Another ab thread with a bodyfat question too.

[ezydriver]

One of the main focuses of my training is my abs. I know a lot of your guys prefer the top part, but I really am a sucker for wanting the poser pack.

What is the best advice? As I understand, it is about diet and cardio.
What kind of diet? Low carb? Hi carb? Dont you need high carbs to build muscle but low card to lose bodyfat?

Does working them increase them in any way at all? Or is it absolutely purely just diet and a 'do nothing' approach as far as weights go.

Ideally, something like this is my eventual goal. I am under no illusion to the time and effort required, but surely this was not gained purely by diet and cardio.

The bodyfat question. How do you measure bodyfat? I'm sure my bodyfat count is already low, I have a slightly larger layer around my lower abs than I would like, and that is really the only place to shift it from, and again, it is only slight but perhaps just too much for the lower abs to show.

Is it really possible to get that ultra low bodyfat count by dieting, but to ensure enough food to build the muscles on top?

Please help get this confusion cleared up once and for all.

Should I purely concerntrate on losing the bodyfat for 3 months, then think about building all my muscles? Or should I concerntrate on the upper muscles AND losing the bodyfat at the same time? Or both those and work on the abs too?, as it can't do any harm.

As it stands, if I just tense my upper abs a tiny bit, you can already see the muscle shape a little, and I haven't really started on them properly yet. Not with resistence, just 60 crunches and 20 sit ups for the past few weeks. I can just see the shape of the muscle group and to me it looks prime for some good weight training, but from what I have read, any sort of weight work does nothing at all on abs. Surely some good resistence work 2 or 3 times a week with crunches will define them, surely?

So my bodyfat is quite low already. How do you get an ultra lean bodyfat count AND build muscle at the same time? Should I just concerntrate on cardio and nothing else?

Should I eat the same, but make sure plenty of protein is eaten, and veg? And cut out some fruit, as I'm sure the sugar from my current 5 portions of fruit per day is having a detrimental effect.

I'm sorry for the length of this post, and all the questions darting all over the place, but I need the absolute best advice. I have the determination as I like doing my abs the most. I couldn't bare to neglect them and have plenty of enthusiasm and motivation to do them. I love the feel of working them and love that unique burn that comes from them. Its just hearing of people doing horrific amounts of sit ups and other work and seeing no results nearly reduces a full grown man to tears, LOL. I reiterate that the point of this post is about getting the pack.

For what its worth I am posting my pic so you can get a rough idea. Don't laugh, I'm a newbie, anyway, I had to bench press an artic the other day so the tyre fitter could change a blow out.

[Liam]

I'm similar to you mate im desperate to see my abs for the first time ever, for that good looking body

You have a six pack allready. You just have too much fat covering it.

The only way to see your abs is to loose bodyfat.

Burning fat: Walking in the morning before breakfast, at about 60-80% max heart rate. eg I walk at 2.9m/ hour at incline of 4.

I do this often, but not everyday!

Also i know you said you didn't want to do any weights but it might help to do some, just to help you tone up all your body. Also doing weights before your cardio session in the gym will mean you burn straight into fat reserves as your energy has been used on the weights.

The other main point is your diet, post up what it is atm and we can look at it and change it for the better.

[Slamdog]

it really is a diet thing....

as for diet....I'm no expert. That is an individual thing. Because you are fairly slim already it might be better for you to grow muscle rather than diet down. Me, I'm a fat git so I am dieting down. For me that means low carb because if i eat too many i add weight in the form of fat. Your body will probably be different and your diet may not be high enough in protein. Some of the more experienced guys here will put you straight there.


As for burning bodyfat you already have... heavy weights. The effects on fat burning last far longer than cardio if your working hard enough if everything I have read is true.