belly Diet in January 2010. Althought not overweight, I did want to drop some sizes- back to my college weight. The FBD is the easiest, best diet I have ever tried. By March 8 I had lost 17 lbs. I have since lost about 3-5 more without really trying. I do not follow it as closely as I once did, but still add the MUFAs to my meals. The best part is if I go up a little I do the jumpstart for 1 day or 2 and am right back down. I have recommended this to many people and all who have stuck to it have found tremendous success and have never felt better! It really is just mainitning a healthy way of life.

Anonymous: I love the food on the FBD. Like any program, it takes planning. I was looking at the online program and was wondering if anyone tried it and is it worth the monthly payment?

lost9lbsin7daysonflatbelly: Hi I came across this website while looking for reviews on a malibu pilates chair. I have done the flat belly diet in Jan 2010 and lost 9 pounds in 7 days. (34 YRS OLD 5 FT FEMALE, START 133LB END I was 124LBS. In my diary for myself I had written. “Wow, Scale must be broken, this is amazing” and “HOLY CRAP ANOTHER 2 POUNDS”. HOWEVER, I did not follow the diet exactly as they had written. I basically ate low carb meals with a MUFA added to each meal and snack. And I also drank lots of lemon water. I had an injury so could not work out at all! so I kept track of all THE FOOD THAT WENT IN MY MOUTH and kept my daily cal to 1300. I also skipped the 4 day anti bloat part and dove right into the diet. I was low on time and high on fat so this was a last ditch effort to get into a swim suit for our vacation in feb 2010. And best part I really did lose weight in my belly. I did not measure my belly before but I wish I had. (fyi I have done south beach diet and it took me 2 weeks to lose 8 pounds and was hard to stick to with out the mufas like the flat belly diet recommended). I think this book has lots of good educational information. So my key was lots of water, low carb meals and snacks with a mufa added to each. (I wonder how much i would have lost if i would have stuck to it longer. Its hard to stick to this diet from a swim up bar if you know what i mean. but atleast I was wearing my swim suit.)

louloubelle: Don’t know if any of you out there got tricked into a “membership” like I did, but Buyer Beware! I purchased the book and recipe book because it sounded like a diet I could be interested in. I received a phone call from my bank that my account was overdrawn and would I be able to take care of the 45.00 plus 22.00 fees. Much to my surprise, Flat Belly helped themselves to my account twice. They claimed I signed up for a membership online…this occurred when I ordered the books and the got my debit card number at that time. As I recall, the website is deceptively designed to trap you into a membership. So when I called them the best way I can describe that conversation is that I felt like I was on a Capital One commercial where the guy calls and talks to Peggy. The diet may be a good one but their marketing and business practices are very dece*tive. I told them I did not sign up for membership and to reimburse the unauthorized charges. They said they could not reimburse the fee because it was taken 3 weeks ago. Also when I asked for a confirmation # that the membership was cancelled “Peggy” gave me her operator # because the system was down and couldn’t give me one. I filed a dispute at my bank and they were kind enough to return the over 90.00 that was taken plus fees. They have more leverage than I do. So my advice to you all out their check your bank accounts, unless you really want a membership. . . 45.00 every 3 months. Hope my experience helps someone out there. Buyer Beware.

Ann: Hi. I’ve been on the Flat Belly Diet for going on eight months. I’ve lost 16 pounds (regressed a little over Christmas). I’m doing the 4-day jump start again now. I’m on day 2 and doing well. I LOVE THIS DIET!!! It’s the first time in my life that I’ve lost over 15 pounds and kept it off for so long. The trick is as with any diet: you have to do it! You can’t blame the diet if it doesn’t work. This one is easy, you get to eat every 4 hours, the portions are adequate, you get chocolate and avocados and olives and lots of other great food. One key is absolutely NO SNACKING! I haven’t eaten a chip of any kind for 8 months. They are poison if you want to lose weight. Anyway, this worked for me and I’m going to lose 10 more pounds.