Vital Stats
Name: Danny Kavadlo
From: New York, NY
Occupation: Trainer, author, progressive calisthenics specialist
Website: www.dannythetrainer.com
Just about everyone I know who's ever trained seriously, in almost any discipline, has focused in on their abs at one point or another. I know I have. There's no denying that abs are a core (pun intended) component of perceived physical perfection, so it's pointless to resist. Almost every magazine cover, advertisement, and billboard shows images of chiseled abs. "Ideal" waistlines have gone in and out over the years, but as a culture, we continue to celebrate abs more than ever.
Beyond that, abdominal training is simply important to all types of athletes. You use your abs every time you lift, twist, or even stand up. A powerful set of abs, along with a strong, balanced physique are big parts of the formula for overall physical health. And to everyone who says "visible abs aren't necessarily strong abs," I answer: That may be true, but I can still recognize a strong set when I see one.
Still, as this site and many others are happy to point out for you, you can't train your way out of a poor diet. While there is an extraordinary amount of conflicting "expert" testimony when it comes to proper nutrition, there are tried-and-true techniques that millions of abs—sixes of millions of them, in fact—can agree on. They might blow your mind or they might be old news, but listen up either way. If you're not following them, then it probably shows.
Fire It Up
First things first: You need to be aware of what you eat. The best way to do this is to prepare as many of your own meals as possible. When you cook for yourself, you can stay on top of exactly what every single ingredient is, and how much you use in preparation. The more knowledge and power you have the better.
When consuming foods made by others, you don't know much for certain, and particularly when you dine out. Many times, even when prepared by "healthy" restaurants, meals are often served in oversized proportions and laden with gratuitous amounts of empty calories and chemicals. I've seen salads and sides that boast more than 1,000 calories per serving. No one will get abs eating like that on a regular basis.
Go Green
A lot of folks think I eat nothing but pull-up bars and tattoo ink. They'd be surprised to see how many leafy greens I consume on a daily basis. Everyone knows that green vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins, nutrients, calcium, and dietary fiber, but many don't realize what a large role eating foods like spinach, kale and broccoli can have in sculpting amazing abs.
Greens, along with most vegetables, are extremely low in caloric intake. People who have problems with self-control and portion size can't go wrong when it comes to greens, which can be consumed virtually whenever you want. Load two thirds of your dinner plate with veggies, and you'll fill up with quality nutrition and decrease the temptation to make sketchier choices.
Avoid Processed Sugar
If you consume extra sugar and don't metabolize it quickly, it will be stored as fat. Many of us, men in particular, tend to store this fat on our bellies. Clearly, a diet high in sugar will hinder you on your quest to a six-pack.
Processed sugar is among your abs' greatest foes. By this, I am not just referring to white table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, but to just about any product where everything has been removed but the sugar. This includes "raw" and "natural" sugars, not to mention many other misleadingly labeled sweeteners on the market, including such as "nectars," "syrups," and "cane juice."
The natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables do not fall into this category; they have never been processed and are un-stripped of their natural fiber. They therefore metabolize slowly over time. An apple is not only sweet, it's filling and free of processed sugar, making it a great snack for ultimate abs.
Drink More Water
One of the worst things about sugar is that it's added to virtually everything. While it's obvious that beverages like cocktails and soda will stand in the way of the quest for abs, many well-intentioned individuals still drink their sugar unknowingly in the form of flavored waters, sweetened iced teas, fruit juices, coffee drinks, and other treats. These products should be consumed minimally, if at all.
Make it a habit to look at ingredients and nutritional information and take nothing for granted. Drinks are not always what they seem! A glass of orange juice has more than 100 calories and 20 grams of sugar. Water has none. The importance of taking in adequate H2O cannot be overstated.
Water also improves metabolic rate and digestion, which helps you get leaner. It hydrates and moisturizes, increasing your skin's suppleness and enhancing your abs' appearance. Furthermore, water removes toxins and reduces aches and pains, helping you train harder and recover faster.
Eat Less
There are many paths one can take in the quest toward ultimate abs. Lots of diets and eating styles have the potential to help you get lean, and I'm not here to tell you why one is better than another. But here's a thought: Although there is no single weight-loss method universally proven to work perfectly for everyone in all situations, simply eating less comes close!
Having a ripped six pack requires having low body fat: 10 percent or less for men as a general standard, and 20 percent or less for women. A number like that simply is not attained without good old-fashioned restraint. Assuming you're like most of us, if you want to show off that hard-earned definition, you will simply have to eat less. There is no way around it.
Live Life
Practicing restraint is one thing. Subjecting yourself to deprivation is another. The line between them is one you have to find for yourself, but a system that leaves you constantly wanting more will inevitably leave you dissatisfied. Long-term deprivation can lead to a backlash of bad habits, and usually counter-productive. I think it's best to have a healthful, holistic approach to training and life. Look at the big picture. Food is meant to be enjoyed, and with the right mindset, you can do so and have your abs, too.
Each one of us is a product of our own day-to-day habits. If you eat well 80-90 percent of the time, there is no reason you can't indulge occasionally. This principle is true for desserts, "cheat" meals if you're inclined to call them that, and even Thanksgiving dinners. They're all fine because they're occasional. Just make sure to be honest and hold yourself accountable; it's not a "cheat" if you do it every day.
If you have good eating habits, there's almost nothing you'll have to avoid 100 percent of the time. This will leave you and your six-pack abs free to live happily ever after together. Keep the dream alive!
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