One day my friends and I were sitting on the beach, watching people, and realized that men come in four basic shapes: 1. Adonis with his amazing muscle abs, and tanned, muscular arms; 2. Average but appealing slim guy who obviously has not lifted a weight since high school; 3. Belly-over-the-belt but wearing a tiny swimsuit anyway guy sauntering around hitting on all the girls; and Mr. Extra-large, this is my first time off the couch in over a year guy.
The truth is most men seem to covet the rippling abs and strapping arms of the fabled Adonis. Men attribute this obsession to women’s love of this attribute. Apparently women have a great deal more power over men than they realize.
If men had ever taken the time to question women about whether or not they really like “6 pack abs” they would have discovered that, while some women do indeed love rock-hard abs, others find them difficult to cuddle with and prefer their men to be a little softer. All women like a guy who is in good shape, looks strong and capable of protecting her, and can see whether or not his shoes are tied.
To that end, many a man has expended much energy in pursuit of a rock-hard abdomen – spending hours doing leg lifts, abdominal crunches, and sit-ups. Of course exercise alone won’t meet their goal – fat loss measures are necessary as well. Even the most ripped abs will be hidden from view behind a wall of fat.
Eating sensibly is extremely important when undertaking any muscle-building endeavor. Eating plenty of protein builds muscle. Always eat breakfast. It’s important to keep your metabolism working (and your brain too). Eating frequent, small meals throughout the day is smart metabolism fare. If you’re short on time in the morning, try cold cereal, or keep a box of protein bars on hand – everyone has time for breakfast on the run. Keep dinners small – we need to use up the calories we take in and most of us aren’t very active after dinner.
Unfortunately it isn’t possible to lose fat in one targeted area — like your abs. You have to lose it all over. Cardio is key in this endeavor. Go for a jog, ride your bike, play racquetball, tennis, or football. It is important to get your heart rate up and running for at least 30 minutes every day. Lifting weights helps build muscle mass in other areas of your body, which in turn burns calories.
Sit ups, crunches and leg lifts are common exercises used to start shaping beefy abs. Try adding static holds to your workout – lift your legs about a foot off the ground while lying on your back, and hold them as long as you can. Also, you need to fortify your obliques. As your workouts become more advanced, find new ways to add twisting motions to your sit ups and crunches.
Defining the muscle abs that are so desirable amongst bodybuilders looking for a fit and healthy physique requires persistence. You can use the Internet to find effective exercises for lower abs.