Getting six pack abs is perhaps the ultimate dream of every man. This is mainly because women consider great abs as the ultimate symbol of sexiness in a man and having six pack abs also highlights the fact that you are a healthy individual who gives great importance to exercising and dieting. But, the main problem is that getting six pack abs is not easy.
Most people find it incredibly difficult to develop six pack abs and maintain them. So, what seems to be the issue? Well, many people fail because they don’t have a clear idea of the nutrition, exercises, and effort that is required. They spend hours in the gym, but still face troubles building muscle. That’s why in this article, we will share a few tips on how to get six packs abs:
Nutrition
The Right Food Choices
Everyone’s got a six-pack, but the problem for most men is it’s hidden under a layer of fat. Therefore, before moving on to crunches and other abs exercises, it is first important that you get your diet and nutrition under control. Start by eating foods that help build lean muscle and burn fat and avoid eating unhealthy or junk food.
Eat healthy fats, lean proteins, and carbs for every meal. Examples of good proteins include fat-free dairy products, like whey protein power, skinless chicken breast, and tuna. For healthy carbs, fruits, vegetables and brown rice, and for fats a tablespoon of flaxseed oil or olive oil is enough for the day. Keep in mind that only by making proper food choices will you be able to get six pack abs.
Drink Lots of Water!
As part of a healthy diet plan for getting six pack abs, it is important that you drink lots of water to keep your metabolism elevated, thus helping you burn fat which then leads to lean abs. Even when you are not thirsty, your body may still need water. Therefore, make it a habit to drink at least 8 to 9 glasses of water daily. This may seem like a lot, but proves to be incredibly helpful in getting six pack abs.
Training
Work the Abdominal Area
The second step towards getting six pack abs is working the abdominal area. Start doing squats and deadlifts, as both can give your core an exceptional workout. Often, bodybuilders don’t perform any direct abs exercises due to this reason, because when you perform these exercises, your abs squeeze to assist in the movement.
Since heavy weights are used for these exercises, your abs are hit hard. Therefore, this helps develop some serious muscles in the core area, thus allowing your abs to become more visually noticeable. Doing these exercises also raises growth hormone levels in the body, which can help you, lose weight and gain more muscle.
Do Full Body Exercises
Often, people assume that in order to get six pack abs, they have to primarily focus on the abs. But this is clearly a misconception. In order to get lean six pack abs, you need to exercise your entire body. As mentioned earlier, squats and dead lifts are a great way to start, but you need to try other exercises as well. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get the results you want.
A few other good exercises include benching and leg pressing. These exercises allow you to train your abs, calves, and forearms together, which is imperative for a good abs workout. Not to mention, exercising other muscle groups will also help you burn stomach fat quicker and carve great abs faster. For maximum results, consider full-body strength training exercises.
Start Running
Now that your abs muscles are finally growing, you also need to make sure they are showing. This can be done in two ways: one is to increase your level of activity during the day or implement dancing or basketball in your daily routine and the second is, of course, to start running. However, keep in mind that by running, we actually mean running. So, avoid strolling or jogging and push your body to its limits.
In order to stay motivated, you can consider setting personal goals or bests. This way, you can get rid of all that extra body fat which keeps your six pack abs from showing. Not to mention, running can also help build strong bones, maintain a healthy weight, improve cardiovascular fitness, and strengthen muscles, all of which are crucial for your abs training.
Learn to Multitask
Often, people perform strength training exercises, but don’t have the energy left to perform abs exercises. Therefore, instead of walking out on a good abs workout, learn how to multitask and make your workout tougher. Cycle, electric, instinctive, and muscle confusion training are all great methods of increasing workout difficulty.
So, now that you are familiar with the tips mentioned above, getting six pack abs won’t be a problem. However, do make sure to get enough rest and don’t overdo your workouts. Keep in mind that rest is much a part of building abs as the workout.
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