While you might think that the secret to washboard abs is endless crunches, hundreds of sit-ups and a diet of lettuce and spinach, personal trainer Camilla Ackerberg says this might just be where you’re going wrong.
Revealing the three steps to a flat stomach, the PT busted the myth that you can spot reduce fat from around your stomach area and shared how you can really shred the fat from around your tummy.
‘We all have a six pack, but for most of us, your abdominals are hidden under a layer of fat,’ Sydney-based Camilla explained on her blog.
Personal trainer Camilla Ackerberg (pictured) recommended the three steps that will help you to get washboard apps and fast
‘We all have a six pack, but for most of us, your abdominals are hidden under a layer of fat,’ Sydney-based Camilla (pictured) explained
The first and most important step, according to the trainer (pictured), is that you need to clean up your diet – and eat plenty of protein, healthy fats and high fibre carbs
Step one: Clean up your diet
You can’t outrun a bad diet, and so cleaning up your daily food intake is Camilla’s first step for washboard abs.
‘To burn fat, you need to be in a calorie deficit – meaning you need to consume less calories than what you use in a day,’ she wrote.
While the personal trainer said this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat, instead she said you need to eat healthy foods in the right amount, such as protein, healthy fats and even carbohydrates.
‘High fibre carbs help keep your gut health in control and also keep you fuller for longer which will help you to manage your food intake,’ Camilla said.
Such carbs include colourful salads, fresh fruits and berries, roasted vegetables, beans and wholegrain products.
The sorts of carbohydrates that should be prohibited, she added, are processed foods, junk foods and processed sugar.
Aim for a high calorie diet that is filled with plenty of colourful fresh produce, and limit alcohol and processed sugar.
‘Combine lifting weights to tone up and lose weight with some cardio conditioning for sustainable results,’ the trainer (pictured) recommended – adding you should focus on compound movements
Step two: Train right
While cleaning up your diet is the main key to showing off your abs, Camilla also added that training plays a vital role too.
‘Combine lifting weights to tone up and lose weight with some cardio conditioning for sustainable results,’ she said.
It’s worth remembering that the more lean muscle you have, the more calories you will burn while resting.
When training, the PT said for visible abs you should focus on ‘a lot of big, compound movements and keep your rest periods shorter to pick up your heart rate’.
Factoring in walks and gentle cardio will also help with strength results.
When training, the PT said for visible abs you should focus on ‘a lot of big, compound movements and keep your rest periods shorter to pick up your heart rate’
Last but not least, too often we focus on just our abs when looking for a toned midsection when in fact we should look at our entire front section
Step three: Train your whole core, not just your abs
Lastlyt, too often we focus on just our abs when looking for a toned midsection when in fact we should look at our entire front section.
‘Your “core” is the midsection of your body,’ Camilla explained – and you can’t just target it via sit ups and crunches.
Instead, she recommends you focus on all-body movements like planks and balancing movements, which target your core most effectively.
‘Make it a priority to always make sure you engage your core in your exercises to train safer and to get the best results,’ she added.
To read more from Camilla Ackerberg, you can visit her website here.