The legions of fitness buffs working-up a sweat in fitness gyms all over the world have mainly one thing on their mind- getting a nice looking six pack. As most of them soon discover, developing washboard abs is a long and arduous process that takes dedication, conviction and self-discipline. This is because our bodies are naturally inclined to store body fat around our midsection.
In the early days of bodybuilding, people hit the gym did so to get beefed-up. Because of all the processed, high-calorie food within our reach these days, most fitness aficionados do so to tone-up and get a sexy six-pack. Sadly, the latter takes the most time and effort to achieve.
Having basic knowledge on our metabolism- which exercises and foods increase and decrease its process can help in figuring out how to get abs that look great. It can significantly shorten the hours logged in the gym and lengthen quality time with the family or the less strenuous activities in our lives.
Knowing what to eat and which ab exercises to do won't give you instant effects of course, but being informed about what you're doing would take far less time to get a shredded gut than if you went about pumping iron blindly and gulping down water and crackers for your meals.
Eating smartly by choosing where you get your calories and scheduling meals and snacks (yes, snacks) can help shorten the path to six pack abs. When eating the right food, experts say eating several times throughout the day is actually better than trying to cut calories by skipping meals. Our metabolic rate slows down when we're hungry, ergo slower fat loss.
Rather, we can substitute worthless junk foods we normally snack on with vitamin-packed and fat-busting fruit. Eating relatively low-carb, high protein food can do wonders for our efforts in burning fat. Carbohydrates are good, but only on times of the day that we need energy. It doesn't make much sense to scarf down a bagel or a sack of fries before turning in for the night.
A proper program for getting six-pack abs would be impossible without the right exercises of course. Muscle building will increase metabolism as will cardiovascular exercise that keeps the heart at the anaerobic threshold (AT) rate for at least 20 minutes. Experts say this is ideal for letting the body source most of the energy spent from body fat rather than from carbohydrates or glycogen.
Getting ample rest is important also. There was a time that subjecting the muscles through daily strenuous exercise was the norm for losing belly fat. This can in fact lead to muscle fatigue and burnout- not very effective in developing and defining the muscles. Muscles need time to repair and recuperate in order to handle the next fat-busting workout session. - 16089
In the early days of bodybuilding, people hit the gym did so to get beefed-up. Because of all the processed, high-calorie food within our reach these days, most fitness aficionados do so to tone-up and get a sexy six-pack. Sadly, the latter takes the most time and effort to achieve.
Having basic knowledge on our metabolism- which exercises and foods increase and decrease its process can help in figuring out how to get abs that look great. It can significantly shorten the hours logged in the gym and lengthen quality time with the family or the less strenuous activities in our lives.
Knowing what to eat and which ab exercises to do won't give you instant effects of course, but being informed about what you're doing would take far less time to get a shredded gut than if you went about pumping iron blindly and gulping down water and crackers for your meals.
Eating smartly by choosing where you get your calories and scheduling meals and snacks (yes, snacks) can help shorten the path to six pack abs. When eating the right food, experts say eating several times throughout the day is actually better than trying to cut calories by skipping meals. Our metabolic rate slows down when we're hungry, ergo slower fat loss.
Rather, we can substitute worthless junk foods we normally snack on with vitamin-packed and fat-busting fruit. Eating relatively low-carb, high protein food can do wonders for our efforts in burning fat. Carbohydrates are good, but only on times of the day that we need energy. It doesn't make much sense to scarf down a bagel or a sack of fries before turning in for the night.
A proper program for getting six-pack abs would be impossible without the right exercises of course. Muscle building will increase metabolism as will cardiovascular exercise that keeps the heart at the anaerobic threshold (AT) rate for at least 20 minutes. Experts say this is ideal for letting the body source most of the energy spent from body fat rather than from carbohydrates or glycogen.
Getting ample rest is important also. There was a time that subjecting the muscles through daily strenuous exercise was the norm for losing belly fat. This can in fact lead to muscle fatigue and burnout- not very effective in developing and defining the muscles. Muscles need time to repair and recuperate in order to handle the next fat-busting workout session. - 16089
