How close am I close to a 6pack? (pics)
tsikkz
Posts: 404 Member
I have no idea what abs look like as they start showing so Im not sure if im only a few pounds away or if I should try and gain more muscle in this area or if I'm 20lbs away or what I'm completely clueless.. Are those the start of my abs or vertical fat rolls
I'd love some opinions, and don't worry about offending me i'd rather have a realistic picture.
I own a caliper but me and my boyfriend can't work out how to measure body fat with it taking the "pinch" is confusing but I believe im over 20% BF still
5"5 130lbs
0
Replies
-
I seem to not be able to achieve a 6 pack. I have come to the realization that its a combination of many things. I think very clean eating really helps lean out this and I think it is also a bit of genetics and cardio. You can definitely see your obliques starting to show. Every one is different. I would not just determine it by pounds. I have gotten much leaner per se but the scall has barely moved because I am gaining muscle. Keep up the hard work!!0
-
Yes, those are your abs and they look fantastic. It reminds me of the abs of VS models. You definitely do not have fat rolls, vertical or otherwise.
0 -
I did post these pictures on a more active website and the general consensus was that its a pretty big jump from a stomach like this to a defined 6 pack.. but most of the replies there were from men so I'm interested in what the ladies here think0
-
Your stomach looks amazing! I can definitely see muscle tone there! And it looks like the beginning of a 6-pack up top...most definitely NOT vertical fat rolls!!0
-
Great abs are built by nutrition - NOT the gym and a kazillion ab moves. In fact, if you have too much 'cushion' over your abs, building up the muscles underneath them will make your mid section thicker - not smaller. Best bet? Eat a balanced diet of protein, healthy carbs and healthy fats, focus on mass movers like squats, dead lifts, etc. to build metabolism booting lean muscle, stay super hydrated & quit obsessing with your 6-pack. If you do the above, you'll lean down and your abs will pop (in a good way. Am I saying NEVER work you abs? Of course not! But since there is no such thing as spot reduction, you're better off amping up your nutrition and focusing on your larger muscle groups. 0
-
My understanding is that a DXA scan can help you determine "where" your body carries its fat....and if its in the mid-section, it truly can be very hard (or perhaps, impossible) for your six-pack to show through!
So, you might want to invest in a DXA scan to find out where your body stores its fat, and then determine if you require more cutting to get the abs you seek.
PS - I think your tummy looks very, very good - but, it isn't what *I* want that matters, it's what YOU want!0 -
I agree with planetshark. I used to have fantastic abs, and guess what? I never did a single crunch. My entire "ab" workout was core exercises such as planks (front and sides), and occasionally the ab machine HEAVY (think 6 reps, not 50). I love when people tell me they can do 200 situps... I say that's pretty pointless. Get your midsection strong, and cut the fat (body fat, that is) and if you're meant to have them, you will.0
-
It looks like you have abs to me! Good job!0
-
Your abs look fine. A woman won't show a six pack as easily as a man since we carry more fat there and it's just part of how we're built. You have the side dents going on and if you want a lot more definition you would have to do a cut, which is not good for anyone long-term, or really for anyone who isn't doing competition. Find a good ab workout, do that, and don't worry about it.0
-
Thanks for your input everyone! I'm marathon training right now so I have just been doing about 10 mins core conditioning at the end of my lifting days but its mostly to maintain muscle during my long endurance cardio sessions.
However, I am seeing them cut in more since I took these pictures but I do think the muscles under the fat aren't as large as I would like them to be and I don't think at their size I would have the horizontal line unless im a dangerously low body fat percent.
They're starting to feel firm and less like vertical fat rolls now. Feels great!0 -
Most women have to be around 10-12% body fat (or even lower) to achieve a 6pk. I am at about 15% and I am starting to see my 4 pk.
However, one thing a lot of woman don't realize, or pay attn to - is those super cut photos of girls with 6pks & ripped abs, are photo shoots (not photoshopped) but... before a photoshoot (or a competition) many women will cut out water & salt which makes the muscles look a lot more pronounced.
I can see my abs MUCH better during the wkends, even tho my eating is worse b/c it's my "off" days. . . but i also rarely drink as much water on the wkends...
::food for thought::0
This discussion has been closed.