What makes abs look different?

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LaurenAOK
LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've noticed that for super fit women, the look of their abs can vary quite a bit. For example, here are a few women whom I would consider to have abs:

tumblr_li486dOzg01qhl65co1_500.jpg
dara-torres-abs_04.jpg
Model%2BSixpack%2BGirl%2B025.jpg

I realize they might all be at different percentages of body fat, but I feel like there isn't the only difference. It seems like some women tend to get mainly a line down the center of their stomach, while others develop a full-on 8 pack. Some women get huge obliques and others dont. I'm just curious, is this from a doing different kinds of exercise or is it more of a genetic thing? I want visible abs one day but I can't decide what I want mine to look like. I'd be happy with anything, really!
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Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
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    The one in the middle has low BF and does a lot of lifting. The other 2 are on the low end of BF but haven't put in a lot of hours in the gym. The average woman even with low BF doesn't have a visible 6 pack.
  • cnash1303
    cnash1303 Posts: 42
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    This is a touchy subject but if you want MY OPINION....

    girl one does more weight loss exercise and probably has alway been on a caloric deficit

    girls two and three have probably done a few strengthening exercises such as crunches and sit-ups AND (very important and) had a caloric surplus, much being proteins, allowing them to build more muscle. Notice girl 3 especially has good upper abs but not much lower, she probably did more crunches and sit-up type exercises where girl two did more full core exercises including weighted squats and leg raises.

    and as far as genetics go... some women have different levels of estrogen and testosterone which can effect the amount of muscle you put on.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
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    The lady in the first photo has the highest % of body fat. Notice her arms aren't as vascular as the other two. The lady in the middle has done the most weight lifting. She probably trains like a beast. The obliques are partly genetic but she also does a lot of stuff with weights that involves her core.
  • ApexLeader
    ApexLeader Posts: 580 Member
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    all of a sudden i want some waffles
  • elsinora
    elsinora Posts: 398 Member
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    wish I was 1. :(
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
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    I've noticed that for super fit women, the look of their abs can vary quite a bit. For example, here are a few women whom I would consider to have abs:

    I realize they might all be at different percentages of body fat, but I feel like there isn't the only difference. It seems like some women tend to get mainly a line down the center of their stomach, while others develop a full-on 8 pack. Some women get huge obliques and others dont. I'm just curious, is this from a doing different kinds of exercise or is it more of a genetic thing? I want visible abs one day but I can't decide what I want mine to look like. I'd be happy with anything, really!

    Mainly body fat percentage but also the level of development of the muscles you can see, the six/ eight pack is the rectus abdominis. Same as how some people have larger and more defined any other muscle on the body based on how they train and what they eat. You generally do a lot of crunches, often including weighted ones like cable curls, to get development (build) and definition on the visible muscles, work the deeper core muscles more to just get a flat stomach. It's not really healthy for a regular female to have a bodyfat low enough for a six or eight pack, only do that if you are willing to have your hormone levels tested regularly.
  • Crayvn
    Crayvn Posts: 390 Member
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    some never get 6 packs no matter what..its somewhat genetic..dont know how much it factors in..but it does for some.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    in addition to what other people have pointed out about body fat percentage, you also have to keep on mind torso length

    pic #1 has a long torso
    pic #2 and 3 are short waisted

    6 packs are easier to see with a short torso. in addition 6 packs on short torsos tend to make the waist look thicker than on a longer torso.

    so when choosing photos as inspiration, definitely make sure you are choosing people with body shapes similar to your own in as many ways as possible
  • mrau719
    mrau719 Posts: 288 Member
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    different body fat %, different body COMPOSITION! #1 doesn't have near the muscle mass as the others. They could have the same % bf, but still look differently if they're body composition is dramatically different.
  • Nauti_Buoy
    Nauti_Buoy Posts: 135
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    My abs look different because they have a layer of fat over them but I'm currently working on it!
  • zimfour
    zimfour Posts: 191 Member
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    Is it the same with the guys?
  • goody2shews
    goody2shews Posts: 129 Member
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    I have a friend that competed for years. He tells me that for visable abs some people have to eat a certain diet for their skin to become more thin and less thick. Don't ask me what that diet is. It made sense to me though. I'm nowhere close to seeing abs so other than that...I got nothing.
  • fittiephd
    fittiephd Posts: 608 Member
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    I was gonna say, the length of your torso definitely plays into it. I have to say, like with me, I don't have a super low body fat percentage but my middle line in my abs is not really visible, but you can see my obliques a lot more... and I have a pretty long torso (I'm 5'8"). And I do lifting and ab work and no cardio and I'm eating at maintenance. Sooooo basically what I'm saying is I think some is genetic.

    resize2_zpsf20af029.jpg
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
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    The one in the middle has low BF and does a lot of lifting. The other 2 are on the low end of BF but haven't put in a lot of hours in the gym. The average woman even with low BF doesn't have a visible 6 pack.
    [/quote

    this ^ genetics plays a lot too
  • jayche
    jayche Posts: 1,128 Member
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    Bodyfat + Genetics
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
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    I have a friend that competed for years. He tells me that for visable abs some people have to eat a certain diet for their skin to become more thin and less thick. Don't ask me what that diet is. It made sense to me though. I'm nowhere close to seeing abs so other than that...I got nothing.

    I dont think any specific foods make a ab difference except to really lean out for photo shoots, models and body builders will cut back carbs to almost nothing for a week or 2 before the shoot

    that with low body fat makes the muscles "pop" and they look like that for a few days

    it isnt healthy and not for long term

    plus good lighting and oil helps
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
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    The lady in picture # 2 is Dana Torres the Olympic swimmer. I don't know how old she was in that picture but probably much younger because her hair is very short and now is medium length. She is now in the mid 40s and still showing killer abs, she swims a lot and does a heavy work out at the gym and has a very special routine. She was interviewed in CNN when she was trying to qualify for the last summer Olympics, and she described her routine and showed her abs. Sadly she didn’t make it; she lost her last chance for a place with the female Olympic team by 0.4 of a second. What about that?

    But I also noticed that the last two pictures show ladies with very little difference (in inches) between their waist and their hips. Not a pear or hour glass shape for sure. So in my opinion, besides heavy training, genetics has a lot to do with their physic.
  • sarah3333
    sarah3333 Posts: 222 Member
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    The quickest way to abs for me was pullups.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
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    CoderGal theory:

    Slim girl was slim, perhaps got to show her muscles with diet or lots of cardio. She doesn't look like she 'built up to her abs with weight lifting'. I doubt she lifts heavy. Lots of cardio?

    second girl lifts heavy, may have been larger or did lots of bulk or cuts for that amount of muscle definition? Also, hormon levels?

    next girl eats more then first girl and works out with more strength.
  • SARgirl
    SARgirl Posts: 572 Member
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    So is diet vastly important then to see abs? I would love to have the look of 1 or 3 but don't know that I'm ready to give up all the yummy food I eat! I do cardio about 4 days a week, have started lifting (NROLFW) 2-3 days a week and try to do yoga 1 a week.

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