What do you think of when you hear the term, "six pack"? People used to think of beer first when the subject of six packs came up, but nowadays we automatically think about abs. Getting firm, six pack abs seems to be one of the number one goals in life these days. Everyone wants to be able to show off a tight, muscled stomach, and there are many people making millions of dollars off of this desire. Unfortunately, there are too many gimmicks out there, and after spending their money and getting their hopes up, many people are still left with flabby abs, not to mention depleted bank accounts! There really is only one way to get those much sought after six pack abs, and that is to eat right, and exercise right.
Most people tend to think that six pack abs come from toning exercises that are specific to the stomach area, but there are a few prerequisites to getting six pack abs. First of all, did you know that to be able to see the six pack, you have to be under a certain body fat percentage? For men it is 10% and for women it is 15%. This is done by a regular and varied workout routine. You can get your body fat measured by going to your local gym, or buying a scale that offers it as a feature. Once you know your body fat percentage, you can either move on to work for your 6 pack or work to reduce your body fat.
If you are confident that your body fat percentage falls in the right category, then there are a few things you can do to bring out your inner six pack. One common misconception is that cardio does not do anything for your abs. People tend to think that only doing ab specific exercises will tone their abs. Doing any ab workouts will firm up your abs, but if there is any fat over top, no amount of crunches, sit ups, etc, will remove that fat as effectively as cardio! I recommend a varied workout routine that consists of both cardio and ab specific exercises.
Here are some great exercises that will help to tone up that six pack:- Crunches and Sit Ups: You don’t have to do 600 a day for these to be effective. Remember, your body will easily get used to exercises if you are always doing the same ones over and over. You want to change it up and surprise your metabolism. Don’t just do regular crunches either; crunch to the side, and include your legs as well.
- Oblique Exercises: These are great for your abs as well as your obliques. Be sure to focus mainly on your stomach while doing these, and tighten and flex your abs while performing these exercises.
- Combination Aerobics: Any workout video or routine that combines cardio with strength training will be great for your whole body, including your abs. If you are having a problem getting rid of the layer of fat that sometimes covers the abs, this is a great way to kill 2 birds with one stone. The cardio will eliminate the fat, while the strength training will tone the abs.
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