Have you looked at the mirror and wonder what are the easiest ways to get abs? Well, join the club. You are not alone in your conjecture, since having a six-pack abs is among the top objectives of anybody today who is trying to get their bodies into shape.
Apparently, a ripped washboard stomach is one of the hallmarks of what many considered a sexy body. Basically, it is a fitting symbol for a truly lean body, as it is almost impossible to achieve without building or toning the rest of your body.
The probability of meeting a chubby person with naturally chiseled rock-hard abs is a million times lower than running into someone muscular with a flabby gut.
Aspiring for a naturally tight tummy with popping abdominal muscles is actually a good thing. There may be a tinge of vanity in the said goal, but its overall benefits go beyond having a beach-worthy bod.
Just attempting to achieve it will significantly improve your physical and mental health. Moreover, the healthier diet and lifestyle that goes with your endeavor will likewise give you more energy and confidence.
3 Anatomical Reasons why you don’t have a 6-Pack Abs:
- You may have little belly fat but your abdominal muscles are not developed enough to show.
- You have well developed abdominal muscles but also lots of belly fat that hide them.
- Worst of all, you have underdeveloped abdominal muscles under lots of belly fat.
Based then on the aforementioned reasons, the ideal composition of your outer abdomen should be a well-developed musculature underneath thin layers of adipose fat.
You might have noticed that I said “layers”. It is plural because unlike most regions of your body, your stomach has two layers of fat, subcutaneous and visceral. It is one of the reasons why it is harder and takes longer to make leaner and tighter than every other part of your physique.
But before you howl in protest, you should know that the Divine Creator designed it that way to protect many of your vital organs while providing movement flexibility for your torso.
What are the easiest ways to get abs?
Well, you can have it surgically done with liposuction and fillers like what that creepy dude who spent a great deal of money did, trying to transform himself into a living “Ken doll”. I am kidding, of course, as that is not only horribly painful and expensive, but also downright dangerous, unhealthy, and stupid.
What you should do is starve yourself and do thousands of crunches every day. I am kidding again. Man, you are so easy! In fact, I am going to advise you to do the opposite. But when I say opposite, it doesn’t mean that I will tell you to pig out and just sit on your comfy chair all day long. Instead, I will enjoin you to do the following:
See more: The Best Way to Get Abs: 4 Golden Rules to Follow
#1 – Eat Ample Servings of Protein
Of all the macronutrients you need to keep your body running, protein is usually the most completely metabolized by your system.
Since our body cannot store protein, it works really hard to break down all its molecules into amino acids, which will enter our bloodstream to make their way into almost every cell in our body, most particularly in the muscles and organs. None of it actually ended up being stored in adipocytes or fat cells in your stomach.
Moreover, protein digestion triggers a special process in our abdomen called peristalsis, wherein waves of muscular contraction occur along the stomach walls. This action actually burns calories too, which is in line with your goal for sexier abs.
By the way, I am not saying that you don’t put a limit on your protein intake. Excessive amino acids also cause some adverse effects such as kidney stones. The word is “ample” not extreme.
Protein can be found in animal meat and organs, as well as in dairy and plant produce. Among the foods that contain all essential amino acids are cattle and poultry meat, eggs, fish, whey and casein from milk, and soy.
Other great sources of proteins are whole grain cereals such as oats, wheat, and quinoa, as well as legumes such as almonds, chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and a lot more.
#2 – Do Not Shun Carbs and Healthy Fats
Moderate amount of carbs is actually best consumed after a workout. Taking it at this period not only significantly reduces the chance that most of it would end up being stored in the fat cells, but your body can also tremendously benefit from the boost of insulin it provides.
Said hormone will not only enable your body to utilize amino acids better, it will also aid your muscles to repair and recover much faster. Some of the most excellent sources of carbs are tubers, plantains, and whole grain cereals, as they also provide you with various vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and even proteins.
Healthy unsaturated fats, particularly those that come from omega3-rich fish, nuts, olives, avocado, etc. aids your body in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, D, E &K), as well as various antioxidants.
They also provide other benefits such as stabilizing your insulin level, keeping your heart, brain, and nerves healthy, and help in reducing adipose fats.
#3 Eat More Fruits & Veggies
Consuming 2 -3 serving of fruits and vegetables daily is one of the easiest ways to get abs that people would admire. The rich amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibers this food group has to offer not only help in preventing various chronic, harmful, and even life-threatening diseases, but also in losing unwanted weight and body fat.
Besides having a high nutritional and satiety value, fruits and veggies are likewise effective in eliminating toxins that cause stomach bloating. Moreover, the insoluble fibers in various fresh produce can bind and flush out excess estrogens, one of the leading causes for getting overweight today.
#4 – Stay Away from Liver Stressors
Alcohol and drugs are not the only offending substances in this point. As it turns out, the liver also works doubly hard in metabolizing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a common ingredient in several off-the-shelf processed food products such as soda pops, candy bars, breakfast cereals, jams, syrups, and a lot more.
Because of this, the average American today unknowingly consumes 15-20 tablespoons of sugar a day or an astounding 150 pounds a year!
In case you don’t know it yet, the biggest organ inside you, the liver, regulates fat metabolism in your body. This is on top of its many amazing functions that keep you alive.
However, with poor diet and lifestyle, which seems to be the norm today, we overburden our liver daily without being aware or conscious of it. That is why fatty liver, a precursor to cirrhosis, is a very common medical condition for adults today.
When this happens, it means your liver is blocked with toxins that diminish some of its basic functions, which makes it harder for you to lose weight and body fat, among other things.
#5 – Exercise Not Only to Lose Weight but to Build Muscles
I’m sorry but there is no going around this subject. I know that you are looking for the easiest ways to get abs, and I hope you are not thinking about some magic pills or something that will not rob you of your social media, video game, and Netflix time.
As I have discussed earlier, the only way to make your abs show through your tight workout jersey is by developing your abdominal muscles and depleting your belly fat.
Again, there is no way to build killer abs without working out your entire core, as well as the rest of your body. I cannot offer you “easy” but I can give you some time-saver tips:
- Always include compounds or exercises that train various muscle groups simultaneously in your workout routine. Among the most basic yet proven effective compounds are squats, presses, lunges, and rows. Although some can be performed without weights, it’s always best to workout with barbells and/or dumbbells.
- For cardio, instead of running or brisk walking for 30-minutes at a steady pace, do 15-20 minutes of interval training. You can start by alternating 15-seconds all out sprints with 30-seconds pacing. This can also apply in swimming or other cardio workouts you enjoy.
- Instead of doing hundreds of crunches a day, do a combination of moves that will work out your entire core. It includes planking, yoga push-ups, side twists, mountain climber, etc. Just make sure that your oblique muscles and lower back also get a good workout and not just your front abdomen.
- Although this can be optional, try supplementing your fitness program with whey or casein protein shake, as the extra amino acids tremendously help in building muscles.
There you go! Now, logout from your Facebook and Instagram and start planning a fitness program so you will have better photos to post in the near future. You can also start ridding your refrigerator and cupboard of processed foods and drinks laden with HFCS. And I when I say rid, I mean the garbage disposal and not your mouth.
Exercise regularly and start filling your diet with liver and gut-friendly whole foods such as fresh fruits and veggies, lean meat and other healthy calories. Before I forget, drink a lot of cool and clean water, it is Mother Nature’s best detoxifier, plus it’s zero-calorie.
Another thing: be sure to have enough regular night sleep (7-8 hours) so you can take advantage of three fat-burning hormones your body releases during REM cycle, namely, melatonin, leptin, and adiponectin.
Thanks for reading!