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Expert Q&A
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| By Catherine Cram, M.S. Postpartum Fitness Expert Exercise Physiologist | ||
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How can I achieve that "six-pack" look in my abs?
Three things contribute to the "six-pack" abdomen:
1. Genetics.
2. Body fat percentage.
3. Condition of the abdominal muscles.
It's a sad but true fact that some people are able to get that "six-pack" look with minimal effort, while others spend hours doing abdominal exercises and get barely a hint of definition. Whether or not you will be able to get that look is greatly dependent upon how lean your abdominal area is and genetically how your muscles respond to training. Some people develop very strong abdominal muscles without much definition, or they have defined muscles that are hidden under a thick layer of fat.
The best way to increase definition in your ab muscles is to lose fat from that area and include challenging abdominal-strengthening exercises. If it makes you feel any better, consider the fact that I'm a lean exercise physiologist who works on her abdominals consistently and yet my sister who does no exercise, but inherited my mom's great muscle definition, has a six-pack to die for."
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