As a measure of our own health and fitness, the stomach muscles are perhaps the best barometer. A clearly defined set of six pack abs is a sure sign that a person is in peak physical condition, and this is why we all strive to achieve this goal. Perhaps more so than any other muscle group, the stomach muscles are the hardest to develop. This is due to the fact that not only must muscle be built, but in order for the abdominal muscles to be discernible, you must attain a level of body fat low enough to show this underlying muscle.
There is a vast amount of information available on the internet about how to get a set of ripped abs. Various source recommend arduous stomach exercises, other sources recommend starvation diets. The truth is that neither of these work. Too much stomach specific weight training can result in over fatigued muscles. Reducing your calories and hence protein intake will deprive your muscles of the fuel they need to survive, and they will then shrink. As you lose muscle, your metabolism will also slow, making it harder to burn off fat. Getting a set of defined abs is a relatively simple process, involving a combination of exercise and adhering to a sensible diet.
The diet is the most important factor regarding the development of six pack abs. Everyone at your gym has a set of stomach muscles, even the overweight members. However, it is only the people with the relatively low body fat levels who have the sought after visible six pack. It is a fact that with most people, excess fat is stored around the mid-section. What this means is that with any weight loss program you undertake, the last body part to look lean will be your middle, and therefore abdominal muscles will remain hidden until you are at an advanced stage of your weight loss/exercise program. So while developing your stomach muscles is pretty much the same process as developing any other muscle, perhaps more emphasis should be placed on sticking to a high protein/low fat diet.
The stomach muscles are slightly different from other muscle groups in that they don't really increase in size that much, no matter the exercise you do. They do get stronger as a result of the exercise though, and as body fat reduces they become more visible, and more clearly defined. As previously mentioned, diet is more important than the actual exercise when it comes to the abdominal muscles. Over training them will not make them bigger, instead it can actually weaken the muscle group, which is not what we want. Do abdominal specific training a couple of times a week, stick to the low fat/high protein diet, and this will produce the set of stomach muscles you are looking for.
There is an enormous variety of routines you can do to develop your mid-section. There is no recognized 'best' exercise, as what works for one person may not work for someone else. Try a combination of crunches, squats, leg raises and side crunches as well as all the other exercises you can do. Switch your routines on a regular basis, to prevent your body from becoming used to one set of exercises. Do 3-5 sets of high reps rather than low reps, with minimal rest time between the sets.
So to sum up, there is no short cut you can take to get a set of six pack abs. You will only achieve this through a combination of exercise routines and adhering to a sensible diet. The exercises themselves are such that you could probably do them 2/3 times per week before you go to work, but the biggest challenge you will face is sticking to the low fat diet in order to make your newly strengthened muscles visible.
Rob Stephens is the editor of muscle-facts.com, a site dedicated to providing visitors with articles and
tips on how to Burn fat and build muscle. Muscle-Facts.com focuses on topics such as how
to develop 6 pack abs, build bigger biceps and burn body fat while building muscle. You can also download
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