strong flat abs basically come from the *kitchen*(diet); eat healthy foods, exercise regularly but not obsessively, get enough sleep, and continue to educate you self about nutrition and exercising.
drinking your water is so important...if you dont drink your water your body will retain what it can cause it feels its starved of it...so im thinking when you do drink it your body quickly retains it (i.e some bloating) if you drink the amount your suppose to everyday i assure you that in the end it wont make you feel like that at all...
but again..the abs diet is to help you learn to eat healthy..which just that in general will *help* you get the look and feel you are looking for