Before you do your next abdominal exercise or purchase the latest gadget guaranteed to give you a mid-section to die for read this:

As personal trainers, we’ve been asked many times to help clients to achieve a flat stomach or a six-pack.

We reveal some of the myths and facts about achieving a sexy stomach:

Doing 500 crunches or sit-ups a day will get you a six-pack:

Myth:

If you have seen pictures of Anne and Bruce (right) for their competitions, they have amazing abdominal muscles. They didn’t do a single exercise that targeted their mid-section during their contest preparation. The main purpose for any ab exercise is to strengthen your core muscles to protect your back, improving your posture thus relieving and preventing back pain.

Abdominal machines are more effective at targeting the mid-section.

Myth:

The abdominal machines advertised on TV are not the way to get great abs. Most of these machines actually promote poor technique during the exercise and put more pressure on your back, which is the main reason to strengthen them in the first place.

Eating healthy and exercising regularly will help reveal great abs

Fact:

It’s true.  The leaner you are, the more likely you are to see your abdominal muscles.  We all possess a six-pack.  It’s just that for some of us, it is hidden under layers of body fat.  Even those late night infomercials have a small disclaimer at the bottom of the screen that states: When used in conjunction with regular exercise and a healthy eating plan.

You can target your mid-section to sculpt sexy abs.

Myth:

Unfortunately you can’t target the fat loss to any particular area.  The next time that you are drooling over a star and their awesome abs…take a look at the rest of them.  Do they have flabby arms and legs?  I highly doubt it.  That’s because for you to have a lean mid-section, the rest of your body needs to be lean.

Strength training is the best way to have abdominals

Fact:

Don’t get me wrong.  We all still need to be fit to gain energy and stamina to get through the day.  But if you want to get lean and show your abs, the best way is to do this is through building muscle.  This is because when you train to build muscle your body is burning body fat up to 48 hours after you stop training.  Also, lean muscle, in a resting state requires more calories than body fat.  (So, you can be burning body fat watching T.V!)  Cardiovascular exercise only burns body fat whilst you are in your fat burning zone.  Now girls, don’t worry…you are not going to end up looking like Arnold, nor will you look like the muscle-heads at the gym.  We don’t have enough testosterone to build muscles like that!

Pilates is the only way to get a six-pack

Myth:

Whilst there is some benefit in this kind of workout as it helps improve posture, gaining the perfect abs from Pilates is all hype. If you have had a good personal trainer, you will know that every exercise when done properly uses your abdominal muscles. From Dead Lifts to Chest Press, Bicep Curls through to Squats.  All of these exercises will also strengthen your core muscles to help improve your posture, but once again, unless you are lean, you won’t be able to see your abs.

So, the golden rules for getting a six-pack:  Stick to a healthy eating plan and exercise regularly with varied workouts which include a combination of strength training with some cardiovascular workouts to keep you fit!  Getting lean is the key to a six-pack….

If you want help eating well and gaining a sexy stomach you can purchase our online 12 week menu plan from our website for $110.00.