Perfect abs are what many people want, yet they are probably one of the toughest body parts to get right!
Getting 6 pack abs is a combination of many factors, all of which contribute to the final product; six pack abdominals, but it does require a few lifestyle changes, as well as a healthy dose of dedication and perseverance. Here are a few hints to get you going:
* Work out a strength training routine with the help of a fitness professional that suits your needs, fitness level and lifestyle. This can include sit-ups, crunches and leg raises.
* Add weight training to build muscle. Weight training burns fat, and uses a lot of energy, which means calories from the food you eat, as well as stored energy in the form of fat.
* Include cardio in your workout plan. Cardio or aerobic exercises help build a stronger heart, and burn fat at the same time. Good ideas would be running, swimming, jumping rope or even dancing that gets your heart pumping!
* The reason exercise is so effective is that by exercising, we raise our metabolism. This, in turn, increases the efficiency of our body's fat burning, and results in our actually losing more weight with less effort as time goes by.
* Eat breakfast. Breakfast has been proven to prevent binge eating later in the day, and people who eat breakfast actually eat less calories in a day! If you can't face a full breakfast, try a smoothie or even something small like a yogurt. Anything helps!
* While on the subject of meals, try to eat smaller meals throughout the day; this normalizes your metabolic function, and your body is better able to process the energy.
* Avoiding large dinners or any eating a few hours before you go to sleep can help those excess calories to avoid being stored as fat.
* Eating more fiber also helps your body to process the food you eat more efficiently, meaning you store less fat, and are less likely to become bloated.
* Drinking a lot of water helps for the same reason, and helps flush out any accumulated toxins in your body.
It's clear that the question "how to get perfect abs" has no simple, one line answer.
Getting six pack abdominals is the result of a combination of stomach workout techniques, general fitness training, and changes to diet and lifestyle.
There's no quick fix, and it does take dedication and hard work, but the results are certainly worth it - you'll look better, feel better and enjoy better health. So speak to your doctor, consult a fitness trainer, take a long hard look at your diet, and get started on a new life, with flatter abs, today!
By Ken Patterson
