Diet for Six Pack Abs

From LoveToKnow Diet

If you're looking for a diet for six pack abs, it's important to know that it to get that defined midsection it will take a combination of good nutrition and exercise.

Diet and Exercise for Six Pack Abs

Cardiovascular Conditioning

Along with a healthy diet, your routine will have to include cardiovascular conditioning to help slim and sculpt your abs. Cardiovascular conditioning is exercise that conditions your heart and makes it work more efficiently. Benefits of cardiovascular conditioning include:

  • Improves circulation
  • Strengthens the heart
  • Strengthens the lungs
  • Strengthens blood vessels

Cardiovascular conditioning includes aerobic exercise which works large muscle groups and gets your heart beating faster. On average, everyone should try to get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise everyday. This is an important component when trying to get that defined six pack look because cardiovascular exercise impacts quick fat loss. These fat burning exercises don't just eliminate belly fat, but help to burn fat from your whole body.

Cardiovascular Exercises Include

  • Bicycling
  • Jogging
  • Running
  • Swimming

Indoor Options

If you live in a climate that doesn't allow for year-round outdoor exercise you may want to invest in exercise cardio exercise equipment such as:

  • Elliptical trainer
  • Ladder climber
  • Rowing machine
  • Stairclimber
  • Stationary bicycle
  • Treadmill

Ab Training

Along with burning body fat through cardiovascular training, you'll also need to target your stomach muscles through ab training. To get those six pack abs, you don't have to do a gazillion sit ups. Instead, exercise all of the stomach muscle groups in slow, deliberate movements. to isolate the muscles you're working.

You'll want to include exercises that target all three layers of stomach muscles.

  • Transversus Abdominis: As the deepest stomach muscle layer, the transversus abdominis works like your body's girdle and supports and stabilizes the body.
  • Rectus Abdominis: This muscular layer flexes the spine.
  • Obliques: This is the muscular layer closest to the surface. These are the muscles that turn the trunk of the body

Diet for Six Pack Abs

While the above types of exercise help burn body fat and tone your stomach, you'll also need to consistently eat a diet that consists of good nutrition if you want to develop that chiseled six pack. Good nutrition means you'll eat very little processed or fast foods. Your diet needs to include nutrients that helps build a healthy, leaner body. Food choices should include whole foods. The following table includes many of these foods to help you draw up a menu and grocery list to stock your kitchen with foods friendly to a diet for six pack abs.

Healthy Whole Foods
VegetablesFruitsLegumesGrains
AsparagusApplesBlack beansBarley
Avocados ApricotsDried beansBrown rice
BeetsBananasGarbanzo beansBuckwheat
Bell peppersBlueberriesKidney beansBulgar
BroccoliCantaloupeLentilsMillet
Brussels sproutsCherriesLima beansOats
CabbageCranberriesMisoQuinoa
CarrotsFigsNavy beansRye
CauliflowerGrapefruitPinto beansSpelt
CeleryGrapesSoy beansWhole wheat
Collard greensKiwiTempeh
CucumbersLemonsTofuNuts and Seeds
EggplantLimesWhite kidney beansAlmonds
GarlicOranges Cashews
Green beansPapayaSpices & HerbsFlaxseeds
KalePearsBasilOlive oil
LeeksPineappleBlack pepperPeanuts
MushroomsPlumsCayenne pepperPumpkin seeds
Mustard greensPrunesChili pepperSesame seeds
OlivesRaisinsCilantroSunflower seeds
OnionsRaspberriesCinnamonWalnuts
PeasStrawberriesCloves
Romaine lettuceWatermelonCorianderNatural Sweeteners
Spinach CuminBlackstrap molasses
SquashSeafoodDillCane juice
Sweet potatoesCodGingerHoney
Swiss chardHalibutMustard seedsMaple syrup
TomatoesSalmonOreganoSorgum
Turnip greensScallopsParsley
YamsShrimpPeppermint
TunaRosemary
Poultry & Lean Meats Sage
Beef Thyme
Chicken Tumeric
Lamb
Turkey

The fact is that you can lose all your excess weight, but without exercise you won't get that defined six pack. The same holds true on the other side. You can exercise and exercise, but if you don't follow a healthy diet to lose body fat you won't get the results you want either. Don't fall for the infomercials that promise quick results without following a diet for six pack abs. It takes time and commitment to both exercise and diet to get that lean chiseled look.



 


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