Gabriel: My brother once said something to me that was incredibly true, and is something I still impart on people today:
“Abs are made in the kitchen– Not in the gym.”
How true this is, this statement about spot reduction / spot training. Here’s the question: How often have you seen an infomercial for a product claiming to give you rock hard abs? How many times have you yourself done more crunches in the name of getting a six pack “faster”? Would you be shocked to hear that this is impossible? For those veteran gym rats, you won’t be shocked at all, but for others, this will become a revelation of sorts.
All of those products that claim to give you insane results with minimal effort (Or a six pack in just days) come with a nutrition plan, and they do because the manufacturers know the true key to getting a six pack– Body fat percentage, not spot training. No matter how much you train a particular muscle, whether it be your quadriceps, rectus abdominis, or your triceps brachii, if you’re looking for the chiseled look, you will need to adjust your diet and lower your body fat percentage.
But why, you may ask? Well, simply put, if you’re doing crunches, you’re not burning fat around your waist. If you’re doing the preacher curl, you’re not burning fat in your upper arms. If you’re bench pressing, you’re not burning fat in any part of your body– What you’re doing is training the muscle beneath the fat, which won’t allow the muscle to show through any better; Rather, it’s going lead to a potentially bulkier appearance, as the fat atop the muscle will bulge more with more mass beneath it.
Pictured: A good ab workout, but not the key to a six pack.
So. . . You want a six pack? Spend more time in the kitchen, because adding a second routine for abs to your workout is not going to cut it alone.
Alissa: Also, remember the importance of cardio in losing body fat. Nutrition is key, but cardio is a close second. With the right combo of nutrition and cardio you will have a six pack in no time!