With the overwhelming amount of information today directed at showing people how to get perfect abs, it can be difficult to separate the hype from the help.
A chiseled six pack may be far easier for some to achieve than others, but the two fundamental principles behind great abs are no mystery.
How these principles are applied, however, can spell success or failure for those who desire the perfect abdominal form.
The path to perfect abs is no mystery.
Building abdominal muscle mass and losing body fat, achieved through exercise and diet, are the two keys to understanding how to get perfect abs.
Exercise alone won't do it; perfectly formed abdominals resting beneath a layer of fat will never show through.
Likewise, underdeveloped abdominals are not flattering, even when body fat is extremely low.
A great exercise and diet program should be tailored to individual body types, capabilities and levels of commitment.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution, regardless of the claims made by some.
There are, however, some practical guidelines that can help to jump start the process.
Exercise.
o Forget about spot reducing.
Exercising the abs does not target belly fat.
Just as you cannot drain one corner of a bathtub, body fat is not lost in certain areas by exercising those areas alone.
Cardio workouts and certain high intensity training techniques are most effective at burning calories, and thereby reducing overall body fat.
o Exercise your abdominals for the purpose of building muscle.
Choose a routine that builds not only the abdominals, but also the internal and external oblique muscles.
o Learn the exercises that are proven to be the most effective.
Bicycle crunches and captain's chair exercises top the list for both abdominal and oblique results.
Avoid expensive gimmick equipment.
Crunches done properly with a simple ab exercise ball are far more effective than crunches alone.
Change your diet.
Like exercise, an honest discussion of diet can only be touched upon here, but there are a few principles that are highly beneficial and easy to apply.
o Eat smaller meals and eat more often.
o Drink more water.
Drink at least one full glass with every meal.
o Add one new food to every meal.
Make it something red, green, orange or purple.
o Substitute fish for red meat at least three times per week.
o Eat whole grains instead of processed flour.
o Avoid eating late at night, when your body needs fewer calories.
A chiseled six pack may be far easier for some to achieve than others, but the two fundamental principles behind great abs are no mystery.
How these principles are applied, however, can spell success or failure for those who desire the perfect abdominal form.
The path to perfect abs is no mystery.
Building abdominal muscle mass and losing body fat, achieved through exercise and diet, are the two keys to understanding how to get perfect abs.
Exercise alone won't do it; perfectly formed abdominals resting beneath a layer of fat will never show through.
Likewise, underdeveloped abdominals are not flattering, even when body fat is extremely low.
A great exercise and diet program should be tailored to individual body types, capabilities and levels of commitment.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution, regardless of the claims made by some.
There are, however, some practical guidelines that can help to jump start the process.
Exercise.
o Forget about spot reducing.
Exercising the abs does not target belly fat.
Just as you cannot drain one corner of a bathtub, body fat is not lost in certain areas by exercising those areas alone.
Cardio workouts and certain high intensity training techniques are most effective at burning calories, and thereby reducing overall body fat.
o Exercise your abdominals for the purpose of building muscle.
Choose a routine that builds not only the abdominals, but also the internal and external oblique muscles.
o Learn the exercises that are proven to be the most effective.
Bicycle crunches and captain's chair exercises top the list for both abdominal and oblique results.
Avoid expensive gimmick equipment.
Crunches done properly with a simple ab exercise ball are far more effective than crunches alone.
Change your diet.
Like exercise, an honest discussion of diet can only be touched upon here, but there are a few principles that are highly beneficial and easy to apply.
o Eat smaller meals and eat more often.
o Drink more water.
Drink at least one full glass with every meal.
o Add one new food to every meal.
Make it something red, green, orange or purple.
o Substitute fish for red meat at least three times per week.
o Eat whole grains instead of processed flour.
o Avoid eating late at night, when your body needs fewer calories.
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