The Real Deal on Losing the Paunch in Your Stomach: Four Myths about Getting Six Pack Abs

Hello everyone.  Today’s article is a guest post from Nick Clipton who manages and writes for the weight gain blog: http://www.buildingbodymuscles.com/.  Nick’s blog contains lots of fantastic muscle building information and also reviews many of the top body building programs so feel free to check it out after you have finished reading.

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When you conduct a survey out in the street about which part of their body it is that people most dislike, their bulging stomach is probably one of the top answers that will emerge..  There are a two reasons behind this. First, even if you do have a regular workout routine, targeting the abdominal area is still a pretty difficult exercise task.  Second, as people age, losing the fat especially on this part of the body becomes doubly difficult.

When you add to this the fact that a lot of people seem to be leading a sedentary lifestyle, it is no wonder why beer bellies and paunches in the stomach have become a common problem.

The Top 4 Myths about Getting Six Pack Abs that You Need to Know about

Naturally, the solution to get rid of the belly fat and reveal the six pack abs that you’ve always wanted to have is using a combination of exercise and diet.  Although there are a lot of sources that you can use online which are supposed to teach you ways on how to finally get those six pack abs, there are still a lot of myths about it which persist.

To separate fact from fiction, here are the top four myths about getting six pack abs that you need to know about, and the real truth behind them:

1. Doing endless repetitions of crunches is the only solution for getting six pack abs.
Yes, it is true that crunch is an exercises which help define your abdominal muscles.  But this does not mean that when you do endless repetitions of crunches, this is the only way for you to develop ripped six pack abs. As Mike Geary says, there are some really good options for metabolism-boosting high intensity workout e.g. Renegade Dumbbell Rows, Front Squats with Barbell. These workout work on your entire body while working on your abs too. Similarly, Vince Delmonte recommends Hanging Leg Raises, Wood Choppers, Weighted Cable Crunches for advanced trainers.

The only way for you to achieve this goal is to lose the underlying fat in your belly first. This can be done by having a nutritious and healthy diet. Next, you need to undergo a series of full-body exercises and abdominal-muscles targeting exercises to reveal the six pack abs once all the fat in your stomach area has been eliminated.  So developing six pack abs involves more than doing endless crunches, it is actually a combination of proper diet and exercise.

2. You can’t get six pack abs because of your genes.
Genes have absolutely nothing to do with developing six pack abs – anybody can do it. Sure, there are some individuals who may have a harder time at developing six pack abs because of their muscle and bone density or the naturally way that their body is built – but there is always a way for you to get six pack abs if you are willing to work hard for it.

3. You cannot get six pack abs without the help of a specific abs exercise equipment.
This six pack abs myth is not true at all. There are a lot of abs exercises which you can do right in the comfort of your own home – where all you need is a set of dumbbells and an exercise ball. Purchasing expensive abs exercise equipment is more of a marketing ploy, and a luxury rather than a necessity.

4. You need to work on your abs every day in order to see results.
This is yet another myth about getting six pack abs.  Just like any other muscle group, you need to give your abdominal muscles plenty of time to rest in order for them to grow and develop. Work out about two to three times a week to get the best results.

Now that you have an idea about the top four myths, you can modify your existing diet and exercise program so that you can have those ripped abdominal muscles in no time at all!

3 Stomach Toning Abdominal Exercises

A lot of people who exercise regularly strive for a ‘washboard stomach’ or ’six pack abs’. Along with the arms, the abdominal muscles are one of the muscle groups most focussed upon by exercisers. Toned abdominals are a great focal point for both men and women and can really enhance the look of your whole body. In this article we will discuss The Ab-Wheel, The Bicycle and Hindu Push-Ups. All of these are simple, quick and effective exercises which will help strengthen your abdominals in no time at all.

1) THE AB-WHEEL:- For this exercise you need the equipment of the same name. It is basically just a small wheel with a short bar in the middle, that has hand grips on either side.

• To begin, kneel down on the floor with your knees pushed together and place the wheel on the floor in front of you. Grab the wheel with your hands and lock your arms out straight.
• When you are in position roll the wheel forward slowly until your arms and hands are in front of your head. You should be between three and six inches off the floor but make sure your body doesn’t actually touch the floor.
• After this reverse the motion, arch your back and pull yourself back to the starting point (using your abs).
• Remember to take deep breaths as you start and breathe out as you stretch forward when performing this exercise. One set is represented by between seven to ten repetitions.

2) THE BICYCLE:- For this exercise lay down flat on the floor and make sure you press your lower back downwards.

• To begin, place your hands behind your head, with your fingers laced together.
• Next, bring your knees up to your chest and begin to rotate them at close to 45 degrees. The motion should resemble peddling a bicycle.
• As you are performing the peddling motion, touch your left elbow to your right knee and then your right elbow to your left knee.

3) HINDU PUSH UPS:- For this exercise you need to get on your hands and knees and spread your legs very wide with your rear end up.

• To begin, bend your elbows (like a common push up) and bring your back downward in an arc.
• Then straighten your arms so that your back is arched upwards with your hips just above the ground.

A combination of the above abdominal exercises will help you strengthen your stomach muscles. If you breathe deeply whilst performing these exercises you can also strengthen your lungs, build upper body strength, increase your endurance and improve your flexibility. Perform these exercises for a minimum of five minutes a day and you will notice the change in your abdominal strength.

Remember that strong, toned abdominal muscles are just the first step towards having a great looking stomach. You also need to reduce the layer of fat around your stomach area. Make sure that you incorporate lots of fruit and vegetables into your diet. Also, drink plenty of water. Finally, make sure that you remain active and regularly perform cardiovascular exercise. If you follow these simple steps and incorporate the above three exercises into your daily routine you will be on your way towards having those great looking abs you have always dreamed of.

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If you found these abdominal exercises useful you may want to read Firm and Flatten your Abs, an excellent guide to toning your abdominal muscles. It contains an additional 44 abdominal exercise accompanied by over 100 exercise photographs.