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Toned and Chiseled Abs are on every gym-goers to-do list, yet very few actually achieve them. Instead, many who workout consistently end-up with the conversely unattractive "gym abs". While they may see definition in many other body areas, such as arms and thighs, the abs never seem to firm up, despite heavy-training with exercises like crunches or weighted ab machines. So, what are "gym abs" exactly?
The term "gym abs" refers to the look of a person who is otherwise fit and toned, but has a mid-section that is extended significantly forward, often past the pectoral muscles, and has very little definition. This condition is caused by building the abdominal muscles through heavy ab workouts, while not reducing the fat that sits on top of them by the same rate. In essence, as you build ab muscle, the muscle pushes the fat outward causing the belly to look distended, which is the opposite of the flat, chiseled ab look you are likely looking for. If the fat around the waist is not being reduced by the same amount as the muscle being built, your waist-size will actually expand rather than shrink. People with "gym abs" have a nicely-toned set of abdominal muscles covered by a thick layer of fat.
To determine if you have the "gym abs" we are referring to, stand erect but do not suck in your belly. Look down, and take note of whether your belly extends significantly beyond your chest. Next, take two fingers and press into the skin covering your abdominal area. Do you feel rock hard muscle an inch or so underneath your skin? Does your belly extend beyond your chest? If so, you may have "gym abs", but there is hope.
It is commonly accepted that definition in the abdominal region will not begin to show until the individual drops below 15% body fat. Thus, the best method to counter-act "gym abs" and get the six-pack you want, is to focus on fat loss. Determine how many calories you need to eat to maintain your body weight, and then cut them by 20%. Also, immediately stop doing targeted abdominal exercises, such as crunches, and use that time on the treadmill or running intervals. Core work, such as yoga, is still needed for stability and overall conditioning, but ab-specific exercises without fat loss will give you the opposite of the look you crave. You can still build ab definition with compound-body exercises, such as push-ups and squats. Remember, six-packs are found in the kitchen, not in the gym.
The term "gym abs" refers to the look of a person who is otherwise fit and toned, but has a mid-section that is extended significantly forward, often past the pectoral muscles, and has very little definition. This condition is caused by building the abdominal muscles through heavy ab workouts, while not reducing the fat that sits on top of them by the same rate. In essence, as you build ab muscle, the muscle pushes the fat outward causing the belly to look distended, which is the opposite of the flat, chiseled ab look you are likely looking for. If the fat around the waist is not being reduced by the same amount as the muscle being built, your waist-size will actually expand rather than shrink. People with "gym abs" have a nicely-toned set of abdominal muscles covered by a thick layer of fat.
To determine if you have the "gym abs" we are referring to, stand erect but do not suck in your belly. Look down, and take note of whether your belly extends significantly beyond your chest. Next, take two fingers and press into the skin covering your abdominal area. Do you feel rock hard muscle an inch or so underneath your skin? Does your belly extend beyond your chest? If so, you may have "gym abs", but there is hope.
It is commonly accepted that definition in the abdominal region will not begin to show until the individual drops below 15% body fat. Thus, the best method to counter-act "gym abs" and get the six-pack you want, is to focus on fat loss. Determine how many calories you need to eat to maintain your body weight, and then cut them by 20%. Also, immediately stop doing targeted abdominal exercises, such as crunches, and use that time on the treadmill or running intervals. Core work, such as yoga, is still needed for stability and overall conditioning, but ab-specific exercises without fat loss will give you the opposite of the look you crave. You can still build ab definition with compound-body exercises, such as push-ups and squats. Remember, six-packs are found in the kitchen, not in the gym.
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