Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Six Pack Ab Models - How Do They Do It?

By Gerard Lanzona

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?"

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).

Building muscle also increases a person's metabolism, meaning more calories burned even while inactive. The more muscles we pack on, the less calories we have to burn through exercise. Having a body like King Diomedes then, will let us expend calories even while off in dreamland fighting epic battles.

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.

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.

Contrary to what the 'unlearned' masses think then, six-pack ab models don't really make that many sacrifices. It's just knowing about which exercises and eating practices are effective in keeping the body's metabolism at the optimum belly-fat burning rate. - 15275

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