Eat everything. Concentrate on whole grains. Drink milk. Balance protein with carbohydrates. Avoid processed sugars. Do some exercise. The idea that a diet book making such proposals comes as a pleasant surprise shows just how far afield we've gone in the search for new ways to be fit.

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association have updated their physical activity guidelines. The guidelines for healthy adults under age 65 recommend moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week. You should also do eight to 10 strength-training exercises, eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week.

Not really a diet — more of a healthy eating plan, The Abs Diet is a six-week plan to flatten your stomach and keep you lean for life. The only thing new about this diet by the editor-in-chief of Men's Health is its name, and this, one can presume, is because nowadays, a book simply called "Sensible Eating" wouldn't sell. The book's title is indeed misleading; only the final chapter deals solely with abs. The rest is full of rational recommendations for a realistic diet plan. Eat more and smaller meals; have oatmeal in the morning for a nourishing breakfast; don't starve yourself; drink plenty of water; and stay away from sodas and foods that contain high-fructose corn syrup. Whether readers will, in the end, walk away with abs of steel is not really the point. They'll control their weight in a healthy way, without counting calories, cutting out whole food groups or supporting the beef futures market. Best of all, this book tells readers why it works: increase your body's metabolism, gain some muscle and fat burns away. The authors make this seem like a fresh and very attainable ideal. Strong abs and flat stomachs are the ultimate indicator of overall health. Great abs will help you live longer, sleep better, prevent back pain, and significantly improve your love life!

A tape measure, not just a bathroom scale, may help you better assess your heart disease risk! A recent study found that people with a larger waist-to-hip ratio may be at increased risk for heart disease. People who develop fat around the middle have more atherosclerotic plaque than those who have smaller waist-to-hip ratios. The risk is the same for both men and women who develop abdominal fat. Waist-to-hip ratio has demonstrated stronger correlation for cardiovascular risk than body mass index (BMI). The key message for people is to prevent accumulation of central fat early on in their lives. To do so, they will need to develop lifelong dietary and exercise habits that prevent the development of the ‘pot belly.’

The Abs Diet is a sensible eating and exercise plan, not a fad diet. The Abs Diet is designed to make you fit, healthy, and lean for life. If you want to get on top of your game, this is where you start. Remember: Don't cheat yourself, treat yourself... — Dwayne Johnson, The Rock

You could spend years on starvation diets and extreme exercise programs that never unearth those elusive stomach muscles. Or you could spend just six weeks with David Zinczenko, Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health magazine, on The Abs Diet — an easy and effective program for everyone that is helping thousands of people lose weight, flatten their guts, banish post-pregnancy bellies, and become healthier than they ever thought possible. What's more, once on this revolutionary new diet you'll look and feel better than ever without deprivation dieting, counting calories, measuring foods, worrying about confusing phases-or ever feeling hungry! Six weeks to superior strength and sexy symmetry every man — and woman! — longs for. USA UK Canada

The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide A portable companion to the larger Abs Diet, 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. USA UK Canada

The Abs Diet Get Fit, Stay Fit Plan Tens of thousands have changed their bodies and their lives with the help of The Abs Diet, the New York Times bestseller from David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men's Health magazine. Now, to meet the demand for more information about exercise, Zinczenko and coauthor Ted Spiker present readers with dozens of workouts and hundreds of exercises that they can do any time and any place for fabulous body-altering results. The Abs Diet Get Fit, Stay Fit Plan introduces a new workout system — ABS3 — based on simple, highly effective principles: A: Abdominal exercises strengthen your core B: Big muscle groups increase metabolism S: Speed intervals, not slow cardiovascular exercise, burn fat faster 3: 3 days a week is all you need to see results Workouts are flexible, varied, and quick and can be completed in less than 20 minutes. USA UK Canada

The Abs Diet Workout DVD has been enjoying favorable reactions from many users, and it's easy to see why, as "host" and fitness trainer Tom Holland has designed a regimen that's brisk, efficient, thorough, and fun. Disregard the hype that calls it "a way of life" instead of simply a diet or exercise program. On the other hand, Holland's claim that The Abs Diet Workout will increase metabolism and help lose fat and build muscle is very likely true, assuming one dutifully does the exercises and follows the diet guidelines and menus as directed. The exercise portion offers a brief warm up (running in place, jumping jacks, simulated jump rope), followed by a choice of three abdominal routines; the latter vary in difficulty from beginner to advanced, but all three are designed to work the upper, lower, and oblique abs, as well as the transverse abdominis muscle and the lower back. The "circuit training" portion also has three options, each including squats, lunges, quad and hamstring stretches, pushups, and various exercises for the arms (the use of dumbbells is recommended). USA UK Canada

The Abs Diet Workout 2 DVD The perfect home fitness program for beginners as well as those experienced with the Abs Diet system. The program provides motivation and demonstrates an exercise regime that anyone can fit into their day, and is designed so that viewers can watch it over and over. The Ads Diet Workout 2 is also incredibly flexible, providing workout programs for 3, 4, 5 or 6 day a week structures, along with exercise options of varying intensity as your fitness level increases. The Abs Diet Workout 2 introduces a new workout system — ABS3 — based on simple, highly effective principles to help you lose weight and tone your body. USA UK Canada

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Men's Health Magazine A lifestyle magazine dedicated to showing men the practical, possible and positive actions that make their lives better, with features covering fitness, relationships, nutrition, careers, grooming, travel and health issues. Articles for men on fitness, exercise, nutrition, grooming tips, fashion, new products and men's health questions. Men’s Health is the magazine for active, successful, intelligent men who want to make the most of their physical, professional and emotional lives. USA

Men's Health 2008 Deluxe Wall Calendar From head to toe, you’ll get all the moves you need to sculpt bigger, stronger muscles, lose those extra pounds, and burn more calories around the clock. Since you’ll be mixing up your routine all year long, the 2008 Men’s Health Fitness Calendar helps you beat workout plateaus before they start. The core-specific workouts are designed to reveal and strengthen muscles men and women desire most. Forget endless hours of repetitive crunches... the fitness editors at Men’s Health have rounded up the moves that are proven to reveal your six-pack, build core strength, and create a healthier foundation for your whole body. Better yet a lean, healthy man, with food and nutrition advice every month. USA

Pilates was designed by a man for men. And more and more health-conscious men are turning to Pilates to strengthen the body's core, increase muscle power and suppleness, address posture and stress-related conditions, and speed recovery from injury. Pilates for Men

LL Cool J works out hard and it shows. Most of his fans believe the veteran MC looks better today than he ever did. Now, James Todd Smith and his personal trainer are providing the general public with the blueprint on how to get in pristine shape with their new fitness book, LL Cool J’s Platinum Workout. LL Cool J's Platinum Workout

Perfect Pushup will get you ripped! These rotating push up stands put a new spin on the most popular upper body exercise — the push up! Get measurable results in your chest, arms, shoulders, back and abs with greater comfort and control in 10 work outs. Perfect Pushup

Millions of people have wasted time and money trying fad diets that simply won't work and in some cases even put their health at risk. But that doesn't mean you can't shed unwanted pounds. Finally, here is a scientifically based diet that will not only help you lose weight, but will improve your overall health. Extreme Fat Smash Diet

Billy Blanks created Tae Bo over 20 years ago. Now he has made it even better with his new Amped workout that takes Tae Bo’s fat burning, muscle toning power to a whole new level. It's called "amped" because it amplifies Tae Bo's power to sculpt muscle, firm abs, and attack fat for maximum results. Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Amped