Back
in the 20th century biceps were the big thing. But these
days, there's a new fitness focus. In the new millennium,
men are looking for more "abs-olute" perfection.
But how do you get that washboard stomach? Men's Health
magazine cover-guy Owen McKibbin shares his secrets
in today's RXtra.
Hard, firm, fit, sculpted bodies... easy to imagine
but impossible to achieve, right? Wrong. We can get
tight tummies, sleek six packs, and Adonis-like abs
without the pain.
So get out your pens, we're here to show you the do's
and don'ts in the quest for washboard abs. The problem
is most people are misinformed about their middles.
Some people think you need to do 500 sit-ups a day.
No way. You don't have to bust a gut for cut abs. It's
all about working your entire body by cutting calories,
burning fat and building muscle.
Getting great abs begins with eating right. Eat foods
high in protein like chicken and plenty of good fats
like nuts and avocados. Don't munch on dry carbs, especially
at dinner. This means no rice, potatoes, pasta or bread.
And stay away from sweets 30 minutes before and after
meals... sugar stops digestion.
You can't bake a cake without an oven you can't get
washboard abs without the cardio. Once you're in the
gym the fastest way to washboard abs is a kick-butt
cardio workout. Plan on at least 40 minutes worth of
biking, climbing, walking or jogging three to five times
a week.
Forget the thousands of crunches, try ten of these...
lifting your legs works your lower gut, strengthening
your lower back, building a stronger belly.
Breathing right is also essential for a solid stomach.
By inhaling on the way down and exhaling up your squeezing
the abs slowly making the most of your motion.
Don't work the sides too much or you can give the illusion
of having love handles. Squats, pushups, and lifting
weights are great at tearing off that tire too!
One of the most effective ways to burn the most calories
in the shortest amount of time is pull-ups. Pull-ups
build your back and biceps, your burning twice as many
calories as the common crunch! If you think pull-ups
are too much for you in this lifetime, remember with
a little practice anyone can do it.
