What Does It Really Take to Have Visible Abs?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again; abs are one of the most sought-after things in all fitness. They’re famous for being some of the most desired areas of your body, and getting them is no easy feat. A lot of the time, you can train all you like, and they just don’t happen; for others, they can happen by accident. It’s all dependent on you. The science behind getting visibly toned abs, however, isn’t all that complicated, and we’re here to clear things up about how to do it.

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• Everyone Has Abs; They’re Just Hidden
• Building Muscle Makes Them Bigger
• Cutting Fat Makes Them Easier To See
• Bodyfat Under 15% Compared To Average
• Eat Well & Train Hard; There’s More To Fitness Than Abs!

Everyone Has Abs; They’re Just Hidden

The first thing that we have to say about this whole thing is that everyone has abs. Abdominal muscles are what we need to be able to move properly, as well as a bunch of other things too. So they do way more than people think, and you don’t just suddenly grow abs when you start working out. So that’s just something to note before we go any further. We’ve all got them; we just can’t always see them.

To get visible abs specifically, it’s just like toning up anywhere, really. But, first, we need to cut fat and build muscle, and it’s not an easy thing to do!

Building Muscle Makes Them Bigger

The first step people tend to go for when trying to get better, more defined abs or even a six-pack is to jump straight into abs workouts. That’s not always a bad thing either (here’s a workout we made earlier). To make your abs more visible, it’s always a good idea to get some abdominal workouts going. Using your abs just makes them grow, and the larger they are, the easier it will be to see them, so it does make sense. On top of that, any exercise is a good way to burn more calories, and that’s the other half of the battle that we’re about to come onto.

Cutting Fat Makes Them Easier To See

Part two, and possibly the most significant part of getting more defined abs, comes through eating well. As the old saying goes, abs are made in the kitchen (which we’ve already looked at), and as we said there too, it’s not far wrong. If you want to be able to see your ab muscles and really define them as much as possible, it takes a really low body fat percentage. So much so that even if you don’t exercise and have a low body fat percentage, you’ll still likely see them a little.

Bodyfat Under 15% Compared To Average.

To be able to see them well, you need to be getting this body fat percentage to under 15%. That sounds like an easy thing to do, but we assure you, it’s not. The lower the fat percentage, the less there is to cover them. It does make sense. 15% alone is still a really hard thing to achieve, and even top athletes often only have under 10%. It’s challenging work, and that’s what it takes. There’s no quick fix to getting them.

Eat Well & Train Hard; There’s More To Fitness Than Abs!

Ultimately, this is the best advice you can probably get about training in general, and it applies to getting a six-pack or even an ab outline too. They should happen naturally if you live a healthy lifestyle and train hard. When you cut out all the excess fat you can from the food you eat, you’ll probably help yourself get there anyway. Eat a little cleaner, train a little more, and they often happen without you even realising. There’s way more to your health and fitness than just abs, and that’s something that you always need to remember.

Before beginning any exercise or nutrition program, consult your physician, doctor or other professional. This is especially important for individuals over the age of 35 or persons with pre-existing health problems. Exercise.co.uk assumes no responsibility for personal injury or property damage sustained using our advice.

If you experience dizziness, nausea, chest pain, or any other abnormal symptoms, stop the workout at once and consult a physician or doctor immediately.