I need some muscle advice/ encouragement!

Vegetables_are_fun

So I've been working my abs a lot more and I think that it's working to get me some more ab muscle. However it's underneath and pushing out a layer of pudge, making me look like I've gained weight instead of losing it. I'm hoping that this is a temporary thing and that my muscle will help me boost my metabolism which will help burn calories and then it's only a matter of weeks until that layer comes off. Does anyone else experience this? Any suggestions in terms of reps/sets to have leaner instead of bulkier results?

Thank you!

carajo

The only true way to make your abs show is by leaning out, you cant spot reduce fat, so lowering your body fat % overall is the only way to do it!! I've read the female body needs to be at 18% for abs to show, dont know if thats true....

DFWTT

Same thing happened to me. Was steady with Ab Ripper X for about 4 months and it seemed like my belly was rounding out. As I lost more fat percentage though, the obliques were started to cave in and a couple of weeks later a 2pac. Pun intended. Now it's up to four defined. I've slowed on the Ab X to 2 days a week since then. It's the last bit at the bottom that's really nasty to define; still pokes my shirt out a little. As they say, you are your own worst critic....no one else notices the poking out but me. It will come for sure just keep at it.

qtiekiki

Yup. You have to reduce your body fat.

Vegetables_are_fun

Thank you for the advice everybody!