abs

I'm 5'9" and thanks to how much muscle I have my abs are visible at 185 pounds. If you gain muscle weight and keep body fat low you'll have what you want. Abs aren't about how much you weigh, it's about having adequate muscle and low body fat.

that depends on what you think is fab.

I also want the same thing.

So I've avoided all white carbs. I think it helps. I've also increased my intake of protein. My rule is that fat is better than sugar, so I turn to cheese and yoghurt to curb my cravings. Then, I do bodyweight cardio to burn fat. While watching videos, I do core exercises. I take at least a 3km night walks almost every night to burn more fat. I also drink green tea.

usmcmp wrote: »

I'm 5'9" and thanks to how much muscle I have my abs are visible at 185 pounds. If you gain muscle weight and keep body fat low you'll have what you want. Abs aren't about how much you weigh, it's about having adequate muscle and low body fat.

This is a great comment

For comparison- I'm 5'8 and can't see visible abs at 143 lbs ( I have at 129-135 lbs though)

So it goes to show, it doesn't have as much to do with weight as it does with enough muscle and low body fat percentage.
Some people will have visable abs at 185 lbs like the poster stated and others that are about the same height will not see any at 143 lbs.
If I where you op, I would begin a progressive strength training program .

thorsmom01 wrote: »

jinkoori wrote: »

I also want the same thing.

So I've avoided all white carbs. I think it helps. I've also increased my intake of protein. My rule is that fat is better than sugar, so I turn to cheese and yoghurt to curb my cravings. Then, I do bodyweight cardio to burn fat. While watching videos, I do core exercises. I take at least a 3km night walks almost every night to burn more fat. I also drink green tea.

Why do you think avoiding white carbs will aide in your goal for abs ?

I think it varies for everyone. For me,
because that's what I was doing before: do core exercises and eat anything in moderation as long as I don't get past my calorie limit. Although I lost weight, the ab muscles were still hidden under my "skinny belly fat".
Also, I used to be an overeater, but when i overcame that, i was still addicted to white carbs that I would forego protein just to allow myself more servings of white carbs and sugar.
I also feel fuller, more satisfied, and more energized now. Not much cravings as before and the sluggish feeling is no more. I don't do this strictly, though. I allow myself some white carbs during special occasions, for example.
This is just what works for me.

ForecasterJason wrote: »

Although a low body fat percentage is needed to see abs, you do also need enough muscle. I have visible abs, but my overall muscle mass is low so they're not extremely defined.

Which is why I said:

usmcmp wrote: »

I'm 5'9" and thanks to how much muscle I have my abs are visible at 185 pounds. If you gain muscle weight and keep body fat low you'll have what you want. Abs aren't about how much you weigh, it's about having adequate muscle and low body fat.

1500 doesn't seem like enough to gain weight unless you are very short (under 5') and very underweight. It's a good starting point, but you'll probably want to increase that slowly. Are you following a progressive lifting routine?

usmcmp wrote: »

I'm 5'9" and thanks to how much muscle I have my abs are visible at 185 pounds. If you gain muscle weight and keep body fat low you'll have what you want. Abs aren't about how much you weigh, it's about having adequate muscle and low body fat.

On top of this, genetics is a huge factor. If you store your body fat in your lower body, you will be more likely to have abs at higher body fat percentages as compared to those who store body fat first in their stomachs.

BonyCastro wrote: »

I wonder when my are going to show completely ? My body fat is 16% and I train them twice per week! As you can see per my profile pix they re still not showing completely

How are your measuring your body fat?

usmcmp wrote: »

BonyCastro wrote: »

I wonder when my are going to show completely ? My body fat is 16% and I train them twice per week! As you can see per my profile pix they re still not showing completely

Your body fat looks higher than 16%. You also may not have enough volume in your ab muscles for them to show. You said you want to compete in bikini, so adding ab volume is not a good option for you.

I just measured my body fat today 16.5 %. I don't understand why they're not showing. They do show a lot more than the picture every now and then. Posting a pic where they re showing more from the side

BonyCastro wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

BonyCastro wrote: »

I wonder when my are going to show completely ? My body fat is 16% and I train them twice per week! As you can see per my profile pix they re still not showing completely

Your body fat looks higher than 16%. You also may not have enough volume in your ab muscles for them to show. You said you want to compete in bikini, so adding ab volume is not a good option for you.

I just measured my body fat today 16.5 %. I don't understand why they're not showing. They do show a lot more than the picture every now and then. Posting a pic where they re showing more from the side

Are you using bioelectrical impedance? Either hand held or a stand on scale? Those are notoriously inaccurate.

BonyCastro wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

BonyCastro wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

BonyCastro wrote: »

I wonder when my are going to show completely ? My body fat is 16% and I train them twice per week! As you can see per my profile pix they re still not showing completely

Your body fat looks higher than 16%. You also may not have enough volume in your ab muscles for them to show. You said you want to compete in bikini, so adding ab volume is not a good option for you.

I just measured my body fat today 16.5 %. I don't understand why they're not showing. They do show a lot more than the picture every now and then. Posting a pic where they re showing more from the side

Are you using bioelectrical impedance? Either hand held or a stand on scale? Those are notoriously inaccurate.

The hand held one

Highly inaccurate in either direction. It's okay to use it to help track body fat trends, but it's not going to give you an accurate number for your body fat.

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/index.php/free-content/free-content/volume-1-issue-4-the-pitfalls-of-body-fat-measurement-parts-3-and-4-bod-pod-and-bioelectrical-impedance-bia/the-pitfalls-of-bodyfat-measurement-part-4-bioelectrical-impedance-bia/

BonyCastro wrote: »

So which one is the best method then ?

Absolute best is dunk or body pod. Calipers, used by someone with experience, along with tape measure can do a decent job and track the fat, water and lean mass trends better.