The Basic Formula for Getting Six-Pack Abs

Six-packs can be elusive. It takes a lot of hard work, and it can quickly disappear as soon as it shows traces of it on your belly. Contrary to popular belief, six-packs are attainable by anyone. All it takes is a basic formula, which you can freely add to. Supplements, for instance, aren't part of the basic formula. However, they do help. There are a lot of supplements out there that can help you develop your abdominal muscle the same way they help you develop muscles everywhere else. As for the basic formula, the first would be having a healthy diet and proper nutrition.

For you to get the body build you always wanted, you have to start cutting down on junk food. This means no McDonalds and Mountain Dew, unless you allow yourself to indulge on these during cheat days. At any rate, healthy diet doesn't just mean cutting down on food. It also means adding healthier choices to your meals. For instance, if you like to eat two chicken breasts on dinners, cut it down to one and add more vegetables. If you're fond of snacking between meals, eat some fruits instead of the usual junk food you consume.

The next part of the formula is the obvious: workouts. Working out regularly will help you get the body you desire. If you already have the build you wanted, hitting the gym allows you to maintain it. For abdominal exercises, there's usually the crunches, sit-ups, and planks. These can be done in any fashion. For instance, you can do the basic crunches, or you can combine a crunch and a reverse crunch. If you're going to the gym, you can also do weighted crunches or any variation with the available equipment.

The third part of the formula is taking enough rest. This means two things. One would be getting enough sleep every day. Secondly, you have to take rest days from the gym. Most bodybuilders take one or two days off from the gym. This is to help them recover from the soreness of working out all week. These rest days also allow them to partake in cheat meals as long as these meals don't negate the progress you've made all week. At any rate, rest days are important as overworking your muscles by working out all week can do more harm than good.

Finally, the secret sauce of this recipe is time. You read that right. Within a few months of following strict diets and regular trips to the gym, noticeable progress can be seen on biceps, legs, and other parts of your body. With the abs, it takes a lot longer. This is because normal day-to-day activity involves working most muscles in the body, except the abs. So by staying true to your routine of exercise and diet, you will eventually have the six-pack you've always wanted.

As mentioned above, this is the most basic formula. Be sure to follow everything, as you won't get any results if one part of the formula is missing from your routine. You may also add to this formula by using various supplements.

Check a blog post to learn about creatine bodybuilding.

Peter Roseberg is a health and lifestyle blogger. His expertise on the topic stems from the experience he gained after years of being a fitness enthusiast himself.