Can Sit-ups Give Me A Flat Stomach?

In my now 20 years as a personal trainer I am constantly asked about sit ups. For years considered the Holy Grail of stomach exercises, most people assume that to get a really flat stomach you have to do a couple hundred situps a day. No thoughts on diet or exercise intensity, just do your sit ups and you are on your way to six pack abs. If only it was that easy! The short answer that it isn’t although it might surprise many to learn that I don’t do very much for my abs and sport a six pack all year round. The same goes for many fitness models that grace the covers of the magazines- as situps are not the be all and end all of a flat stomach.

Fact: Working your abdominal muscles is no different from working the muscles in your arms or legs, it will serve to make the muscles bigger and stronger. It will not however do anything to get rid of the fat that surrounds it. Abdominal and hip exercises can strengthen and tone the muscles. But those muscles are underneath the “subcutaneous” layer of fat that gives you the lovely appearance of flab. Only losing weight can get rid of excess fat and doing abdominal exercises isn’t going to make that happen.

Sit-ups Can’t Give You A Flat Stomach- But These Two Important Tips Can!

To reduce fat around your waist you need to do two things:

1. Watch your diet! You need to lose body fat to see the six pack that you are seeking and the only way to do that is to control what you eat!

2. Engage in intensive weight training exercise! High intensity weight training- not aerobics will increase your overall muscle mass which will help you take the weight off your stomach and keep it that way!

Spot reduction doesn’t work. Exercising specific muscle groups in particular parts of the body will not burn fat from that area. If were that simple then everyone that did situps everyday would instantly have great abs- and they don’t. Abdominal exercises are important, though as they help strengthen your torso as well as serve to build the muscles in your six pack region so when you finally do lose the fat in that area, you will have some nice lines to show off!

Click here to get a copy of  Kevin’s free weight loss ebook that helps you lose weight by starting with a healthy breakfast!

 

Celebrity NYC Personal Trainer Kevin Richardson is the creator of Naturally Intense High Intensity Training™, a lifetime natural bodybuilder and one of the most popular personal trainers in New York City. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and need help losing weight or taking your body to the next level give Kevin and his team a call at 1-800-798-8420 or click here to get started with 50% off your trial personal training session.