Flat Belly Cookbook Giveaway and My Plan
The weekend has flown by too quickly, however I did have quite an enjoyable and relaxing Sunday. I woke up to this a bowl full o’ warming oats (1/4 cup each of oat bran and oatmeal) topped with maple syrup, crushed walnuts and a spoonful of better n pb.
Isaac said it smelled just like waffle crisp, the cereal. I don’t think I’ve had waffle crisp since I was in high school so I can’t tell you whether or not it really did. But what I can tell you that it was tasty.
After a few hours of lounging around I made a smoothie for lunch.
This smoothie had a left over nugget of a frozen banana, frozen blueberries, almond milk, ice cubes, chocolate protein powder, and 1/2 tablespoon of maca powder. I also had 2 camera shy slices of ezekiel toast with better n pb and jelly smeared on top.
The items above have been mainstays in the EBF casa for a while now. I’m sure you all are getting a little bored so let me tell you about something new I recently received to try out.
I’d never heard of the Flat Belly Diet before receiving an email from the PR firm about this book, probably because I don’t go out searching for the latest and greatest fad diet to try, although I have tried my fair share in the past. I decided to accept this cookbook because it’s just that- a cookbook. I love to look through cookbooks, read recipes, and try new dishes so naturally I couldn’t turn down a free cookbook. Especially one that promises a flat belly.
It has more than 200 recipes (many ready in 30 minutes or less) for breakfast, soups & sandwiches, salads & sides, vegetarian meals, seafood, meat meals, snacks and desserts. Each meal contains at least one ingredient with mono-unsaturated fat acids (MUFAs), which is apparently the key to the Flat Belly diet.
Upon thumbing through pages and reading some of the content I started to get the bright idea that maybe I should indeed try this diet out. If you’ve been reading EBF for a while now, you’ll know that I don’t go around reviewing different diets and I’m not necessary looking to lose a ton of weight. I’ve been at my current and happy weight (plus or minus a few pounds) for about 7 years. With all that said, I have been teetering at the higher end of my target weight range and feeling less than stellar about my stomach so this book came at a vulnerable/perfect time. (Depending on which way you look at it).
Along with the cookbook came the Flat Belly Diet Pocket Guide (PG).
The PG basically an overview the of the Flat Belly Diet book and it contains meal plans, ideas/tips for eating out on the diet, shopping lists, etc.
The Flat Belly Diet starts with an initial 4 day Jump Start that consists of eating 1,200 calories a day of specific non-bloating foods, limiting other foods that cause bloating, and drinking a homemade water blend called Sassy Water (with fresh mint, ginger, cucumber, and lemon). After this 4 day jump start you move into the traditional portion of the diet, which is a bit more reasonable. In a nut shell, it suggests you eat 4 meals of 400 calories 4 times a day equaling 1,600 calories and every meal must have one serving of a healthy MUFA. The MUFA can be an Oil (think along the lines of olive, flaxseed, walnut, and canola oil), Nuts and Seeds, Avocados, Olives, or Dark Chocolate. You can choose the other foods at each meal and almost no foods are restricted, but there are guidelines to preparing healthy meals. Say you choose avocado as your MUFA, you’ve want to pair it with 3 ounces of lean protein, or two ounces of lean protein and 1 dairy, 2 cups raw or steamed veggies, and 1 cup of starchy veggies or 1 whole grain serving
After reading through the PG I decided that the normal part of the diet isn’t too different from how I eat on a daily basis. It recommends eating whole natural foods while incorporating a MUFA at each meal to keep hunger at bay. It also suggests to limit the amount of white carbs, saturated and trans fats and sodium. Seems reasonable right? On the other hand, there are a few things about the diet that scream fad diet- the initial jump start phase and it’s limited food choices, the “Lose up to 15 lbs in 32 Days!” written on the front of the book, etc. And, I know that MUFAs aren’t some new breakthrough to getting a flat belly fast, but the diet isn’t irrational and shouldn’t be too hard to follow, so I think I’m going to give it a shot.
Back to the cookbook, there are definitely some recipes that look delicious and I decided to try one of them out last night.
Chickpea Curry with Cashews
It was super simple to make and included chickpeas, cashews, cilantro, onions, curry and a dollop of non-fat Greek yogurt (I used Chobani). I served the dish with a side of instant brown rice. The curry was pretty tasty and I loved how quick and easy it was but it didn’t blow me or Isaac away. I think next time I would add some of my own spices just to kick the dish up a notch. The instant rice was blah…. I guess I’ve spoiled myself with regular brown rice and the instant doesn’t quite match up.
Last but certainly not least, I actually received two copies of these books (The Flat Belly cookbook and PG) and one lucky reader has the chance to win the extra copies. Simply leave a comment on whether or not you’ve ever tired a fad diet before and if it worked for you and you’ll be entered to win. The winner will be chosen next Friday October 2, 2009.
Happy Monday!
- Brittany
I don’t think I have ever tried a fad diet before! Nonetheless, I like almost all cookbooks, and this one looks fun!
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I don’t consider weight watchers a fad diet but i stuck to that “plan” and was very successful with my weight loss. It taught me how to eat real foods, and not junk! i would love to get this cookbook, it looks awesome!
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I bought the “Fat Flush” book the year after I graduated from college. Purchasing the book was about as far as I got with that one…!
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Sounds like an interesting read! I’ve never tried a fad diet, although I have bought the Eat Clean Cookbook and the South Beach Diet Cookbook.
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I havent tried a fad diet and have, for some reason, been longing to check out these books.
yes
I said it.
a plea to win
Sign me,
TACKY
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I tried Atkins a while back because I did a report on it and I was so grossed out by all of the meat and fat that I ended up not getting very far. This diet sounds neat, but I’m really just interested in the recipes!
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I have never heard of the flat belly cookbook or diet either. Looks pretty interesting. I am looking forward in hearing how your journey goes. I love looking through cookbooks as well. I have always been like that, I think I get it from my grandmother. She does the same thing. Even if it is food that I would never eat. It is fun to see what is out there.
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I have never tried any fad diets..I am not a diet person!
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OOO What a wonderful giveaway..I’ve never read this book or known anyone to go on this diet but I’m sure it’s incredibly insightful and has some interesting points….Having suffered/still struggle with IBS….a ‘flat’ belly would be a miracle to me…I would love to read this book!!!
Have a great day Brit!!
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I’ve tried the South Beach diet- pretty reasonable in terms of the calories and food choices. It did get me on the right track!
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never tried this diet, but I have read a lot about foods that can cause bloating. sadly, though, it’s a lot of my favorite foods!:( Brussel sprouts, anyone?
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I definitely tried the Atkins diet in college when I first started to try to lose the weight. NOT fun at all.
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I definitely need a kickstart back into weight loss again. I don’t think I’ve tried a “fad diet” per se, but I have done Nutrisystem (didn’t last long, bleh).
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I am guilty of having tried South Beach Diet, needless to say it was disastrous. I think I officially overdosed on string cheese. I do have to say that with trying fad diets it’s not necessarily the diet that is exciting but of that high that you feel knowing that you are doing something positive for yourself. It’s like their is this great possibility that this is it, done you have found your magic formula! It never turns out that way, but it never stops me from trying!
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i tried the atkins diet for … 2 minutes – i was sooo cranky. i lasted a week at the most. just could not live without my bread and fruit. this cookbook looks awesome!!!
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Those oats DO look tasty
Hm.. well I don’t really consider it a fad-diet, but I know that I had to do a special diet whenever I did cleanses. We should get together and make some of these recipes
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Hi lovely lady,
Thanks for your comments on my blog, as always. I’ve been meaning to email you.
I have never tried a fad diet, but would definitely be up for looking at this cookbook. I’ve been feeling pretty less-than-stellar lately as a result of the new job, stress, etc. Oh, and the fact that none of my pants fit just in time for fall. Great.
Even if I don’t win, I’d be happy to talk to you more about going in on this together. I’m totally serious- you jump, I jump. I need a kick in the @$$.
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I did join Curves for a short period of time, and do their low-carb diet plan. It was successful in the short-term, but definitely not maintainable long-term.
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Yes, I have tried fad diets. The one that worked was the Atkins diet, but I gained it all back. Now, I am healthier than ever sticking with just eating healthy! Although, I cannot seem to get rid of the belly. Oh, how I would love this book!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!
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I’ve heard the ideology behind the flatbelly diet and like you, was disturbed by all of their “lose 10 lbs in one week” or similar claims. BUT as far as the plan, foods and meals go I think it sounds legit and I’d love to try it. Too many years being told to restrict fat, I think I’ve lost grasp on healthy fats so I’d love to figure out how to incorporate them back… um plus that chickpea curry looks faaaantastic!!!
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Well the chickpeas look great, so that’s definitely points for the FB Diet! I definitely did 1 or 2 rounds of South Beach back in the day, but it made me feel weird and it was restrictive so ultimately it was an approach I ditched complately. The FB approach seems reasonable–more like just making good choices, and that’s something everyone should learn to do anyway!
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I’ve actually never done a fad diet, but I’ve been on and off plans like Weight Watchers a fair number of times!
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Ohh, I’d be interested in reading it. The chickpeas look really good too!
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I wanted to try South Beach…but I simply couldn’t get myself to do the initial part where you completely limit your intake of carbs and sweets! I’ve resorted to just eating healthy and working out on a regular basis…boring, I know…but effective nonetheless!
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I have tried slim fast and juice fasting! definitely didn’t work! tried and true exercising and calorie counting is what worked for me! the cookbook looks great!
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i would like to check this book out, for sure.. interesting! i have only done body for life, which is not as much of a fad diet as it is a lifestyle change!
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Yup. I’ve tried my fair share of fad diets in my days. They don’t work. The latest one was the grapefruit diet.
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I’m not a “new diet” seeker either, but I am a cookbook addict, so I wouldn’t mind checking that book out, if for no other reason than to find some new tasty recipes.
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Don’t know if this has ended yet or not but I will give it a shot! I’ve done the Atkins Diet two different times, lost 10 pounds both times and then immediately gained it all back (plus some) after stopping low-carb. So yeah, the fad diet thing didn’t work out so well for me!
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I’ve never tried a fad diet before but am always on the lookout for new, healthy, lo-cal recipes
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