1 of 10

Write now Article Tools

Achieving a six pack requires a lot of dedication and hard work. If you aren't willing to push your mind and body to the limits, then you aren't willing to have great abs. Just because you push yourself during abdominal exercises doesn't mean you'll have great abs though. You could have the best set of abs in the world, but if you have too much body fat, then you'll be unable to see them.

Maintaining low body fat isn't as hard as you think it is. Here are three basic rules that will help you on your way to either obtaining or maintaining low body fat.

1) Stay away from processed foods It's a well known fact that processed foods are horrible for you. Not only are they high in sodium, but they can be very high in both saturated and trans fats as well. On top of that, the good qualities are stripped from it. Very rarely will you find fatty acids, fiber, or even vitamins in highly processed foods. The same goes for restaurant food. Avoid eating out as much as possible, especially at fast food restaurants.

2) Shop wisely What you pick out at the supermarket ultimately determines your fat accumulation. If you're constantly going for snack cakes and chips, you're going to have quite a bit of difficulty maintaining low body fat. Instead, try shopping around the perimeter of the store. This is where you'll find your fruits, whole grains, and dairy products. However, you still have to be wary of what you're purchasing. A lot of items boast "Low Fat" or "Source of Fiber" symbols nowadays, but you have to be sure. A product that says it's a source of fiber may only contain 1g of fiber per 500g serving. Always read the nutrition information on the back of the product. While it doesn't give you all the information, it definitely helps.

3) Manage your food intake Even if you're a complete vegan, you can still gain fat. Fat is an accumulation of energy stored away for future use. You could even gain fat by eating too much celery. It is vital to track your calorie intake each day, and to assemble a daily meal plan that fits your nutritional and calorie needs. However, make sure you do not starve yourself! Many people are under the impression that they need to ingest less than 1000 calories to stay slim. This is not the case! Take me for example, I eat upwards of 3500 calories a day, but my body fat is lower than 6%. It all depends on the needs of your body.

While this is all very important, getting great abs takes more than low body fat. If you truly want that six or eight pack, you're going to have to know what you're doing in the gym. Here are three tips that will surely get you on your way to that 300 stomach.

1) Hit every angle Try to hit your abs from all possible directions. If your only abdominal exercises are basic crunches, there's no way you can fully develop your abs, especially not your obliques. To get that crazy set of abs, you'll have to incorporate a variety of exercises into your abdominal routine.

2) Slow and steady Perform your reps slowly. The slower you move, the harder your muscle fibers have to work. Not only that, but if you perform your reps slowly, you can really focus on your breathing. When it comes to exercise, nothing is more important than proper breathing.

3) More reps Your abdominal muscles are made predominantly of slow twitch muscle fibers. Slow twitch muscle fibers react much more to higher repetition exercises. Try to perform somewhere between 15-30 reps per set.

Learn more about this author, Cory Davison.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to get six-pack abs?
We want to hear your view. Write now!