One of the most common occurrences in the gym is seeing people doing lots of abdominal work. We have all been in and seen people doing sit-ups, variations of the plank and using fit balls (most of the time incorrectly). When asked as to why they are doing all this abdominal work, the answer is always the same: I want a flat stomach. So will sit-ups give you a flat tummy? NO is the answer. Sit-ups will help strengthen the abdominals, but if your feet are being held, then the hip flexors are also working. Does planking give you a flat tummy? No, planking works the transverse abdominals and will aid in core stability, but does not work the superficial muscles.
So how does one get a flat stomach? Well to answer that I will ask a question, what is on top of the abdominal muscles? Have a pinch. For most people it will be a layer of body fat. In order to get that flat stomach this layer of fat needs to be reduced. So the next question is how? Well in answer, hard work and correct diet! You cannot out train a bad diet! Cardio and gym classes will aid in getting your heart rate up, and increase the body’s breakdown of fat. If you are not sure what to do, ask a trainer, as they will not only show you what to do, but how to do it.
Correct diet will aid in losing the fat. Imagine the body like a car. To drive, you need fuel (food), as you drive you use the fuel up and need more. Therefore you put more fuel in. With humans if you put too much fuel in, it is stored as fat. In order to remove the fat and lose weight, you need to increase the expenditure of energy. To maintain weight you need to eat the same as you expend, and to gain weight you need to eat more than you expend (clean and lean). Both diet and exercise together will help to get that nice flat tummy. Abdominal exercise can then be used to help tone and shape the muscles.
So how does one get a flat stomach? Well to answer that I will ask a question, what is on top of the abdominal muscles? Have a pinch. For most people it will be a layer of body fat. In order to get that flat stomach this layer of fat needs to be reduced. So the next question is how? Well in answer, hard work and correct diet! You cannot out train a bad diet! Cardio and gym classes will aid in getting your heart rate up, and increase the body’s breakdown of fat. If you are not sure what to do, ask a trainer, as they will not only show you what to do, but how to do it.
Correct diet will aid in losing the fat. Imagine the body like a car. To drive, you need fuel (food), as you drive you use the fuel up and need more. Therefore you put more fuel in. With humans if you put too much fuel in, it is stored as fat. In order to remove the fat and lose weight, you need to increase the expenditure of energy. To maintain weight you need to eat the same as you expend, and to gain weight you need to eat more than you expend (clean and lean). Both diet and exercise together will help to get that nice flat tummy. Abdominal exercise can then be used to help tone and shape the muscles.
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