3 Keys to a Terrific Tummy or the elusive 6-Pack

I wrote this article a few weeks ago and it has been published all over the world.  I thought I would share it with you!

Are you after the elusive 6-pack or just looking to tighten up your tummy?  There are three key areas you need to focus on to achieve the results you are after.  Read on for a terrific tummy!

1. Proper Cardiovascular Exercise
You can have the best abs in the world, but if they’re covered by fat, you won’t see them.  You must burn off the body fat through proper cardio so you can see your abs.
Cardio needs to be consistent and hard enough to get your heart into the fat burning zone.  At AIHF Wellness, we teach everyone to start right where they are!  Walking for 20 minutes is a good start and then work your way up to at least three to four sessions a week of fast walking, running, the stair master, the elliptical, swimming or biking.  The key is to find something you will do on a consistent basis.  You need to burn more calories then you are consuming so you can get rid of the fat that covers your abs.

2. Proper Resistance Training
The abdominal muscles are a muscle just like your biceps and they need to be worked.  Some great exercises are crunches, leg raises and twists.  Once you get more advanced you can get fancy but for now work on those core exercises and they will strengthen your abs.  This will result in better posture, help elevate back pain and give you nice ab development once you strip away the body fat.

They key to doing any exercise properly is to make sure you are using the desired muscles.  This is even more important when doing abs.  If you rock, sway and use bad form you could injure your lower back.  Make sure you are concentrating on the muscle and not just going through the motion.

3. Proper Nutrition
I am putting this last so you remember it!  Do not sabotage your results in the gym by pigging out at the table.  80% of getting rid of unwanted body-fat is done through proper nutrition.  You can do all the cardio in the world and eat poorly and never see the results you are after.  If you consume more calories than you have expended, you add body fat. Period!
Eat five to six small, well-balanced meals every three hours or so, dividing your protein, carbohydrates and fats among them.  The key to fat loss, is to find the amount of carbohydrates that your body operates best on and don’t exceed that “carbohydrate threshold” by eating too many carbohydrates.
Drink at least a gallon of water each day as well. It will help in nutrient absorption and digestion and with flushing toxins from the body.

Bottom line, make sure you are supplying your body with well-balanced, healthy food every three to four hours, exercise consistently and you will get the terrific tummy you are after!