I’m sitting here watching TV today and I see a commercial for some kind of ab roller.   They had some GREAT before and after pictures that I can guarantee were NOT the result of using this product.   You want  a six pack?  Situps and crunches aren’t going to get you there by themselves no matter how many you do.

Here is the sobering reality.  In order to get those abs to ‘pop’, you have to burn off the fat that is covering them.  Is your body fat over 12%?  You probably aren’t going to see them.  To get them as defined as those you see in magazines, you’re really looking at around 7-10% body fat.  Before worrying about if you’re doing enough hanging leg raises or crunches, make sure your diet is in order and that you’re burning the fat you need to burn to get your body fat down.  Don’t get me wrong, working your abs is important but it shouldn’t be the first thing you do to lose that spare tire.

Here’s the deal:  you can “spot” lose fat.  You don’t get to pick and choose what area of your body you’re going to lose fat from.  Your body determines that.  Additionally, everybody is different.  Some people may lose fat around their mid section while others may drop fat from their face or neck.

I am of the opinion that you really don’t need to “work abs” to get the six pack if you are using  the right routine that includes deadlifts and squats (differing variations of each) but there are probably some/many that would disagree.  If you aren’t convinced this is true, there is no harm in hitting the abs directly but to do so without the diet and complete routine to go with the ab work will result in a futile attempt at a six pack.

So, in closing, save your money and bypass those offers that promise a six-pack if you’ll just by their “ab roller” or whatever they are offering.  Six-packs can ONLY be obtained with a disciplined diet and lifting routine.