Abs To Die For
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

10 Key Tips To Get The Abs You've Been Dying For

Sacrifice your form, and you sacrifice your six-pack.

669
10 Key Tips To Get The Abs You've Been Dying For
Free-Photos via Pixabay

As we all know, having toned, washboard abs require long hours at the gym, a strict diet, and mental toughness. Although maintaining this figure might be a pain, when you start to "feel the burn," it starts to become more and more addicting. There's a reason why six-packs are often believed to be visible during the peak of one's physical condition- it's not an easy fitness achievement. Here are 10 key tips to get the abs you've been dying for:

1. Start small and go at your own pace.

Giphy

Start small by working in a smaller range of motion, and then as your core strength improves and you master proper form, make the movement to larger and more difficult exercises. Don't just rush into more complex workouts, especially if you haven't been to the gym in a long time- you could injure yourself.

2. Find the workouts that work best for you.

Giphy

If you find a routine that you love and that feels effective, don't feel like you have to change what you're doing if you're seeing real results. Do whatever you feel comfortable doing. Do not sacrifice your form- if you do, you won't get the most out of your workout and you could hurt yourself too.

3. Tweak your diet.

Giphy

If your diet isn't on point, you're not going to see that six-pack. To show off those toned abs, eat a diet with plenty of lean protein, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

4. Always stretch before you break a sweat.

Giphy

It's extremely important to start any workout with a proper warm up to prevent injury. Stretching, light marching in place, and gentle standing rotation of your midsection will help immensely.

5. Tighten your core.

Giphy

Your core should always be engaged when working those muscles. Tightening those abdominal muscles when contracting and crunching them will help define them at a more intense rate. You'll definitely feel it in the morning!

6. Remember to breathe.

Giphy

Your core muscles need oxygen to work at full capacity, so it is essential that you keep breathing- and do so correctly. As a general rule, you want to inhale on the easiest part of the move, and exhale when you have to exert the most force.

7. Work in all dimensions.

Giphy

Instead of always doing crunches, include abs exercises that rotate, twist and turn your body like you do in real life.

8. Mix up your cardio.

Giphy

9. Add some weights.

Giphy

Just like any other muscle, abs need to be challenged to get stronger- so if regular sit-ups aren't doing it anymore, throw some weight into the mix and watch your results multiply.

10. Don’t worry about gaining weight.

Giphy

Although the number on the scale may increase, you have to understand that you are just enhancing what you already have. You're in the process of building muscle and burning fat.


"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit." —Aristotle
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

57046
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36784
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958546
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

190033
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments