Running for Abs: How to Get a Six-Pack with the Help of the Treadmill

Getting a six-pack isn’t easy, or else everyone would have them. Just the phrase “six-pack” seems to carry with it a sense that it is the truly defining characteristic of a strong physical specimen. Yet some people seem to work out constantly and never find that they have a six-pack. Why is this?

In this article, we’ll discuss the role that cardio workouts play in stripping your body of its fat to reveal the lean, mean six-pack machine lying underneath. There are no guarantees when it comes to six-packs, but these tips will help you get there.

-Don’t think that crunches alone will get you there.

If you work out your biceps, you notice that your biceps get bigger and look more defined when you show your arms off. So it must work for abs, too, right? Well, not necessarily. For men, one of the most frequent areas your body uses to store fat is the stomach. This means that when you add fat, your stomach is one of the first places it’s going. There isn’t exactly a whole lot of fat around your biceps unless your overall body has a lot of fat stored up.

Crunches will improve the muscles and make them stronger, but they won’t reveal abs alone. Instead, fat-burning exercises have to be used to rid your entire body of fat. Your body won’t really burn fat in any one specific area; it will strip it off in large layers, like a snake shedding its skin. That’s why you can’t necessarily “crunch” your way to better abs.

-Utilize a good running pace to burn fat.

Many people think that running hard and running fast is the best way to burn fat, but in reality a moderate pace can really help you burn fat. If you are able to run in your “fat-burning” zone, which refers to the rate at which your heart beats, then you can really help your body shed fat and reveal the muscles lying underneath.

What is the best heart rate for fat-burning? At about 60-65% of your maximum heart rate, which you’ll find by consulting your age and weight on a heart rate scale.

If you have to lose weight in general, don’t worry about this so much. High intensity exercises will burn off more total calories, so you can include both high and low intensity workouts. But if you are already at a healthy weight and need to simply shred some of that excess fat, you can do a lot of good in your fat-burning zone.

The truth about fat burning is that lower intensity workouts will burn a higher percentage of body fat, but less energy overall. Keep that in mind and consult a doctor if you want to start an aggressive training regimen.

Photo Credits: d_vdm

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Originally posted 2009-05-25 05:40:29.

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