Optimizing Your Ab Workout: Finally Burn Belly Fat And Get Your 6 Pack Abs
There are many myths about a lot of different types of exercises, but none seems to be as pervasive as the abdominal workout. No matter what gym I go to I always see someone pumping out 200 crunches in the corner. Sometimes I’ll see some guy doing medicine ball throws and I’ll ask him how many is he up to. He’ll tell me something like “40 reps,” while the sweat rolls down his cheek. After several months of exercise, their abs still look the same. Why is that? It is because each of these people have fallen into the frustrating pit of abdominal exercise myth. It’s a world where you work your butt off only to see minimal results. As long as you keep utilizing these myths during your workout, you will never see the results you want.
To have flat defined abs there are two things to consider. Abdominal muscle size is the first one, then fat is the other. Abdominal muscle size is important because it creates definition. Your abdominal muscle tone is the definition of a rock hard six pack. Even with fat over the top of it, having large abdominal muscles will help them poke through so others can see. In order to get this type of abdominal muscle growth you need to quit doing all of those repetitions. Instead of doing 100 crunches, do only 12 while holding a weight behind your head. Your abs aren’t much different from your deltoids or biceps after all.
Next is a matter of fat. You have a layer of subcutaneous(under the skin) body fat over the top of your abs, and you have a deep layer of fat (visceral) under your abs that surrounds your vital organs. You have to get rid of this subcutaneous layer over your muscles in order for your rock hard abs to be seen. This allows for definition of your abs. The visceral fat underneath is what actually gives you a rounded abdomen like a beer gut. Getting rid of this fat tissue is needed to give you flat abs.
So how are you gonna rid of this fat? Cardiovascular exercise and diet is the only way to do it. You get rid of this fat in the same way as you get rid of the fat everywhere else. There is no way to spot burn body fat. Good luck.
I am a personal trainer as well as a nurse. I have a BS in exercise science and a BS in nursing. I believe that exercise doesn’t have to be so difficult. This is why I have posted this article on getting the most out of your ab exercises as one in a series of articles on fitness.
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