There is a phrase that you will see from time to time that says 'six pack abs are made in the kitchen'. If you are like I was the first time I heard that phrase then your head got scratched. The more you think about it though, it makes perfect sense. It doesn't make any difference what kind of work you do to get your stomach rock hard and muscular, if you don't have the fat removed, no one will see the muscles. If you want to have a six pack that everyone can see, you must remove the belly fat.
No matter what some products claim, the only way you're going to get six-pack abs, is through diet and hard work. Another fact you need to be aware of, is that in order to reach a point where your abs actually become visible, your body fat percentage needs to be very low. In fact, men need to reduce their body fat to 10% or lower while woman on the other hand, need to get theirs below 14%. For most people, reducing body fat to such an extent requires urgent changes to their diets.
Calories are essentially responsible for weight gain or weight loss so let's look at calories first. Eating less calories in your diet than what you body needs is by far the most effective way of shedding fat. If we consider that each pound of fat contains approximately 3500 calories, one would need to eat 500 calories less per day, in order to lose one pound of fat over a period of one week. When your calorie intake drops below the amount that is required, your body starts using its reserves. Exercise is of course the best way to increase the demand for energy, thereby causing the body to burn more fat.
We know now that getting that calorie count down is the only way you're ever going to see your six-pack so here are four easy steps to follow.
1. Eat less carbohydrates. Your body will use carbs before it turns to fat to be used for fuel. The lower the amount of carbs you have, the quicker your body will turn to fat. The problem with this is that when you are building muscle your body need all the carbs it can get to be used for good energy and by cutting them out you are taking away the best energy supply. This is, however, the best way to get your body to burn fat.
2. Perhaps one of the most common problems people face when they go on diet, is that they tend to lose muscle as well as fat. Essentially this is because while on a diet, one is most often depriving one's body of much needed fuel. The best way to counter this negative result of carb deprivation is by including a lot of protein in your diet. Of course, as I've mentioned earlier, you need to remember that calorie intake must however still be kept at a level which is less than your body requires, which in essence means that you need to eat less than what your body needs. Under normal circumstances, those who are trying to increase muscle mass would need to ensure that approximately twenty to thirty percent of their diet consists of protein. On the other hand, if you're cutting back on carbs as part of your diet, then you should increase your protein content to about forty percent.
3. As you've more than likely already heard, there are both good fats and bad fats in various foods. Cutting out as much bad fat as possible is essential, even for those who are not on a diet but particularly for those who are. On the other hand, you need to focus on increasing the amount of good fats you eat as these help to increase your metabolism which has a direct impact on the rate at which your body burns fat. Unlike bad fats which can be used for energy and which are therefore stored by the body, good fats cannot be used for energy and are never stored.
4. Drink more water. Your body is 70% water and needs plenty of it to function properly. When it feels that it isn't going to be getting enough it stores whatever water you give it to make sure it has some in reserve. When you drink a lot of water not only does it do a great job of cleaning your body out but it also has little need to store it. Drinking water will also help you feel full, so drink lots of it throughout the day. - 17944
No matter what some products claim, the only way you're going to get six-pack abs, is through diet and hard work. Another fact you need to be aware of, is that in order to reach a point where your abs actually become visible, your body fat percentage needs to be very low. In fact, men need to reduce their body fat to 10% or lower while woman on the other hand, need to get theirs below 14%. For most people, reducing body fat to such an extent requires urgent changes to their diets.
Calories are essentially responsible for weight gain or weight loss so let's look at calories first. Eating less calories in your diet than what you body needs is by far the most effective way of shedding fat. If we consider that each pound of fat contains approximately 3500 calories, one would need to eat 500 calories less per day, in order to lose one pound of fat over a period of one week. When your calorie intake drops below the amount that is required, your body starts using its reserves. Exercise is of course the best way to increase the demand for energy, thereby causing the body to burn more fat.
We know now that getting that calorie count down is the only way you're ever going to see your six-pack so here are four easy steps to follow.
1. Eat less carbohydrates. Your body will use carbs before it turns to fat to be used for fuel. The lower the amount of carbs you have, the quicker your body will turn to fat. The problem with this is that when you are building muscle your body need all the carbs it can get to be used for good energy and by cutting them out you are taking away the best energy supply. This is, however, the best way to get your body to burn fat.
2. Perhaps one of the most common problems people face when they go on diet, is that they tend to lose muscle as well as fat. Essentially this is because while on a diet, one is most often depriving one's body of much needed fuel. The best way to counter this negative result of carb deprivation is by including a lot of protein in your diet. Of course, as I've mentioned earlier, you need to remember that calorie intake must however still be kept at a level which is less than your body requires, which in essence means that you need to eat less than what your body needs. Under normal circumstances, those who are trying to increase muscle mass would need to ensure that approximately twenty to thirty percent of their diet consists of protein. On the other hand, if you're cutting back on carbs as part of your diet, then you should increase your protein content to about forty percent.
3. As you've more than likely already heard, there are both good fats and bad fats in various foods. Cutting out as much bad fat as possible is essential, even for those who are not on a diet but particularly for those who are. On the other hand, you need to focus on increasing the amount of good fats you eat as these help to increase your metabolism which has a direct impact on the rate at which your body burns fat. Unlike bad fats which can be used for energy and which are therefore stored by the body, good fats cannot be used for energy and are never stored.
4. Drink more water. Your body is 70% water and needs plenty of it to function properly. When it feels that it isn't going to be getting enough it stores whatever water you give it to make sure it has some in reserve. When you drink a lot of water not only does it do a great job of cleaning your body out but it also has little need to store it. Drinking water will also help you feel full, so drink lots of it throughout the day. - 17944
About the Author:
Whether you need to grow muscles, lose weight or just get fit, visit Rob's blog at growmymuscles to find lots of helpful tips and accompany him on his progress to weight loss and health.
