Product: Truth About Abs 
Price: $39.95 one time
Cheapest Place to Buy: TruthAboutAbs.com
Type of Diet: All Natural Techniques
Guarantee: 60 Day Full Money Back
My Rating: 8.5 out of 10
The Truth About Abs, The Low Down
Back in the old days, people (men, mostly) tried to get huge biceps like their favorite body builders. It was just what people did. For a while, it was all about the triceps and then for a very brief moment, the back. Now, it seems that everyone is trying to get their own six pack- that rippled tummy of their dreams.
In this review we will look at whether The Truth About Abs can deliver on its promises and give you the amazing abs that you want or if you will be left with a bad taste in your mouth and an untoned middle.
Who is The Face Behind the Truth About Abs Diet?
Written by Mike Geary, The Truth About Abs is sold as a comprehensive workout program that will give you rock hard, six pack abs while raising your metabolic rate and allowing you to burn fat all day long. You receive the spiral bound workout plan that features short, intense, interval training and ab specific exercises. You also get the food and nutrition plan complete with the “healthy foods you should never eat!” and the “fat burning foods you should eat every day”.
Mike Geary is listed as a “qualified nutritionist” and a personal trainer. While he does hold a Bachelors of Science degree, it does not specifically say “nutrition” which is interesting.
Most of the reviews and blog posts skip over the fact that Geary is also an online marketer pulling in millions of dollars with his program plus the affiliate program that is attached to it. Hey, no one can fault the guy for making some money from his idea, if it is a good idea, right? So, let’s take a closer look and see if the Truth About Abs actually lives up to all of the hype.
The Claims vs. The Facts
I am going to do this a little differently this time. Let’s look at each claim individually and see if it holds up to the sniff test.
Claim 1: The workouts will increase your metabolic rate.
The Facts: The workout features short, intense interval training style programming which is sometimes referred to as HIIT training. HIIT training does have science on its side. When you work out at higher intensities than you might be used to, your body will need the extra time to recover. While your body is recovering it is still burning calories.
Claim 2: This program will work for everyone, male or female.
The Facts: There might be a problem here. The universal, one size fits all approach to fitness has been called out time and time again. Look- men and women are biologically designed to store fat in different ways. Women are designed to store excess fat in the lower body first. Men typically gain weight in the abdomen first which is why you see these guys with big guts, no butts and little chicken legs. It is genetics, it is biology and to a smaller degree, diet and lifestyle.
Geary does not differentiate between these differences and there is something more. The sales pitch itself mentions that you will “start to lose fat and your muscles will start to grow.” Uh, hold on there, Mike Geary! For some people, that whole growing muscle thing might be a problem because it will cause their stomach area to be bigger and bulkier not the toned, lean and ripped look they are going for. Do you even mention that?
Finally, on this claim: some people can be at their very fittest. Body fat percentage in the low single digits. Healthy, toned everywhere but no abs. No magical six pack to show off at the beach. No rippled lines or carved out obliques. Did they do something wrong? No. They did not. This does not get mentioned by Geary or any other fitness guru but it needs to be said: not everyone is going to have popping muscles. Not everyone can have a six pack because their muscles just will not ever show like that. It is a fact. It doesn’t mean that you are not fit with a tight, strong core- it just means that you don’t have the flashy, show off muscles.
==> Click Here to Watch the Truth About Abs Video (Male or Female) <==
Claim 3: Working mostly the abs is the way to go.
The Facts: If you focus on just one area of the body you will do: nothing. That’s right. You might feel sore for a few days and think you are really on to something but eventually your body will get really good at those exercises and they stop working. You can’t spot reduce but you can overtrain meaning that you can’t focus on one spot and make it leaner but you can make the muscles there bulkier and potentially damage them.
When you work just the front of your body you neglect the rest of your core. The core, which you have probably always thought was just your belly is more and encompasses your back and your hips. That whole area, the trunk of your body is the key to movement in other exercises, helps improve your posture and just makes you look fitter. But, if you are only working part of your core, you are not getting the full benefit. In fact, most fitness experts say that for every move you do for the front of your body, you should do two for the back. Weak back= weak core. Weak back= no six pack for you.
Claim 4: There are “magic” fat burning foods.
The facts: There is no magic food of any kind. Even the so called, negative calorie foods like celery are not magic. The truth is, the foods that we eat plus the exercise that we get plus other factors like genetics, our general health and more will play a role in how quickly we burn calories or lose weight. There is not a particular food that you can eat that will change this so dramatically that it is magic. Yes, you can eat spicy foods and that will spike your metabolism, slightly. Yes, you can eat pineapple which aids digestion. None of these things are magic though. Stop trying to make magic foods happen, Mike!
Claim 5: There are “healthy” foods that you should never eat.
The Facts: No one tells you exactly what these foods really are but seriously if they are “healthy” why wouldn’t you eat them? According to Mike Geary these foods will increase your abdominal fat.Uh, just a second there, Mike. We covered this already. There are no specific foods that will contribute directly to stomach fat because that depends on how your body stores fat, how much of the food you have eaten and other factors. But, here is this “qualified nutritionist” listing these foods and telling you to stay away. Once upon a time, people stayed away from fat. The marketers went absolutely insane with low fat this and low fat that. And everyone just got fatter and fatter. See,fat was not the mythical boogie man that people thought. You cannot just wholesale blame fat on a food, a food group or a macronutrient.
Claim 6: You can have a six pack in six weeks.
The Facts: Oh, Mike. Whatever will we do with you on this one? Look, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is bunk. Sure, if you are a person with 10, maybe 20 pounds to lose plus the predisposition for showy abs in the first place, then heck yeah, six weeks is perfectly right. But, for the person who has more weight to lose or has a hard time building muscles (and for those poor souls with the shy muscles) six weeks is not going to cut it.
The bottom line is simple. There is some interesting and useful information in the nutrition plan here but there is also some shaky science, some hype and some pure out wishful thinking as well.
And Now For a Few Negatives, The REAL Truth About Abs
While I will agree there are some good parts of this program, there are some not so good things as well. We covered some of the problems in the claims section but there are a few others as well. This is not your typical workout program where you pop on a disc and follow along with the exercises- you can’t even download the program. What you get Iis a spiral bound book with pictures of each exercise. Pictures are great for people who already know a thing or two about fitness and complex exercises but for beginners? The pictures might leave them feeling frustrated and confused. This can be remedied by Google searching the exercises by name but after you have paid for a program why should you do the extra leg work to find out how to do it?
Some of the foods with the nutritional plan are quite expensive and are likely to be out of the budget for some people, especially people with families. There are some alternatives suggested for these foods but the plan itself relies on the glycemic index which again, does not work for everyone. The plan doesn’t offer a lot of options for people who follow certain food plans for health, religious or ethical reasons either.
And now, for the negatives regarding the business side of this. Look, The Truth About Abs is a product and like any other product there are negatives about it. First, there is the really cheesy and kind of dated advertising. Come on, Mike. You are a millionaire, you can’t spring for a better sales video for your product? But, the more serious business claims move beyond the dated advertising. There are many complaints that refund requests are not being honored and that follow up emails and contact attempts are frequently ignored. There are also some claims about the reviews on Amazon including two of the four, five star reviews there. Those two reviews (Ana and Liz) are highly suspicious and make weird claims almost from the start making even the most trusting of people kind of scratch their head. If these are truly faked reviews, then the five star reviews are down to 2. (The other Amazon reviews for the Truth About Abs are: one 2 star and four 1 star.)
Finally, the one we all kind of see coming and dread all the same: the upsells. Just researching the site will be an experiment in tolerance and patience because every time that you try to leave the page another “don’t go” page will pop up. It is frustrating to try to click away and be met with four or five additional pages.
Final Verdict: Truth About Abs Can Work if YOU Work
I am not going to say this is the worst thing in the world but it could certainly be better. There is nothing really new here- I mean, we have all seen this stuff a million times. For a brand new exerciser, especially one who has never really done a lot the pictures of the exercises are going to be frustrating, confusing and of little real use. But, the program could potentially work under certain conditions.
- You have to be willing to put in the effort to your fitness.
- You have to have realistic and definable goals.
- You have to understand your own unique body and how it works.
- You have to be willing to change your eating habits, again, paying attention to your own body chemistry and what works for you and what does not.
Will the Truth About Abs give you the body that you want? That remains to be seen. Your success depends largely on what you are willing to put into it. Click Here if you are interested in learning more about the Truth About Abs program.
Great review. You really go into depth and offer a lot of helpful information. I would trust any workout program you come up with over this Mike guy.
Thanks Dennis, glad you found it helpful and I will be sure to let you know when I roll out my own diet! 🙂
Great review on a product I knew the moment I had read Mike’s over-hyped sales pitch would not work for the majority of people as claimed. You can get a great toned core by avoiding certain foods and drinks and by rigorous exercising. You don’t need to buy his program to do something that we are all capable of doing. The main reason why people are out of shape is because they eat and drink poorly and they are flat out lazy!
Thanks for bringing to light how losing weight is not a one-size fits all process. I just recently lost 30 lbs and I know first hand not everyone loses weight as easy or as quick as these weight loss programs claim. Thanks for exposing the un-truths of this program so others can be educated.
Yeah, I agree. You don’t need the program to lose weight or to get “ripped”, but for those misinformed it can definitely help. I am not a fan of over-hyped programs in any industry and that is the drawback of this program along with the sales page which I do find to be quick “lackluster” and over the top sales based (versus helpful).
Congrats on your weight loss and once you know how to cut weight like this, you can do so any time in the future (hopefully you won’t have to if you have done so as the result of a lifestyle change).
Thanks for the review. I have never been very athletic, and pictures of exercises just don’t work for me. I usually have no idea if I am doing it right, and lose interest really fast. I also don’t like claiming “magic” food. I think most of us know if we are eating things that are not very good for us. The hard part is sticking with a plan. May be helpful to have some healthy options to try.
I agree, there is no magic food but to some folks that are not aware of what they are putting in their body and the impact it can appear to be magic. The fact that there are so many people that are overweight and obese is an indication that many people don’t know exactly what they are putting in their bodies or don’t have enough information to make proper choices.
A successful diet is one that doesn’t feel like a diet…something that you can make part of your lifestyle. The more that you can learn and the more you understand, the easier this will become.
Thank you for this pointed review that uncovers several myths in a muscle building claim. Not only did you suggest several reasons to be skeptical, but your information gave me some added insights on what I may be doing wrong in my quest for a sleeker physique. Appreciate it!
Glad I could help you out Shell. There are many products out there that can help you with the process (such as this one), but ultimately the effectiveness of any diet or plan comes down to the implementation of it…in other words, you actually doing it.
I’m not one who is interested in getting “ripped” muscles. I would rather have sleek and toned ones. Thanks for the review!
Yeah, I think you are in the same boat as many. Truth about abs can definitely help you out with this as it does give you a proper eating regime but at the core of having a toned physique is a healthy diet, being careful not to overeat, and of course regular…but sustainable exercise.
Wow, this is really a great article! You did a very in-depth and honest review of The Truth About Abs. Very true, everyone is built differently and not everyone will show muscles or lose weight the same way. I go to a gym. I am in a fitness group that works out 3 times a week with weights. We all do the same exercises, BUT we do not all get the same exact results. Also, not everyone puts the same effort into the workout. There are a lot of variable that Mike Geary does not take into consideration. I agree with your final verdict. Great post!
Different people have different metabolic structure and very importantly, have much different habits. When someone works out 3 times per week and sees different results from someone else, there could be many different reasons for this.
(1) Diet
(2) Activities throughout the day
(3) Metabolism
(4) Actually effort put forth during the work outs (as you mentioned)
Mike Geary and the Truth About Abs program does take a lot of this into consideration, in particular the emphasis on the diet part. Getting abs and a defined figure is all about the diet, moreso then the exercise element.
This is such a wonderful review because you are speaking the truth. Something that most trainers find it hard to do sometimes. Personally I don’t have belly fat , but I have friends who are struggling to get rid of it. Some of them have signed up to gyms but have seen no results in months!
I will forward this website to everyone I know that is struggling with belly fat!
A lot of people have trouble burning fat and getting “in shape” because they spend too much time doing the wrong things. Truth About Abs is amongst the only programs I have come across that truly provides useful advice on how to get in shape, the right way.
It is FAR easier to eat 100 calories less than burn 100 calories. When people try to lose weight (without experience doing so), the first thing they do is jump on a treadmill or hit the weight room. This makes your more hungry, and you end up eating more calories. The problem, this can often times lead to weight GAIN if you aren’t tackling your diet at the same time. The reason I see most people failing with their diets.
Sure, it is about exercise. But more importantly, it is about eating less calories.
I practice yoga to keep in shape and I agree with you that working only one body part is definitely not the fastest way to get a toned stomach. What I’ve learned from yoga is that the core surrounds the entire middle of the body and if you only focus on your abs then you take the risk of weakening the surrounding muscles instead!
It took me over a year of yoga practice to start seeing abs so the claim about it only taking 6 weeks is crazy! It really does just depend on how much each person is willing to work and not look for a quick fix.
Does the diet plan that is included in The Truth About Abs customize to different dietary restrictions?
Yoga is a wonderful way to get into good shape, not just physically but mentally. Me lifting weights my whole life, I know that because you have muscle doesn’t lead to physical health. Flexibility is just as important if not more as keeping your muscles pushing hard.
The thing about abs though is that we all have them hidden underneath a layer of fat, it is the removal of that fat (which is not done through ab exercises, rather dieting), that will lead to the ripped look. Exercise like Yoga and isolated ab exercises can lead to bigger abs, but they will not be of any benefit until that layer of fat has been dissipated. The cart before the horse scenario.
The Truth About Abs program is customized based on male/female and does have some different options in terms of diets (and of course there are restrictions, you can’t get ripped eating ice cream although it would be nice). It definitely caters to both genders.
It’s interesting that people are so interesting in having great abs. In my honest opinion 6-pack is a little bit overrated. (maybe I’m just saying it because I don’t have it myself 😉
Anyway, this program seems quite okay but as any program out there they won’t give us the instant results. The results always depend on our own efforts. Having a 6-pack requires quite low fat and too low fat isn’t even healthy.
Great in depth review on the ab program man! I was curious to see what more did these ab programs offer as compared to those iphone apps that shows you workouts to follow. Thanks to your in depth review, it turns out that they are no different! Because it falls on your own discipline to make things work isn’t it? Because to lose fats you must first take action, you can’t just sit there and hope the program works by itself. Don’t you agree Kyle?
There is no weight loss solution that will do the work for you. That is something that many people have a tough time figuring out, they think if they buy a supplement, a powder, a magazine, or a guide, they will experience results. The actuality is the results come from a combination of diet and exercise…and a ton of hard work and regiment.
This excellent critique really blew Mike out of the water! Your facts are excellent, especially in debunking the “magic bullet” approach to weight loss foods and the diet-for-everybody approach.
I know as a trainer myself that some people will never look cut, or even defined, although their muscles can be strong and toned.
And I personally think that the goal of the six pack abs or exceptional muscle definition drives some people to lose too much body fat, seek “natural” steroid products, and work out too hard without muscle recovery time.
Or buy a product like this one!
I would really have to agree with you there. People reach a certain point in their weight and physical look and it is usually at the point where they are just about to see their “abs”. To get to the defined look though, we often times start looking for things that aren’t naturally because you almost have to be a freak to look like someone on the front of a magazine or you need a caloric intake that is far less than the average joe.
Nice write up, thanks!
I was skeptical about Mike’s claims also. When someone offers me so much while asking for so little from me my scam radar goes off.
I’m not diet/exercise expert but I do watch what I eat and exercise as much as I can and that’s how you get results — and not all results are the same.
And Mike’s one-size-fits-all claim ( regardless of sex or body type) tells me not to look at his program any longer.
Thanks for helping me steer clear of this product!
Every program will work a bit differently for everyone. Everyone has a different type of diet, allergies, taste preferences, health differences, habits, exercise capabilities, and of course size/weight. I don’t think a catch all type diet is the best approach, but I do think that many elements of Mike’s diet are very good. Not for everyone, but beneficial to some folks.
Outstanding article!Thanks! Optimal nutrition of the individual and human communities,it is of course to ensure good health, for prevention of pathological conditions nutritional influenced,we must be convinced that maintaining and recovering health is through dietary means.It is true that the basis of our diet should consist of foods of plant origin.No food can bring alone all the nutrients the body needs, only a varied diet, moderate and balanced.
You can exercise all you want, but it doesn’t mean you are healthy. I actually know many people that are quite fit, but it doesn’t mean they have their health because of the means of how they get fit and what they ingest into their bodies.
The thing that I really do like about the Truth About Abs program and something that I really feel is important to health, is the fact that there is not just the emphasis on fad dieting or exercise, but rather something that is much more sustainable in terms of lifestyle…healthy eating.
I do agree with you that there is no magic food of any kind. However I don’t think Mike means magic in the full meaning of the word .I take it to be a figure of speech in which the word is applied to a result to which it is not literally applicable.
Definitely a figure of speech and I would agree that this product is not claiming to be “magical”, but weight loss itself by virtue can seem magical when it is just falls off! I do feel this is one of the better, well researched and realistic programs out there.
Thanks for revealing the truth about abs.
As a bit of an old-timer, I’m concerned with the social obsession we have with our appearance, whether it’s six-pack abs or silicone enhanced body parts.
What makes this obsession so crazy is that at any given moment we are bombarded with conflicting information about what is healthy.
A guy can spend his money and torture himself only to realize nobody cares.
I’ve seen a lot of fads come and go. Meanwhile, people are fatter and sicker.
Quite often the images we see of people with trim bodies are models who follow an unrealistic regiment of rest, diet, exercise and questionable supplements for a short, targeted amount of time.
Even the models don’t look that great all of the time.
Regarding health and appearance, what I have seen that works best is to find a diet and exercise program you enjoy and practice accepting who you are.
I think you nailed it when you said fads come and go. Health is not a fad though and should not be treated like it, too many focus on the next quick fix. It is actually very similar to the “money” world where people play the lottery looking to get themselves out of debt, when that is not reality, it is costly and it only works for a minuscule % of people.
If you treat your health as something a bit more scientific, calorie consumed vs. calories burned, you are going to not only be able to regulate your body by eating NORMAL foods (just in moderation), you are going to be able to lose and maintain your weight. The Truth About Abs works a lot more along these lines, it focuses much less on the fad side of dieting and more on the education component. This is how you can achieve long term and sustainable weight loss.