Six Pack Abs - Too Many People Do Too Many Reps Too Many times!

In training many people from many different Countries I've been able to not only pick up a good feel for how different people and body types respond to different training. But also compile actual facts and a clear understanding of what works for people trying to get six pack abs and their 'perfect' midsection. When I started training at the age of 15 (15 odd years ago - wow!) I jumped into it like a boy possessed. And I did exactly what I'm going to tell you all NOT to do. I did my 100, 200, 300 sit ups like a 'fiend' - sweating like mad as I did exactly what my workout through the mail' told me to do...

I now know different.

You see as far as I'm concerned and judging by the results of the programs I've set people on, a varied approach is my big 'thing' based around a principle of some days less and some days more. It is OK to do an occasional workout of 100 'crunches and 100 leg raises' for example. I like that approach as a good 'Shock' treatment. BUT I do not do it religiously and I don't want you to. I believe, and so do my students, that you need to treat abs like any other muscle and even though some may disagree I feel a rep range of say 6-10 intense reps in 5 sets with minimal rest is one great example of a lower rep count BUT absolute intensity that will produce results...

I have numerous other programs that I mix and match with the odd 100 sit up 'stomach burner'. But the moral of the article is please, please, please do not just stay stuck in the '80's' and continue the 100+ sit ups as your only abdominal workout plan.

Sincere best wishes to you all, Tristan

Tristan Lewis is a Certified Fitness Professional, Personal Trainer and Author of the most informative book on abdominal training on the internet. He has traveled the world training clients and has spent 15 years in over 15 Countries in the research of his book. His AbMetrics - The Global Almanac of Proven Abdominal Training was researched thoroughly and provides many new and exciting proven abdominal exercises as well as a structuring of the 'classics' that work.

Get the book now http://www.fastsixpackabs.com

A Guide To Getting Abs Of Steel

These days it almost feels like we are inundated with image after image of the perfect body. It’s definitely a hard thing to get away from, which is probably the reason why so many of us are striving to get ‘abs of steel’. And while that may sound like a title for a very cheesy movie, you can be assured that quite a few people can say that without cracking a smile!

To get abs of steel though, is not an easy matter, and it does not matter what all those magazines and TV shows will tell you. You need to put in time effort and energy into getting abs of steel, and nothing you do will make nature work any faster. There are a many factors which you will need to take into account when thinking about getting abs of steel, and these will all affect your results.

And the first one that you should perhaps realise, and probably the one thing you won’t normally learn about until too late, is that not everyone can get abs of steel, or a six pack. Some of us have to be content with merely getting firmer, flatter abs. It’s a genetic thing, and depending on your body makeup you will have to be satisfied with what you can achieve.

That was the first point that you will need to take into consideration when trying to get abs of steel. The next thing is that you will need to work hard in order to achieve your dream. Abs of steel don’t just come about because you have been doing all the right ab exercises for a week or two, you will need to continue at it for a longer while, until you reach your goal. The time limit on this obviously changes with the amount of time and effort that you put into over the months.

You really can’t have abs of steel if you have a rolling belly getting in the way. So the first thing you need to do is to get rid of that. And to do that, you will need to adjust your diet so that you don’t add to the problem, but so that you are in fact helping to get rid of the problem.

The next thing you will need to look into is a getting into a fitness regime that will help you to get rid of your roll of belly fat. Once this is accomplished, you can then think about keeping your overall diet to a healthy one so that you get your abs of steel.

Peter Curtis lives in Las Vegas. You need to see these excellent Ab Workout guides or the more specific Get Firm Flat Abs guide.

http://www.aerobic-activity.com

Quick Washboard Abs

For those of you wanting to develop quick washboard abs, there is good news and bad news in store for you. The good news is that you can build washboard abs in very little time at all. The bad news is that it is definitely not going to be easy. Anyone who has a good body has worked hard for it, and if you think that you can get the results you want without sweating for them, you are going to be disappointed.

Quick washboard abs must necessarily start with a change to your diet. Any foods with high fat content, low or inefficient protein structures and not enough fiber can be devastating to your abs. Eating a high protein diet is not enough, and you need to balance that protein with a lot of fruit and as little fat as you can. If you eat protein and fat together, your body would much rather use the fat for fuel than the protein, and you will not be able to make use of all of that protein you are eating.

The key to getting quick washboard abs is to eat a high-protein, low-carb meal at least two hours before you exercise. A piece or two of fruit should accompany this, to give you enough energy and sugar to want to exercise in the first place! A protein shake made of whey protein is an excellent way to prep for your workout, but make sure you eat nothing for an hour before you hit the gym. Your after meal workout is also essential, because your body has used up a lot of its fuel breaking down your muscles, and needs more protein to build them up and sugar to keep your blood glucose levels where they should be. Remember that maintaining healthy eating is absolutely essential when you want to build muscle or burn fat – without the right nutrition your efforts will be wasted.

Quick washboard abs are all about the exercises you do, and a lot of people misunderstand the exercises they need to perform to develop muscles quickly and keep them. Begin your workout with ten minutes on a treadmill or bicycle – this will speed up your respiration and metabolism, making it easier for your muscles to get the fuel they need to bulk up. Forget about sit ups and crunches – do slow, heavy resistance exercises with long time intervals. Your stomach is one of the few areas that can handle a very long time interval, and doing fewer reps can greatly reduce the damage you do to your hips, neck and back.

Experiment with different exercises to avoid sit ups and crunches. These will work, but they will definitely not get you quick washboard abs. Use leg lifts, vertical bicycle kicks and water aerobics to get the most out of your time at gym. One new exercise that is helping a lot of people develop washboard abs is based on a push-up, believe it or not. Get two dumbbells with round weights, place them on the floor and take up the push up position, leaning on the dumbbells. Now roll one forward without moving your other hand, stretching your body at an angle. Roll back, and roll the other side forward, using your still arm as an anchor.

After only two reps you should start to feel a massive burn in your sides and lower abdominals. Do three sets with low reps and long time intervals, and you should develop quick washboard abs in no time at all! The best part about this exercise is that it puts almost no strain on any part of your body besides your stomach.

John Ripper is a fitness freak. Discover free tips and tricks to get six pack abs at Quick Washboard Abs

Flat Stomach Exercises - Why If You Concentrate On Your Abs You Are Doomed To Fail?

Getting a flat stomach is much easier than people believe. The reason why people think that it's hard to get those perfect abs is that many people invest a great deal of time and effort in performing massive stomach exercises. But that is simply not true. Just because you invest a great deal of effort into something and don't succeed doesn't make it difficult. It just means that the avenue which you have chosen isn't the right one.

I'm not saying that stomach exercises are not important. In fact, in the past I wrote a lot about how to perform various ab exercises effectively and correctly, and I wouldn't have done so if I thought it was pointless. But in order to get that perfect stomach you have to expand your mind and your workout routine. Abs exercises should have a respected place in your routine, but spending a great deal of time doing endless crunches and leg curls is maybe good for beginners, but not for someone who is seeking perfection.

So what exercises should you do to get that flat stomach?
 

The answer is that there is no one or two special exercises which will magically turn your stomach into a hard, flat surface. The reason is that getting a flat stomach is a two level process:

1. You need to build you abs muscles - for that reason abs exercises are usefull, but you should invest in high intensity exercises. If you get to the point when you can do 100's of crunches, they're not intense enough for you.

2. You need to reduce your overall body fat - you know that stubborn layer of flab on your stomach? This is what is really keeping you from having a great belly. Burn the fat and you will have the abs you desire. The only problem is that no amount of stomach exercises will make it happen.

What will? Full body and intense workouts, the right diet, and the right cardio routines.

Invest your time in educating yourself on your diet, invest your time in full body workouts and in intense, interval cardio routines, and you will see results. And you will see them faster than you can imagine.

To read more tips on how to get a flat stomach, click here: TruthAboutGreatAbs.com

John Davenport writes about tips and methods to get six pack abs on a dedicated webpage on the subject at Abs Tricks, Tips, And Secrets

The How To Guide for Six Pack Abs

So you want six pack abs? The truth is, for most people getting six pack abs is not an easy task because it requires dedication and motivation... but it is possible! Below is a general 2-step guide that, if followed religiously for 3 months, will improve your abs.

Step 1: Nutrition

This is the single most important part of the puzzle, hands down. You can have the most impressive set of abs, but if they're covered with a layer of fat, you won't see them! Break up your day with 5 or 6 mini-meals because this jump starts your metabolism. And stop eating the food that is preventing you from seeing your abs: white bread, pasta, soda, candy, dessert, fast food, hydrogenated oils, sugars and fructose corn syrup.

Instead, eat the foods that will help you reach your six pack goal: oatmeal, olive oil, whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, natural peanut butter, chicken, fish, protein, green tea and water. Be realistic - you'll slip here and there, but make a conscious effort to improve your eating habits because getting a six pack will be impossible if you don't.

Step 2: Exercise

You need to concern yourself with 3 different exercises: cardio, weightlifting and ab exercises. And aim to workout 4 times per week.

The cardio you do can be anything: walking, running, biking, swimming...whichever cardio you don't mind doing so you stick with it. The trick is to do the cardio in bursts. For example, if you're running, walk for one minute and then sprint for 15 seconds and repeat 10 times. Perform this type of interval cardio 2 times per week.

Weightlifting is important because 3 pounds of added muscle burns as many calories as a 1 mile jog...and this is while you're just sitting around! Aim for 30-45 minutes, 2 times per week. If you're confused as to what exercises to do for each body part, check out the following website. It features professional bodybuilders, but the information is great and can be used by anyone.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htm

The last exercise you need to incorporate into your workout are ab exercises. Aim to work your abs 3 times per week. There are a ton of different ab exercises you can do so try to find 3 or so that you enjoy doing and mix it up. A good database of different ab exercises can be found here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exername.php?MainMuscle=Abdominals

Tip: mix up your workout routine every 2 weeks to keep your body guessing and improving. Add or take away different weightlifting or ab exercises, or at the very least, vary the weight, reps or form of cardio you do.

Well, there you have it. Follow the above for 3 months, and while results will vary from person to person, you will see an improvement in your abs. And keep in mind that dedication and motivation will go a long way to helping you reach your goal of having six pack abs.

Imagine the feeling you'll get when you look in the mirror and like what you see.

Honestly, this article only scratches the surface on getting six pack abs. If you really want to learn the tried and true techniques for developing a rock-hard midsection, check out The Truth About Six Pack Abs.