Saturday, December 19, 2009

How To Get Abs



Focusing on how to get abs is definitely one of the most coveted and sought after goals of most people. The truth is that it's not that difficult to get abs - especially since they're actually already there, but just covered by a layer of fat and water. The secret to getting abs is working off the fat that surrounds your abs - and this requires a combination of the right balanced fat burning diet, the right weight training routines and the best abdominal training program you can find. It also will require some dedication and patience. It's important to remember to keep going if you don't see results. You will see results, eventually, and they will surprise you. If you give up, you certainly won't see any results at all!

Diet? Just What Kind of a Diet?

The minute we see the word 'diet' we tend to groan and give up already. The fact is, though, that working off the fat that's hiding our abdominal muscles must come with a proper diet. Professional bodybuilders and fitness trainers tend to go so far as to say that 80% of our physique is due to diet, rather than a lack of exercise. Of course, exercise is important (and fun, too) but diet is even more important.

For abdominal training, the kind of diet you need to go on is actually not so bad at all. It really consists of 40% carbs (such as oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes), 40% proteins (such as chicken, tuna, lean red meats and turkey) and 20% good fats (from mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated sources, such as virgin olive oil.) As you can see, this is actually quite a normal diet, and nothing too complex or life changing. During your extensive work out period (in the beginning) it's also a good idea to avoid fruit and dairy, due to the fact that these foods can often slow down fat loss.

Typically, if you're a guy, you start seeing your abs when you have just below a 10% ratio of body fat. If you're a woman, it's usually below 13% body fat. This doesn't mean you won't see significant results sooner.

Abs Exercises?

Yes, and they're generally quite fun. There's a whole range of exercises that you can use, and the important thing to remember about abdominal exercises is that your abs are designed for function, not for being built up. This means that ab exercises ought to be functional - such as crunches, or leg lifts, sit-ups etc. Your abs are there to allow your body to move and bend forwards, sidewards and backwards. By understanding how your abs work, you are able to find effective training methods.

Also, because of the way your abs work, doing the same exercise over and over does not tend to be as effective as you would hope. Your abs strengthen and become 'immune' as it were to that exercise. It's important to keep your abdominal training varied, with different exercises and methods. There are also certain exercises that will work better for you and not for others. This is because your abs are strong in certain ways and weak in others, while someone else has a different set of abs with their own weaknesses and strengths. Cardio training is also highly important when you look at the subject of how to get abs, and it should not be overlooked.

Mark Bennet is a fitness enthusiast always looking for the easier and quicker ways to get fit and look your best. Mark has some of the best strategies for real people to get and keep great abs at http://www.RealEasyAbs.com

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