The route to perfect abs

Added on 14/07/10

Author: Alex Wilkinson - Reporter

Let's face it, they're everywhere. Images of the  coveted six pack or the perfectly formed stomach are in magazines, films and even bill boards. From celebs and their tums through to the perfect abs that we see in the tabloids, it's fair to say that achieving them can prove difficult.

Sculpted abs are desired by many, but obtained by few, so what is the real secret behind great abs?

Ditching bad diet habits

The first step is simple: focus on body fat. The basic trick to good abs is keeping a low body weight and the best way to achieve this is by changing your diet. Cut out processed foods and those that contain high levels of sugar or fat.

Certain foods can help rid you of troublesome padding and help you to get the stomach you've always longed for. Beans, berries and other foods that are high in fibre are all good for shifting pounds off your belly fat.

Exercise your way to better abs

Any ab-shaping programme requires regular exercise. Cardio exercises are ideal and 30 to 40 minutes of intense cardio therapy, six days a week, will soon see changes in your shape. Remember to focus your exercise sessions around your individual situation. What works for one person may not work for you, so it’s all about finding a good balance within the boundaries of your own work and social life – think about an exercise routine that will fit in around your lifestyle. That way you’re more likely to stick to it and it’ll be less time before you start to see your perfect abs take shape.

The simple formula

Sculpting your abs may seem like a daunting challenge but essentially, the path you need to take it a simple one. Toning your abs requires two things: that you get rid of unnecessary fat around your abdomen and that you put a healthy amount of strain on this area of your body. Through a low-calorie, low-fat diet you can achieve the first of these; through cardiovascular exercise, the second.