Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Six Pack Ab Models Have A Recipe For Success

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 secret to developing abs of steel is actually no secret at all. It's just a combination of a little physiology and common-sense. Incorporating fat-busting citrus fruits and nutritious munchies into your diet is a small step that goes a long way. Squeezing-in moderate intensity cardio exercises with your weightlifting routine does wonders in making your six-pack dreams a reality.

Doing exercises that keep your heart rate within your anaerobic threshold (experts call it AT) are most effective in exposing the rectus abdominus by eliminating belly fat. Keeping your heart rate at 60%-70% of your maximum heart rate somehow causes the body to source body fat for most of the energy spent.

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.

Diet of course, plays a big part in our fight against The Flab. It's not as simple as just cutting back on food intake however. It's even possible to eat 3 meals a day with snacks in between and still get a tummy like a six pack ab models'. The technique is choosing what you stuff in your mouth and when to stuff it in. Eating foods rich in carbs an hour or two before a workout for example can provide you with the ample energy for a workout session.

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.

Knowledge of how our body works, a proper workout program and eating smart- this makes up a recipe for six-pack success that anybody with the right amount of determination can use. - 15266

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