Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Six Pack Ab Models' Secrets

By Dan Solaris

You've seen them, they're everywhere these days. Demonstrating the latest fitness gadget on TV, on fashion spreads showing-off the new line of swimsuits, even on advertisements for the latest designer scent. Those six pack ab models. And the question on the minds of the countless masses with the soft tummies is: "How do they do it?"

Getting Achilles-style abs or a tummy like Tyson Beckford's and 50 cent's has long been a fantasy for many- an unreachable dream that a lot of frustrated gym goers have given-up on. Most people pass it off to good genes or a grueling workout regimen. Fact is, anybody can get ripped abs. It just takes a basic knowledge of physiology, a proper exercise regimen and eating smart. Equal parts of these three comprise the recipe for ripped abs.

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.

Experts have determined that exercises that keeps the heart pumping for extended periods at medium intensity are optimal for burning body fat. At 60-70% of your MHR (maximum heart rate), the body expends the most calories from stored fat rather than carbohydrates and glycogen. The latter is needed for muscle-development and no one wants to lose-out on building muscle.

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.

The third ingredient six pack ab models have in their recipe for a cut rectus abdominus is a relatively low-fat diet and healthy eating habits. Lots of fruits (citrus ones actually render body fat easier to burn) and keeping our body form starving does wonders in controlling belly fat.

Most people have the notion that the less food you put into your system, the less fat you become. Skipping meals? No, this is not what six pack ab models do it. The human body actually loses less fat when it's starving. It's an evolutionary thing from our caveman days. Our bodies try to preserve stored fat by slowing down our metabolism and getting energy from other sources like glycogen and, gasp! Even muscle tissue.

It's ultimately better to eat 3 times a day with snacks in between to prevent ourselves from feeling deprived and simply pigging-out on the next meal. Overeating expands our stomach muscles to accommodate all the food we eat and this leads to a pot belly after a while.

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