Have you ever gotten out of bed, looked in the mirror and wished you had six pack abs? You’re not alone! There’s no limit to what I’ve seen people do to figure out how to build abs and really firm and tone their midsection. From fad diets to weight loss pills, intensive workouts and hours and hours of steam and sauna therapy; the list goes on and on, name it and I bet someone has tried it.
The allure of perfect abs is too tempting
The disturbing fact that people need to realize is that there is no overnight cure. Learning how to develop abs and a defined abdomen takes time, dedication and perseverance. It means putting restrictions on what you can eat, how you exercise, and how you live your life. Sounds serious right?
Don’t let it scare you, even though it sounds like a lot of work, it really isn’t. And the main reason for this is that by setting out to achieve a glowing six-pack abs, you are also putting your life on a healthy and vibrant path.
As you start to really watch your daily food intake and maintain a healthy balance of good quality foods, you will start to feel healthier and more energetic. As your nutritional requirements are properly met, now that you have your foundation for a set of perfect abs, you can begin to focus on effective full-body exercises and targeted crunches to really shed the layers of fat that sit on top of your muscles. ABS.
Okay, now that we’ve established that learning to build abs takes effort (but will make you feel fantastic!), let’s cover some six-pack basics:
- Nutrition is your foundation. This is where it all MUST start. Be sure to feed your body a healthy, balanced diet of healthy fats, protein, and carbohydrates. Take the time to estimate your daily caloric intake. Now make sure you always meet or exceed that calorie intake with exercise calorie burn.
- Yes, it’s your usual sit-ups and crunches. Boring, repetitive, but yeah, when done correctly, these core exercises can at least get you started! Try to use a Swiss or stability ball when performing crunches or squats, as it can drastically reduce the impact these actions have on your lower back.
- You also have to do full body exercises and pay attention to your lower body. Cardio exercises are to find out how to build abs in the shortest possible time. Try jogging, exercising, biking, or jumping rope. All of these exercises really help to reduce the layers of fat that cover your beautiful abdominal muscles.
- Cardiovascular exercises can help your overall physique, but you should also try lifting weights. Many women are afraid to do this because they believe that lifting weights can make their body look bulky and muscular. The key is learning how to lift weights correctly, and in turn, figuring out how to build abs without looking manly.
- Try doing variations of crunches and full-body exercises so your body doesn’t get used to any activity. Plus, you can easily get bored doing the same thing every time, so it’s best to create lots of exercise variations to keep both your mind and body engaged and guessing what you’ll throw at them next.