Secret to Killer Abs

The secret is...there is no secret BUT below I'll explain what it takes!

First things first, you cannot spot reduce fat.

When we consume too many calories, it gets stored as adipose tissue (fat) to be used as potential energy in the future. For some, this adipose tissue might seem to get stored in certain areas of our body, such as the abdomen. The first thought most people have is 'Lets do a bunch of cardio and crunches to slim this belly down!'. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.

Muscle tissue doesn’t own adipose tissue real estate, meaning you can’t just target a muscle that’s in the same area where you want to reduce adipose tissue and burn fat stores, or turn fat into muscle tissue- another common myth.

When our body recruits fat stores for energy, it draws from the whole body, not specific areas. This is why it's best to do full body workouts, focusing on resistance training and compound exercises targeting major muscle groups for a better overall calorie burn. This will move you in the right direction by raising your basal metabolic rate (BMR) over time and reduce body fat.

There are three things to consider when aiming for a shredded core

Muscle Density, Body Fat Percentage and Genetics.

Muscle Density is created through resistance training and consistently overloading the muscles of the abdomen. The greater the muscle density, the higher body fat percentage you can have while still letting those sexy abs showing through! Don't know where to start? Purchase Sculpt Core training guide to build the abs you've always wanted!

Body Fat influences how lean we look. Typically the less body fat one has on their frame the leaner and more cut they will appear. This is seen in bodybuilders when they cut body fat for competitions. Bodybuilders do not look that lean year round, and they don't magically put on that much muscle mass in a couple of months. Its the combination of consistently building muscle year round and then cutting body fat through a restricted diet and manipulation of carbs, salt and water right before hitting the stage.

Genetics play the role of how our abs will look when we finally reveal them. You might have a 4, 6 or 8 pack! You may obtain a slim waist or you might still have a thicker looking frame simply due to your skeletal structure. We should embrace our bodies no matter what and remember we can only create changes to the things that are within our control.