Zabo knew how to build 8-pack abs.
If you’re having trouble burning off body fat and developing a razor-sharp set of abs, maybe it’s time you started skipping some meals.
Yes, I know. All the “gurus” tell you to eat 5,6,7, or even 9 times a day. And that’s fine advice if you’re trying to bulk up.
But if you want to strip off some body fat and get back down to your “fighting weight”, maybe you should try eating just twice per day.
It worked for Irvin “Zabo” Koszewski, winner of “best abs” in multiple bodybuilding contests back in the 1950’s.
Reports indicate that “Zabo” ate only two meals per day — breakfast and an evening meal. He mainly ate vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, poultry and milk. However, later reports show that he severely cut down on his dairy intake especially before a contest.
So if you want to build 8-pack abs like Zabo, try eating just two meals per day. Don’t worry about portion control. Eat as much as you need to be full. Focus on fruits, veggies, eggs and meat. Continue with your regular weight training and add one or two easy cardio sessions per week — a light jog or a pick-up b-ball game with friends.
Follow this schedule for the next four weeks. Not only will you end up with better abs, you’ll also have more time and more money in your pocket since your food bill (and your waist) will have shrunk down to size.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a good idea but wouldn’t restricting your diet that much result in massive muscle loss going from for example, 5 meals a day to two.
I think the whole “massive muscle loss” thing is a bit of a myth.
If you starve yourself, do no resistance training whatsoever and 3 hours of cardio, then yeah — you will lose some muscle.
But if you simply reduce your caloric intake by eating only two meals a day, and continue to train your muscles against some sort of resistance, most people will not see any significant muscle loss.
Massive muscle loss doesn’t happen that easily. You could probably get by on one meal a day, weight train, and you wouldn’t lose muscle. You probably would have a hard time gaining any significant muscle but that is another story. The need for post workout drinks to stimulate growth and stop muscle loss is also way overplayed in today’s weight training culture. Try eating a nice sized breakfast and a nice sized dinner and do your workout at midday-depending on the size of those meals you will still gain or maintain muscle. Pre and post workout protein/carb powders are not “essential.” They are nicely convenient and have their advantages when trying to gain muscle while maintaing a healthy eating “style”, but people can make great progress without them. Nice article Matt.
Matt and Thomas,
I think you guys are on to something because the only time that I lost any muscle mass is when I was killing myself eating very low calories and training with KBs 5-6 day/weeks, and that’s not including doing HIIT twice a week!
I was an emaciated 177 pounder who still had stubborn fat and only a 4 pack! I could literally feel my shoulder joints.
There’s too much hype in the fitness and supplement industries, and I’m starting to realize that eating is over-emphasized in this country.
Good post Matt …
Interesting, this goes against the grain on every modern level since nowadays the general consensus you got to eat something every 3 hours at least, even to lose weight.
Yet when you read up on this guy and see how he had the best abs in bodybuilding in his time and ate like this it really makes you wonder if we got it twisted.
What about older bodybuilders like me? I’m 58 and when I reduce my intake, such as the 3 different times when I went on Dave Draper’s famous tuna and water regimen, or even when I take just two meals daily as suggested. I DO get cut up real good, but I also lose at least a half an inch on my biceps and other places take a hit as well. My gurus say, “Don’t worry. With a smaller waist, your shoulder will look larger even though they’ve lost some size.” But I hate losing size and strength too. I seem to lose about 10% on most lifts when I reduce intake. Thanks, Bob
Good comment Bob.
You can always expect a slight loss of size when switching from a high-carb diet to a low-carb diet. However, this is only temporary and the size should return when you re-introduce some carbs into your system.
The problem with the “tuna and water” approach is that it’s low in carbs AND low in fat. If you tried more of a high-fat, high-protein, low carb approach, you’d most likely keep more strength and feel better as well.