Previously in this series: The Power Abs Diet.

If you really want shrink-wrapped abs, then it is time to start paying close attention to what you eat.

It does not take a runway-model diet or squirrel-like portions at dinnertime. Rather, it requires a few minor tweaks over a few weeks, which is what the Power Abs Diet is designed to do.

The following supplements go along with the Power Abs Diet; they’re designed to help you shed bodyfat, keep energy levels high, and maintain strength and muscle mass; or so they say.

While I would recommend taking green tea extract and fish oil for overall health benefits, I do not think the rest of the supplements are necessary. Here is the list as it is described in the Power Abs Diet:

Green Tea Extract: Due to its active ingredient epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), green tea extract offers numerous benefits, from preventing cancer and heart disease to promoting joint health.

However, the benefit that should excite you most is the drop in bodyfat associated with it: EGCG works to increase your metabolic rate and free up bodyfat by preventing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE, which is similar to adrenaline).

Dose: Take 200-500 mg of green tea extract standardized to 50% EGCG in the morning, preworkout and around dinnertime.

Carnitine: Carnitine helps transport fat into the power plants of cells – known as mitochondria – where fat is burned to produce energy.

When carbohydrate intake is low and you’re relying more on fat for energy, consuming carnitine can maximize the use of fat and minimize the use of amino acids for fuel.

It also helps maintain testosterone levels and increases the amount of testosterone receptors within muscle cells (which means more testosterone working to encourage muscle growth).

Dose: Take 1-2 grams of L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine in the morning, preworkout and in the evening.

Carnosine: High amounts of carnosine are found in muscle cells, where it improves muscle force (strength). Research shows that muscle cells with high carnosine levels are stronger due to the dipeptide’s ability to buffer the acidity that builds during muscle contraction.

Dose: Take 1-1.5 grams of carnosine pre- and post-workout.

Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAS): The amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine comprise the BCAAs. During exercise or when calories are very low, the BCAAs in muscle fibers are broken down preferentially and converted into glucose for energy.

If you don’t replace these BCAAs, your muscles become fatigued and you lose muscle mass.

Dose: Take 5-10 grams in the morning and pre- and postworkout.

Fish Oil: Fish oil contains the essential omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which can encourage your body to use other fats as energy.

Plus, they help prevent muscle breakdown, enhance mental and immune function, improve cardiovascular health and encourage joint recovery.

Dose: Take 1-3 grams of fish oil with breakfast and dinner. [source: M&F]