Few fitness goals are as prized and yet elusive as compact, well-defined abdominal muscles, the so-called '6 pack abs.' Even men without equivalent goals for huge arms, extensive lats or massive pectorals will pull up their shirts in front of a mirror and survey their midriffs. They are also one of the few aspirations pursued with equal zeal by both males and females and when achieved are worn as badge of pride by both genders; and rightfully so for it's not easy to develop a nice 6 pack. Here are a few tips that could prove helpful.
## Improve your diet.
The single leading blunder that individuals make when trying to get 6 pack abs is failing to sufficiently alter their diet. Unlike pectorals and biceps (for example) the abdominals are nestled deeper in the body and are consequently more naturally shrouded in body fat. This has absolutely no bearing, needless to say, on your ability to develop the muscle group BUT even well-developed, rock hard abs aren't a 6 pack unless they are seen. This is precisely what makes the goal of a 6 pack so challenging; it's a product not just of the muscle group itself but also of overall body fat index.
## Eat differently but not necessarily less.
If you are trying to build any muscle group it is far better to lose weight by watching what it is you are eating rather than focussing too much on how much you are eating. Now clearly, if you are drastically overeating that needs to be brought under control but that aside it is more beneficial to eat smarter rather than eat less. Muscle development requires calories and so dramatically choking off your caloric intake will only hamper your efforts. Also if you are running too high a daily caloric deficit your metabolism will shift so as to reduce weight loss; this is a perfectly natural mechanism by the way, designed to fend off starvation. Eat healthier, less processed food. Avoid refined sugars and flour. Eat whole grains in the place of refined grains. And, if you are serious about shedding that body fat, cut out alcohol entirely.
## Prepare to exercise a great deal..
There are plenty of good ab workouts (and fat burning workouts for that matter) circulating in gyms and online where, if you were so inclined, you could likely find a different abs exercise video for every day of the year. Most workouts will feature crunches, sit ups, leg lifts and static holds. A few bits of advice:
- make sure you know how to do ANY exercise properly before you start as it is easy to strain your back or neck or even your abs if you enthusiastically throw yourself into an exercise without the correct form
- for effective muscle growth you must afford muscles a chance to rebuild this means you cannot be doing killer workouts every day alternate your exercise days with cardio days
- drink lots of water
- if you're aggressively developing your ab muscles make sure to develop your back muscles and the rest of your core at the same time
## Have patience.
Don't get discouraged if you don't have a tidy little 6 pack after a couple of weeks. Don't give up. More importantly don't get impatient and try to force the issue either by starving yourself or overdoing it at the gym.
There is a reason why 6 pack abs are so sought after. Apart from the sheer aesthetics of a nice set of abdominals, a good 6 pack, by virtue of how hard they are to achieve, shows that you have really put in the work and are serious about your body, your health and the way you look.
## Improve your diet.
The single leading blunder that individuals make when trying to get 6 pack abs is failing to sufficiently alter their diet. Unlike pectorals and biceps (for example) the abdominals are nestled deeper in the body and are consequently more naturally shrouded in body fat. This has absolutely no bearing, needless to say, on your ability to develop the muscle group BUT even well-developed, rock hard abs aren't a 6 pack unless they are seen. This is precisely what makes the goal of a 6 pack so challenging; it's a product not just of the muscle group itself but also of overall body fat index.
## Eat differently but not necessarily less.
If you are trying to build any muscle group it is far better to lose weight by watching what it is you are eating rather than focussing too much on how much you are eating. Now clearly, if you are drastically overeating that needs to be brought under control but that aside it is more beneficial to eat smarter rather than eat less. Muscle development requires calories and so dramatically choking off your caloric intake will only hamper your efforts. Also if you are running too high a daily caloric deficit your metabolism will shift so as to reduce weight loss; this is a perfectly natural mechanism by the way, designed to fend off starvation. Eat healthier, less processed food. Avoid refined sugars and flour. Eat whole grains in the place of refined grains. And, if you are serious about shedding that body fat, cut out alcohol entirely.
## Prepare to exercise a great deal..
There are plenty of good ab workouts (and fat burning workouts for that matter) circulating in gyms and online where, if you were so inclined, you could likely find a different abs exercise video for every day of the year. Most workouts will feature crunches, sit ups, leg lifts and static holds. A few bits of advice:
- make sure you know how to do ANY exercise properly before you start as it is easy to strain your back or neck or even your abs if you enthusiastically throw yourself into an exercise without the correct form
- for effective muscle growth you must afford muscles a chance to rebuild this means you cannot be doing killer workouts every day alternate your exercise days with cardio days
- drink lots of water
- if you're aggressively developing your ab muscles make sure to develop your back muscles and the rest of your core at the same time
## Have patience.
Don't get discouraged if you don't have a tidy little 6 pack after a couple of weeks. Don't give up. More importantly don't get impatient and try to force the issue either by starving yourself or overdoing it at the gym.
There is a reason why 6 pack abs are so sought after. Apart from the sheer aesthetics of a nice set of abdominals, a good 6 pack, by virtue of how hard they are to achieve, shows that you have really put in the work and are serious about your body, your health and the way you look.
About the Author:
Does your 6 pack abs workout seem boring to you? Then forget it and start exercising with Peter Carvell from Sixpackfactory.com. Check out the website for free nutrition videos and advice on 6 pack abs.
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