Six Pack Abs A Myth?

You see it on television, magazines, and posters everywhere. Those perfectly symmetrical six pack abs. Can this actually be attainable?

The answer is, obviously, YES! You can have six packs and they can be a part of your reality. However, you must realize that getting six packs is no walk in the park. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and, of course, eating right.

Although many of those models are genetically gifted to having six packs, many have to go through intense diets to get the way they look. It's their job! I have a friend that tried being a model and couldn't do it because he didn't have the will power to diet right.

I'm not discouraging attempting to get six packs like those shown on advertisements. One must realize, however, that having six packs means having very low body fat levels. Around 10% is the level that your six packs will begin showing up. Getting to this level will probably be the very last process of weight loss. So in any weight loss program expect to get the abs last, not first. Don't be discouraged.

Working out to get abs is not as important as diet. Bodybuilders often state that six packs aren't made in the gym but are made in the kitchen. This is absolutely true. You can't lose weight by working out and eating whatever you want. Cutting calories is essential in any goal of having muscular definition in the abdominal area.

As for abdominal specific exercises. I feel that people already know the fact that abs exercises won't make your abs show up but let me mention it in case you don't know. Abdominal exercises do build your abs. However, having muscles and having muscles that show is totally different. Everyone knows the big guy that feels like he's so buff since he weighs around 200 pounds. However, to everyone else he is just fat. Sure he can bench press twice his weight but his body fat levels are so high that his muscle is hidden.

Another thing about abs is that they vary for different people. Some people may have symmetrical abs and others may have different types. Take a look at various bodybuilders during contests and you'll notice how every bodybuilder has different looking abs. Strange but true. Don't expect your abs to look like your favorite celebrity or model. Having goals like that is not smart. Rather, set goals like "having abs". That's a lot easier to attain than having "Brad Pitt's abs in 'Fight Club'".

Alphonso Sanchez
www.UltimateBodyReform.com