Fit and Cool

Busting Washboard Abs Myths

An abdominal workout may shrink your middle and get rid of body fat, but there are some myths you should not listen to if a six pack is your goal.

The first myth is that you need some sort of expensive piece of equipment to work your abs to their maximum potential.  Your money would be wasted if you were to spend it on such useless gadgets.

 The next myth that we should tackle is that you need to do hundreds of crunches to get six pack abs.  Crunches provide a very low degree of muscle stimulation and neglect many muscle fibers that are needed to build your abdominals.

Third, while it is true that you need to cut your body fat to reveal your abdominals, starving yourself is not the best way to lose that fat.  Starvation diets actually cause your body to feed on the very muscle you are trying to build.

The last untrue myth says a pill can help you zap fat and get toned abdominals.  Don’t throw away your money on any pill that guarantees it will burn fat or increase muscle.  If you eat properly, get enough sleep, and exercise well you will get the body you want.

Now that these myths are debunked, how do you get the flat abs you want?

There are several muscle building and/or fat loss programs that will help you lose your belly fat and build your abdominals.  See these reviews for The Truth About Six Pack Abs and Craig Ballantyne’s program.  There are many other programs around – if you think you need some assistance beyond this article, find a program that is right for you.  The most important thing in any program is that it suits your lifestyle so you will do it.  For right now, let’s concentrate on the main components of a six pack ab workout.

You should realize that no matter how much body fat you lose no abdominal muscles will be seen unless you grow those abs using a good workout plan. In the same way you work then rest your biceps or quads, you also have to tax then rest your abdominals for them to grow.  Then you exercise them again.  You will get the best results if you do this routine in the proper sequence and frequency.                                         

Sequence

When you plan a workout program, you should plan to work the muscles that are most important to you first.  Your abdominal exercises should be first in your exercise plan if you want to build a six pack.

Frequency

Muscles need more rest when they have been trained more intensely.  A few high intensity workouts each week will make your abdominal muscles bigger.  A day or two of rest in between intense workouts should be enough for growth and recouperation, so plan on doing only 2 – 4 ab workouts each week.  All of your ab muscles – upper, lower and obliques – must be worked to get a six pack.

For more information on which body movements work each group of muscle, see Get Washboard Abs.
 

Another great health, fitness and nutrition resource is Truth About Abs by Mike Geary. Check out Girlwithnoname’s review of this awesome eBook here:

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