The Abs Diet is a nutritional diet created by Men's Health Magazine editor David Zinczenko. It is designed to be implemented as a life-style change.The diet emphasizes the so-called Twelve Power Foods. The diet recommends six small meals spread throughout the day. Each major meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) should contain at least three of the Power Foods. The snacks should contain at least one "Power Food".

January has been a month of abstinence for me. Not exactly a diet, but no booze, no coffee, no cows’ milk, no crusty bread, no hard cheese and no red meat. Despite constant cravings, I’ve eaten well. I’ve learnt to love goats’ milk, become a master at steaming and poaching – particularly fish – and a whiz at making a meal of salad.

My sixth and seventh day on the cabbage soup diet,which promises fast weight loss based on eating unlimited quantities of a cabbage-based soup which costs more calories to digest than it provides, so you can eat enough to feel full and still lose weight.

My fifth day on the cabbage soup diet,which promises fast weight loss based on eating unlimited quantities of a cabbage-based soup which costs more calories to digest than it provides, so you can eat enough to feel full and still lose weight.

My fourth day on the cabbage soup diet,which promises fast weight loss based on eating unlimited quantities of a cabbage-based soup which costs more calories to digest than it provides, so you can eat enough to feel full and still lose weight.

Day 3 of testing the Cabbage Soup Diet, with some thoughts on the Raw Food diet and Instinctive Eating (Instincto).