Abs abs abs...

LittleDoodlePoodle

So I know that there are a lot of people who think that abs are made in the kitchen and you gotta eat clean to get them.

Has anyone gotten abs by eating normally, but to a deficit, and from exercises? I'd like to hear from you guys too! I know you cannot spot reduce, but I haven't got the greatest will power, and I am trying to change one step at a time, so I don't think I'm ready to go 100% clean and stick to it. My diet is gradually getting better, and I'm getting the exercise in, but this is a lifestyle change, not a diet, so I am trying to be consistent.

So what kinds of food have you been eating, and what exercises? Is there anyone who can say that eating processed food didn't or did stop them from losing that muffin top? Because I remember reading a few times that the processed foods tend to encourage weight gain in your midriff....

THOUGHTS PLEASE!

LoraF83

You don't have to necessarily eat clean to get visible abs, you just have to lose enought weight/body fat. It's easier to do that eating clean, especially the closer you get to your goal (when your deficit is really tiny and any extra calories can trip you up).

CoachReddy

So I know that there are a lot of people who think that abs are made in the kitchen and you gotta eat clean to get them.

Has anyone gotten abs by eating normally, but to a deficit, and from exercises? I'd like to hear from you guys too! I know you cannot spot reduce, but I haven't got the greatest will power, and I am trying to change one step at a time, so I don't think I'm ready to go 100% clean and stick to it. My diet is gradually getting better, and I'm getting the exercise in, but this is a lifestyle change, not a diet, so I am trying to be consistent.

So what kinds of food have you been eating, and what exercises? Is there anyone who can say that eating processed food didn't or did stop them from losing that muffin top? Because I remember reading a few times that the processed foods tend to encourage weight gain in your midriff....

THOUGHTS PLEASE!

you can eat processed foods, it's just important to make them a smaller % of your diet. it isn't black and white, you don't have to go 100% clean.

abs don't show up until you're at a low body fat percentage, and in order to do that you need to build muscle while dropping fat, which means 1) lift heavy (you'll never get abs doing cardio alone) 2) eat at a slight deficit and 3) try to eat mostly whole foods, while reserving a little bit 10-20% for the foods you love and don't want to give up

IMD918

Obviously low body fat % is going to help, but there are people out there who have extremely low body fat that don't have visible ab definition because they don't train those muscles with any resistance. When I was a teenager I was in shape, and obsessed with the idea of getting ab definition, and did a lot of resistance training on them. I used an ab wheel and similar exercises almost every night. My abs got so large that they were always visible. Even now, as I am getting back into shape, I am down to 22% body fat, but my abs are already visible again because of how large they got when I was younger. I am far from my goal, but my point is that you don't necessarily have to have body fat that is lower than 10% to have ab definition.

ArchangelMJ

I really don't think you need to eat clean 100% of the time. For me personally, that ain't gonna happen and I'm not gonna try anymore, lol. I'd say my abs are looking the best they ever have presently, even though I'm not at my lowest weight, and I'm hardly eating like a bunny.

tubzzy77

Just look at Michael Phelps.

LittleDoodlePoodle

Thanks for the responses guys!!! Oh thank god I dont have to eat clean 100%, because that is impossible! I dd it about 75% for almost 2 months and I ended up being sick and nauseous all the time. My body wasn't ready for a totally healthy lifestyle! But I'm working back up to it now so we'll get to 80% eventually!

CoachReddy

Thanks for the responses guys!!! Oh thank god I dont have to eat clean 100%, because that is impossible! I dd it about 75% for almost 2 months and I ended up being sick and nauseous all the time. My body wasn't ready for a totally healthy lifestyle! But I'm working back up to it now so we'll get to 80% eventually!

To be honest that doesn't make much sense... an adjustment period is normal, but not one lasting two months. What was your "cleam" diet like?