Abs Are Made in the Kitchen vs. Core Work

BetesBitch

Do you guys think that it's 50/50 when talking about "abs are made in the kitchen" and "core work"??? Or is it more 75/25? Say goal is just a flat stomach - having that ripped look is not necessary. Just flat is good. What if I didn't do core work at all? Is my food plan alone going to allow a flatter belly? What's the deal? .

default

Yes. If all you want is a flat midsection, it does not require working out of any kind.

TheGymGypsy

You can get abs without a single minute of ab targeting work outs. You just have to reduce your body fat down extremely low.

medeamama

What they said.
Do your aerobics to reduce your body fat. Eat healthy. Watch your salt and other bloating foods.

Personally, though, I like to be toned, so I do lots of abs/oblique work.

BTW, most women have a little bit of a belly - some curves of some sort. Being totally FLAT is just a little unrealistic.

BetesBitch

Nice! I do a little bit of core work though - prob only once or twice a week. Mostly cardio right now to blast flat off along with strict diet and no binges unless it's on veggies

MrsG31

I have been wondering the same thing. I guess I really need up my game with what I eat then (or don't eat). I am already fairly "tiny" and health-wise I am not overweight for my height and age. But all my cushy-ness is around my belly.

So....new mantra...say no to salt and fat?

RGv2

Nice! I do a little bit of core work though - prob only once or twice a week. Mostly cardio right now to blast flat off along with strict diet and no binges unless it's on veggies

Abs are made from a low BF%.

Cardio doesn't "blast fat". A caloric deficit does.

If you want a nice midsection, the best advice you're going to get is to have a MIX of cardio and strength training.

RGv2

I have been wondering the same thing. I guess I really need up my game with what I eat then (or don't eat). I am already fairly "tiny" and health-wise I am not overweight for my height and age. But all my cushy-ness is around my belly.

So....new mantra...say no to salt and fat?

Why no fat? Your body needs it.

LolBroScience

It's a combination, and not a percentage one way or the other as everyone will be different.

I have fairly low bodyfat, but my abs suck because i neglected them with direct training for a long time. I have other people I know who have significantly more bodyfat then I do yet still retain visible ab's.

Do occasional ab work with progressive overload as you would any other muscle, and eat at a mild calorie deficit in order to lose fat.

abadvat

Abs are not made in the kitchen - abs are made by busting your midsection out - regularly and hardcore - getting a grip on your nutrition and dropping body fat will only make them visible!

Holly_Roman_Empire

I have been wondering the same thing. I guess I really need up my game with what I eat then (or don't eat). I am already fairly "tiny" and health-wise I am not overweight for my height and age. But all my cushy-ness is around my belly.

So....new mantra...say no to salt and fat?

As someone who was dumb enough to try it, I would recommend not trying to completely eliminate fat. There are side effects that are not worth it.

Leadfoot_Lewis

It's a combination, and not a percentage one way or the other as everyone will be different.

I have fairly low bodyfat, but my abs suck because i neglected them with direct training for a long time. I have other people I know who have significantly more bodyfat then I do yet still retain visible ab's.

Do occasional ab work with progressive overload as you would any other muscle, and eat at a mild calorie deficit in order to lose fat.

^ I agree with this. It's a combination of BOTH diet and work that gets you there.

I believe you should work the abs like you would any other muscle - with weights progressively.

SezxyStef

Abs are not made in the kitchen - abs are made by busting your midsection out - regularly and hardcore - getting a grip on your nutrition and dropping body fat will only make them visible!

and to do that it's all about diet....I have some definition started and do no core work specifically.

There are women on here who did not do one situp and have beutiful flat abs all from lifting heavy and eating at a reasonable deficet.

archaichoney

I work my core lightly once a week. I lift heavy and compound lifts really cause you to engage your core... thus working your core.

Ever since I began eating clean (yeah, I know, debated term but it's the best way to describe my diet. Diary is open if you want a look.) in early January my abs have popped, and they continue to show as I move along in my cut. Abs come out due to lower body fat percentages, so it's mostly eating at a deficit. I agree with some of the other posters, it's a combination of both how you eat and how you work them.

eric_sg61

You can do all the abs work you want sit-ups, oblique work etc...........doesn't matter. If you have a layer of fat over you midsection you will never have "toned" abs. Ahh, I hate that word "toned"

MrsG31

I have been wondering the same thing. I guess I really need up my game with what I eat then (or don't eat). I am already fairly "tiny" and health-wise I am not overweight for my height and age. But all my cushy-ness is around my belly.

So....new mantra...say no to salt and fat?

Why no fat? Your body needs it.

Yes, it does, I know that. But perhaps I am eating too much of it. I am not super strict with my diet. I don't really want to be. But I am sure there are areas I could stand to improve on.

**I also think about things like that for my heart-health and overall health: diabetes - strokes, high blood pressure, etc run in my family.

goredguar

I agree with Leadfoot_Lewi -

I don't think it's all to do with diet alone. Mostly, yes, but weightlifting (not necessarily targeted core, just stuff that engages your whole body) might help.

Why do I say this? When I had an ED and my weight was dangerously low, my stomach was pretty flat but there was no definition - ie little muscle (granted, my body had eaten away much of anything so this might not be the same case for healthy-weight individuals).

So presumably to SEE the mystical coveted abs you have to have the proper diet to lower the % body fat, and also do some work so there's something to see?

abadvat

Abs are not made in the kitchen - abs are made by busting your midsection out - regularly and hardcore - getting a grip on your nutrition and dropping body fat will only make them visible!

and to do that it's all about diet....I have some definition started and do no core work specifically.

There are women on here who did not do one situp and have beutiful flat abs all from lifting heavy and eating at a reasonable deficet.

Agreed - i just find it wrong to say abs are made in the kitchen.
Nutrition bit but it is purelly a way to get rid of the layer of fat in your mid section but don't expect to have abs showing just by dropping body fat. Bust your midsection or go mental on heavy compound and then we talk abs!

RGv2

I have been wondering the same thing. I guess I really need up my game with what I eat then (or don't eat). I am already fairly "tiny" and health-wise I am not overweight for my height and age. But all my cushy-ness is around my belly.

So....new mantra...say no to salt and fat?

Why no fat? Your body needs it.

Yes, it does, I know that. But perhaps I am eating too much of it. I am not super strict with my diet. I don't really want to be. But I am sure there are areas I could stand to improve on.

**I also think about things like that for my heart-health and overall health: diabetes - strokes, high blood pressure, etc run in my family.

Eating too much fat doesn't equate increased fat on your body. Surplus in calories does, no matter where it comes from.

likitisplit

I have been wondering the same thing. I guess I really need up my game with what I eat then (or don't eat). I am already fairly "tiny" and health-wise I am not overweight for my height and age. But all my cushy-ness is around my belly.

So....new mantra...say no to salt and fat?

Why no fat? Your body needs it.

Yes, it does, I know that. But perhaps I am eating too much of it. I am not super strict with my diet. I don't really want to be. But I am sure there are areas I could stand to improve on.

**I also think about things like that for my heart-health and overall health: diabetes - strokes, high blood pressure, etc run in my family.

I think that the formula is a MINIMUM of .63 grams per pound of bodyweight - somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, most people are misinformed about their "core." Core is back, glutes and obliques - the strongest muscles in your body. Work them with compound resistance exercises because they are super-important for physical health.

If you want a flat tummy - that's mostly body fat.