Ah – the “holy grail” of fitness – that flat and/or muscular stomach. How many articles are published and marketing materials slathered with how you can get that flat tummy or six-pack?
Here’s the breakdown: for a tighter midsection, the abs are just like any other muscle group we exercise: the muscles must become stronger and larger and the fat that lies over them needs to decrease.
Sounds simple, right?
Simple? Yes. Easy? Well, that depends on how you define “easy”. Read on ..
First off, genetics do play a role here. It’s real. Genetics indeed do play a role whether you can get a flat stomach or “six-pack” abs. However, two types of exercise can help: strength training and cardiovascular exercise.
The stomach can be a hard place to tame because it’s the area of the body that it likes to store fat. So, those individuals that you see with flat or muscular abs have a very low percentage of body fat.
Does that mean you should give up the dream? Well, no. Keep the vision, but be intelligent and wise about it. Your flat stomach or six pack will not come overnight, or maybe even in a month (depending on where you are). But, over time, as your overall body fat decreases from consistent and diligent exercise, you will see results.
Take your wins along the way. Rejoice in greater strength and endurance, easier mobility, smaller pant sizes (and smaller clothes overall) before getting frustrated that you aren’t where you want to be already. Focus on what’s going right and you’ll sustain energy to keep at it.
Finally, realize and accept the fact that your nutrition plays a MAJOR role here. (You can’t work out like a beast, eat like an ogre, and expect the results you’re aiming for, if you’re going for lean and muscular/toned). Combine strength training and cardiovascular exercise within your routine, and make the conscious food choices that are healthier for you and your midsection!
If you’re in a place where you want to explore what this specifically can look like for you and your unique life variables, reach out to me! I’d love to have a conversation with you about it.