Why You Still Don’t Have a Six-Pack After Doing 1000 Crunches a Day

At times, you might think it’s impossible to get that shredded 6-pack, even though you’ve been doing ab exercises for ages. But there’s no reason to get desperate. People who already have that perfect look often say that “abs are made in the kitchen.” And it seems like this curious phrase might be the secret to success.

We at Bright Side believe anything is possible if you put your mind to it. So let’s find out why abs are “made in the kitchen” and how it can help us achieve our goals.

Ab workouts won’t help you lose belly fat.

There’s a common misconception that if you want to lose belly fat, you should do ab exercises. Studies have shown that there’s no point in targeting a specific area of your body to try to burn fat because this technique is ineffective. Based on the way our body functions, when you work out, you do lose fat, just not necessarily in the places that you want to.

Exercising alone won’t give you visible abs.

Unless you eat healthily, it’ll be difficult to get that coveted ab definition just by doing exercises. You’ll still likely have a layer of fat covering the abs. So, while you might already have a 6-pack from exercising, they just aren’t as visible as you’d like. Sure, it’s possible to lose fat by exercising, like by adding cardio and resistance training, which has been shown to help lose weight, for example; but it just may not be enough.

It’s much easier to reduce your caloric intake through diet than to try to burn off all the fat you’ve gained by eating a lot of unhealthy food. That’s why the best way to lose belly fat and finally get defined abs is to combine a healthy diet with exercise.

What you eat is important.

In order to lose weight, your diet has to be healthy. That means eating nutritious ingredients, whole foods, healthy fats, like avocados and nuts, incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet, and eating products that are high in lean protein, like chicken and fish. Foods that are low in calories, for example, like non-fat yogurt and lentils, can also promote weight loss.

Things that should be avoided are refined grains, trans fats, and added sugars. That means you should try to limit snacking on chips and cookies, and eat less sweet food in general.

It’s important to note how often you eat.

Apart from the quality and quantity of food, how frequently you eat can also be an important factor. Studies suggest that overweight people eat less frequently than people who are able to maintain a healthy weight, which is 4 times a day. Limited research also suggests that it’s better to eat at least 3 times per day because it helps control the appetite and makes you feel full.

Eating more frequently, in general, can help you curb hunger and prevent overeating. And when you’re hungry, you might be more likely to choose unhealthy foods that are high in calories. Moreover, when you have more meals, there’s more of an opportunity for you to choose something healthy every time you decide what to eat.

Have you tried getting your abs to show? What was effective?