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    Help! I need the dream abs

    Posts: 59 Member
    edited January 24 in Fitness and Exercise
    http://pinterest.com/pin/298926493987186775/

    I dont know how to post pictures on here but on this website is a photo of what I consider my dream abs! I love it and would love to know what I need to do to get to that point..As of right now I am trying to lose the last 10 lbs. So I will have prety low body fat percentage. Any other tips? I am very determined to get to that point. Even if it takes me 6 months to a year.!

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    • Posts: 59 Member
      I just realized its showing the abs pictures as my main profile picture so you dont even need to go to the site!
    • Posts: 1,412 Member
      Where you at now? (bf%)
      if you could possibly show a picture of what your abs look like now it'd be easier to give estimates ^^ but generally, to get the abs, you'd need to be at a lower body fat percentage.. :)
    • Posts: 1,412 Member
      Oki doki I just checked your pictures on your profile.. To be honest, you'll need to be at a lower bodyfat percentage.. BUT you can start working on some crunches or a few light tummy exercises for when you've dropped the fat off :)
    • Posts: 11
      I can help you get there girl! But there's no magic recipe. Where are you at now BMI and bf%-wise and what are you doing nutrition/exercise wise?
    • Posts: 225 Member
      I followed the 8 min ab routine on youtube.. and I also do habging leg raises from a pull up bar..
    • Posts: 59 Member
      Those pictures of my tummy was 7 lbs ago and I still want to lose another 12 lbs and get down to 115. But I do realize that low body fat percentage is the key for abs..I am currently around 126ish..Its just taking forever to get rid of my last 10 lbs. I do cardio 3 times a week and p90x weights dvds 3 times a week but its a recent thing so I havent gotten too much of results yet.Any advice on how to get rid of the last 10 lbs faster?
    • Posts: 1,018 Member
      Eat at a moderate deficit and strength train.
    • Posts: 2,780 Member
      Eat at a moderate deficit and strength train.

      Yes, this.
    • Posts: 59 Member
      Eat at a moderate deficit and strength train.

      Should I worry more about strength training then cardio?
    • Posts: 10,477 Member
      Just a quick note to say you've made really good progress already. Well done & Cheers!
    • Posts: 5,573 Member
      show previous quotes

      Should I worry more about strength training then cardio?

      you can still do some cardio, but definitely look into strength training. Eat. Move. Lift. :heart: Bry
    • Posts: 1,651 Member
      Eat at a moderate deficit and strength train.

      THIS
    • Posts: 2,780 Member
      show previous quotes

      Should I worry more about strength training then cardio?

      In my opinion, yes. Strength training while maintaining a small caloric deficit will help you preserve your muscle mass. Muscle mass you need, if your goal is to have visible abs.
    • Posts: 280 Member
      I don't think I would mind have abs like that! Right now I am working at just getting it FLAT! :P I have lost almost 3 inches off it in the last month (YES!!!) but still have a ways more to go. (I think I started to late to make my goal date of my birthday) I am doing Jilliam Michael's 30 days shred and am enjoying the results I am starting to see. I had to laugh when I got to Level 3 though. She says you should be starting to see a 6 pack form by now. Um? No??? I'm stilling working on getting it flat! I've been debating about doing additional crunches (different ones) in addition to her workoutout.
    • Posts: 364 Member
      lift weights :)
    • Posts: 59 Member
      Okay well it sounds like lifting weights is a big thing :) I just wonder if I should focus on cardio for this last 10 lbs of weightloss then go focus on lifting weights..It makes sense in my head but I am not an expert!
    • Posts: 6,490 Member
      show previous quotes

      In my opinion, yes. Strength training while maintaining a small caloric deficit will help you preserve your muscle mass. Muscle mass you need, if your goal is to have visible abs.

      Yes. Though, for me, I do find cardio necessary as my appetite will otherwise get in the way.
    • Posts: 364 Member
      Okay well it sounds like lifting weights is a big thing :) I just wonder if I should focus on cardio for this last 10 lbs of weightloss then go focus on lifting weights..It makes sense in my head but I am not an expert!

      you can do both at the same time. don't wait to start lifting :)
    • Posts: 6,490 Member
      Okay well it sounds like lifting weights is a big thing :) I just wonder if I should focus on cardio for this last 10 lbs of weightloss then go focus on lifting weights..It makes sense in my head but I am not an expert!

      No. You lose 10 pounds without strength training, and you're likely to lose as much muscle as fat.
    • Posts: 59 Member
      Where you at now? (bf%)
      if you could possibly show a picture of what your abs look like now it'd be easier to give estimates ^^ but generally, to get the abs, you'd need to be at a lower body fat percentage.. :)

      Around 22-23 percent..Would love to get around 20?
    • Posts: 49,173 Member
      Those pictures of my tummy was 7 lbs ago and I still want to lose another 12 lbs and get down to 115. But I do realize that low body fat percentage is the key for abs..I am currently around 126ish..Its just taking forever to get rid of my last 10 lbs. I do cardio 3 times a week and p90x weights dvds 3 times a week but its a recent thing so I havent gotten too much of results yet.Any advice on how to get rid of the last 10 lbs faster?
      While pounds do matter to a point, what you're shooting for is more a composition issue IMO. For many of my fitness competitors, we worked more on compound movements (heavy) with an emphasis of short rest times in between. As well as a shift in higher protein consumption (25/45/30) to prep for shows.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    • Posts: 59 Member
      I don't think I would mind have abs like that! Right now I am working at just getting it FLAT! :P I have lost almost 3 inches off it in the last month (YES!!!) but still have a ways more to go. (I think I started to late to make my goal date of my birthday) I am doing Jilliam Michael's 30 days shred and am enjoying the results I am starting to see. I had to laugh when I got to Level 3 though. She says you should be starting to see a 6 pack form by now. Um? No??? I'm stilling working on getting it flat! I've been debating about doing additional crunches (different ones) in addition to her workoutout.

      Yeah I will be in heaven when I get myself to that point! I just need to refocus and thats why I am asking..I know I have a ways to go but if I have a goal and a path I will get their :)
    • Posts: 59 Member
      show previous quotes

      No. You lose 10 pounds without strength training, and you're likely to lose as much muscle as fat.

      I never thought of it that way..Makes sense!
    • Posts: 364 Member
      show previous quotes
      While pounds do matter to a point, what you're shooting for is more a composition issue IMO. For many of my fitness competitors, we worked more on compound movements (heavy) with an emphasis of short rest times in between. As well as a shift in higher protein consumption (25/45/30) to prep for shows.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

      +1

      doing compound movements like front or back squats made a huge difference in my abs. sure i do train abs as well, but youd be surprised how much your core is needed to stabalize these bigger movements. i feel my obliques the day after leg day!
    • Posts: 3,677 Member
      show previous quotes

      In my opinion, yes. Strength training while maintaining a small caloric deficit will help you preserve your muscle mass. Muscle mass you need, if your goal is to have visible abs.

      Absolutely.

      My abs popped as soon as I started doing heavy deadlifts, at 20% bodyfat.
    • Posts: 1,415 Member
      If you don't have access to a gym, body weight strength training should get you to that point. Those abs aren't terribly extreme and definitely doable. :) I typically get that look around 18-19% body fat, if I'm working out.
    • Posts: 59 Member
      If you don't have access to a gym, body weight strength training should get you to that point. Those abs aren't terribly extreme and definitely doable. :) I typically get that look around 18-19% body fat, if I'm working out.

      I have a membership to Golds gym and I also have p90x and p90x 2 at home and a garage gym with treadmill an arm machine and a cycle machine and a boxing thing. So I should have no excuses lol. I love to go to Zumba so I want to go to those Monday and Tuesday nights. And then I was thinking Wednesday through saturday do p90x? And eat about 1600 calories a day.. How does that sound.
    • Posts: 3,677 Member
      show previous quotes

      I have a membership to Golds gym and I also have p90x and p90x 2 at home and a garage gym with treadmill an arm machine and a cycle machine and a boxing thing. So I should have no excuses lol. I love to go to Zumba so I want to go to those Monday and Tuesday nights. And then I was thinking Wednesday through saturday do p90x? And eat about 1600 calories a day.. How does that sound.

      People have already said do strength training. You have Gold's membership, so skip the p90x and start lifting heavy weight 3-4 times per week. Here's my abs at 20% body fat and only a month of heavy lifting under my belt:

      6hxI1X9.jpg?1

      What is your body fat percentage right now and where do you typically store fat? My abs show at a higher bf% than many people's because I don't store fat in my stomach.
    • Posts: 3,038 Member
      You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make then drink.
    • Posts: 2,582 Member
      http://www.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/body-fat-percentage-picture-men-women.jpg
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