The Almighty and Elusive Six-Pack- Cardio, Bodyfat and Exclamation Marks

To achieve a flat stomach, a six-pack, a toned midsection- whatever you want to call it- the plain and simple fact is that you must have a BODYFAT PERCENTAGE OF 10% OR LESS for those abs to show through.

So, How do we achieve this? I hear you bellowing.

Diet
Drink more water- up to half your bodyweight in ounces per day will put your body into lipolysis, meaning your body will begin burning stores of bodyfat

Cut down on carbonated beverages altogether, lets be honest, they are full of shit, sugar, sodium, aspartame etc. need I say more?

After 6pm large meals are a no!- when you sleep your metabolism slows down considerably, meaning that excess food and calories are turned into fat

Exercise

Weights- and for the ladies worrying about looking like bodybuilders, you simply do not have the testosterone present in your body to build huge muscles, and more muscle mass means more calories burnt at rest, weights will help you achieve the body you desire

CARDIO!!!- do at least 30 minutes intense cardio per day- get that heart rate high! At the very least you should be doing a brisk walk for this amount of time, try different routes, explore your town and see what you discover, walk at different times of the day, keep things interesting and it will help you stay motivated

Record the distance you travel as you do cardio, and try to beat your record each time you train

More cardio

Train the entire core- Rectus Abdominus, Transversus Abdominus, Erector Spinae etc.
More cardio

Keep track of your workouts and food intake using a journal, this is a great motivational tool as you see yourself improving!

Pay close attention to your bodyfat percentage, ask me to measure your bodyfat every 4 to 6 weeks or use the bodyfat calculator at the gym, remember, for those abs to show, your bodyfat percentage should be at 10% or lower.

By Chris Kershaw, Personal Trainer, Part-Time Wookie and Hater of Treadmills