This season on the Jersey Shore fans are turning into the mayhem that the cast will bring in Italy. So far a lot of things expected are happening such as non-stop partying, couple quarrels and late night guests. One thing that was totally unexpected was the dramatic weight loss of one of the rambunctious east coasters. Nicole Polizzi also known as “Snooki” dropped 17lbs and is getting the attention that her best friend, Jenni “J-Woww” received last season after her weight loss. Did all the partying get her thin or does she have a few tricks up her sleeve? Read on to find out her dieting secret.

Flipping Her Way to Fitness

Long before Snooki hit the club scene or caused public disturbances, she was an incredible athlete. She took gymnastics for 10 years starting at age 3 and later became the captain of her high school cheerleading team. Because Snooki  trained for so many years as a disciplined gymnast, the sport never really escaped her. In fact, she brought her gymnastics skills to the Wrestlemania XXVII ring not too long ago and flipped her way across the ring to defeat her opponent, Michelle McCool.

Gymnastics is an intense activity that involves plenty of jumping, flipping, stretching and posing on a mat, balance beam or gymnast bar which all not only burn plenty of calories, but also require them. So if you’re thinking of giving gymnastics a shot, remember that a very important part of the sport is diet. The ideal diet for all gymnasts, regardless of discipline or position is one that is high in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and low in fats. 

Building Situation-Like Abs

When Snooki was on the Ellen show earlier this year she told the talk show host that she has been working out and wanted to give, Mike “The Situation,” her buffed roommate a run for his money. She demonstrated three killer ab moves that make her body bikini ready. They included ball squats (3 sets of 25), standing ball slide flexion (3 sets of 25 each side) and side leg lifts (3 sets of 25 each leg).

Gym, Tan, Laundry and Zantrex-3?

Sometimes you just need a little help to get your diet going and for Snooki, that help came in the form of a diet pill called, Zantrex-3. Recently, she took to Twitter and credited her new look on the fat burning pill. She likes it so much that she the national spokesperson for the slimming supplement, according to ABC News. She takes the pill before she works out to maximize fat loss. Snooki’s sleek look does not come without a price however. Side effects of the over-the-counter pill include heart palpitations, anxiety, cold sweats, nausea, diarrhea, increased heart rate and irritability.

The Bottom Line

When Snooki does something, she does it to the extreme and that includes her diet and exercise regimen. She may be a party girl who causes drama, but she is serious when it comes to losing weight and judging by her recent paparazzi pictures, it shows.

In a Nut Shell

Pros: Snooki’s core exercises are important factors not only for her slim waist, hips and thighs, but also her gymnastic ability. In fact, according to Men’s Fitness, “building a strong core is the first step toward making maximal gains in strength and power and performing any kind of skilled athletic movement.” If you’re looking to build your core, check these exercises out.

Cons: The biggest con in Snookie’s diet and exercise routine is her use of Zantrax-3 pills. The fact that she is a spokesperson for it isn’t any better either. In an ABC news article, Dr. Keith Ayoob, associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine said, “This is outrageous. It's a perfect example of bad endorsement. It's a quick fix, potentially a dangerous one, and celebs may have a high profile, but they're often not very credible sources.”

Rating: 2 out of 4 protein shakes.