Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Six Pack Ab Models - How Do They Do It?

By Gerard Lanzona

We've seen them gracing the covers of countless fitness and lifestyle mags. They're also on the daytime infomercials oh so familiar with couch potatoes everywhere. Some have even made it to the silver screen, playing unstoppable Greek warriors fighting ancient Persian armies against all odds. I'm talking about those super-fit models with lean, shredded abs- the lucky few envied by scores of frustrated gym goers and wannabe Spartans everywhere.

These days, getting six pack abs tops the list of priorities for fitness buffs everywhere. It's not just with gym aficionados either. Flaunting a shredded midsection on the beach is an all-too-common fantasy for a majority of men (and a significant number of women)- single or married, straight or gay, prince or pauper. Countless people have tried and because of frustration, gave-up getting a six-pack abs thinking it's hopeless. If you're one of those poor souls, break out the gym bag and water bottle again- getting washboard abs worthy of shirtless strolls on the beach (or the boulevard) is really quite simple.

The fitness ab models with those glorious six-packs didn't get them by slacking-off and logging-extended hours on the boob tube of course, but their workouts aren't as grueling as most folks yearning for a shredded midsection think. A combination of cardio and muscle building exercises that target and keep-off body fat as source for energy will do the trick.

Total body exercises that keep the heart rate at 60-70% of the maximum are the most effective for burning belly fat- experts have discovered. These burn the most calories from body fat rather than from carbs and glycogen (needed for muscle building).

Muscle tissue actually expends calories even while inactive. This means the more buffed we are, the more we can fend off body fat. The less body fat we have, the easier it will be to get well defined abdominal muscles- a six pack.

Diet of course, plays a big part in our fight against The Flab. It's not as simple as just cutting back on food intake however. It's even possible to eat 3 meals a day with snacks in between and still get a tummy like a six pack ab models'. The technique is choosing what you stuff in your mouth and when to stuff it in. Eating foods rich in carbs an hour or two before a workout for example can provide you with the ample energy for a workout session.

It might make sense to skip meals when trying to do away with belly fat. In reality, foregoing meals (especially breakfast) will be detrimental to your goal. Believe it or not, or body slows down metabolism when we go hungry and this means less percentage of calories from body fat expended.

Knowledge of how our body works, a proper workout program and eating smart- this makes up a recipe for six-pack success that anybody with the right amount of determination can use. - 16463

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