We’ve all experienced ab envy at some time or other. That’s when you see someone who is killing it with the planks and crunches and has the perfect lady six pack on her belly. You too can achieve that look by stealing some of the habits that girls with killer abs seem to have. Wondering what those habits are? You’ve come to the right place. Make these steps a part of your routine and you can have the abs that make the other girls jealous too, courtesy of the experts at Woman’s Day magazine.
Strength training is massively important for carving out the abs you want, but to really uncover those muscles you have to burn off the fat that lies on top. By doing plenty of cardio, you burn calories and fat so that you don’t have a ring of flab around your middle. Experts suggest a couple of sessions that include high intensity interval training to really up the benefits.
The great thing about strength training is that it builds lean muscle mass, which boosts your metabolism, helping you burn more calories. Instead of just focusing on ab moves, include those that target your entire body for a lean and proportional look that will showcase your six pack. Do this twice a week, with plenty of ab moves, and you should start seeing good changes in just a couple of weeks.
The occasional late night isn’t going to hurt you, but making it a habit of skimping on sleep can really do you in. When you’re well rested, it’s much easier to power through your ab workouts. At the same time, lack of sleep increases the production of the hormone cortisol, which promotes the buildup of belly fat. Being tired also drives you to make poor food choices. Bottom line? Sleep seven to nine hours every night.
Oats are a wonderful morning meal because they are loaded with fiber. Fiber bulks up in your digestive tract, keeping you feeling full for hours. That means you can resist the office vending machine or the candy bowl while you wait for lunch to come along. Top your oatmeal with fruit and nuts for an extra punch of fiber and some protein and healthy fats to fuel your morning.
You’ve heard that you should be eating lots of vegetables, but they are a great choice if you’re trying to tone and shape your middle. Veggies are one of the best sources of fiber, so they’ll satisfy your appetite for hours. At the same time, most vegetables are low in fat and calories, so they will fill you up without filling you out. Eat veggies at every meal to reap the full benefit.
Salmon is a prime source of healthy fats, which your body needs to function. Cutting back too much puts your body into starvation mode and then you’ll start holding on to the fat, which will hinder your flat abs goals. Salmon is also a good source of protein, and when combined with veggies and whole grains, makes a star meal for a flat belly.
Women who have successfully lost weight and kept it off will credit that success to their food and exercise journal. By writing down when you finish a workout and what you’ve eaten all day, you stay personally accountable. Also, you can watch for habits that cause you to backslide or slack off.
Fit girls know that it doesn't matter how many sit ups you do, if you're form is wrong, you're not going to see results. Not to mention poor form is a good way to get an injury! Always make sure you're doing a move right, focusing on each movement as you go.
We all know the importance of water when working out or dieting, but for girls with ripped abs, it's beyond that. The more water you take in, the less you're going to bloat in your midsection, allowing you to get those killer abs quicker and healthier.
Everyone thinks the way to great looking abs is by doing a million sit-ups--NEWS FLASH: They're wrong! Start doing planks instead. They work the entire core in less time, they work your arms as well, and they're just downright difficult to a newbie but beyond effective in time!
Do you have a flat belly goal? Which of these changes will you make today?
Please rate this article
Comments
Popular
Related
Recent
