Tone Abdominals

Why does it seem like the areas we are most self-conscious about are the hardest ones to trim down?

I learned this harsh lesson when I was trying to lose weight from my butt and thighs (familiar to most women), my so-called trouble zones. However, it seems lately that there's been a shift in the trouble department from butt baggage to spare tire central. Now, I have friends and family asking me how to get rock-hard abdominals all the time.

The truth is that each and every one of us has the mythical six-pack! Trouble about it is that it's buried under x-layers of body fat that cover your abdominals. This is where I have to break the bad news. It doesn't matter how many crunches you do, or what ab-burning pill or contraption you purchase from that television infomercial. They key to uncovering those taunt abdominals is reducing your overall body fat.

I have to burst another bubble there is no such thing as spot reduction! Ahhh, gasp, sigh, groan, and a few of you have probably got a few choice expletives for me, but the truth is that although you can tone, add mass, shape and define areas of your body with resistance training take body building for example - you can't take an obese person, just train their abs and expect to see a 6-pack in a month. The good news is that there is a way to find that 6-pack heaven.

Your first step to abdominal success is to recognize a slim waist from a set of toned abs they are far from one and the same. I know you can think of more than one friend or family member with a slim mid-section even a enviable flat stomach, but the question is do they all have toned, hard 6-packs? It likely appears so under a t-shirt, but take a peak. Flat tummy - yes, shapely, toned abdominals no.

They can thank their parents for their slim tummies; however they can thank diets chalked full of fat and sugar foods and empty carbs for their lack of said 6-pack. So get rid of the idea. If you want toned abs you have to put forth the effort and that's going to take time resistance training combined with a healthy diet and pure dedication to your cause.

Begin a resistance training program that focuses on your abs with a variety of crunches, leg lifts, core stabilizing stability ball moves and sit ups. For starters check out our abdominal workout. However, most times our trouble areas are the ones we lose last. For instance, I was always frustrated when trying to loose inches from my gluteus MAXimus, I always lost from my MINImus breastisus (my breasts) first. I later discovered that the body loses weight in an even pattern (over your entire body), so that you're not left with an un-proportionate look.

Your 6-pack dreams are possible if you have the drive and discipline to make them a reality.