Healthy Living, Online Magazine

The Fitness Myth Series: Ab Exercises Give You Packs!

By Mirvat Ammouri

Our focus is to turn the light on these hard-held beliefs on fitness, training, and health and to shed away the misconceptions that, despite the wealth of knowledge in the wellness industry, still exist today.

 

Myth

Doing crunches, sit-ups, and planks will slim my waist and show my packs.

 

Truth

Muscles and fat are two different things in your body. One doesn’t turn to the other. Doing exercises like crunches or resistance training using weights strengthens the muscles making them look strong and toned.

For the muscles to show however, you need to shed off the layers of fat under the skin that hide them away. And to do that, a good high intensity cardio regimen must be a part of your overall workout routine.

 

Conclusion

Having washboard abs that your friends would envy is more than just abs exercises. In addition to a healthy nutritious diet, exercises focusing on fat burning are essential.

 

Recommendation

  • Eat clean: Healthy fats, well-sourced proteins and complex organic carbs.
  • Have a well-rounded weight training/resistance training program targeting all muscles.
  • 2-3 times per week of high intensity cardio (30 minutes is enough). Get your heart really pumping and break a real sweat.

 

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