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Dream abs (Part 2): Losing body fat to gain your six-pack
Kaieteur News – In our initial article on chasing the abs of our dreams, we examined why this may be more difficult to achieve for some people. Just to recap, a major hindrance is usually our own focus sticking strictly to abdominal exercises when gaining abs require us to lose body fat instead.
In this second part of our series, we will look at how safe very low levels of body fat are. Some experts often question whetherit’s healthy or even safe to strive for such low levels of body fat, particularly for women. “Women naturally carry more fat than men, which means getting to extreme lows can have an adverse effect on the way our bodies and hormones function,” Miriam Fried, founder and head trainer of MF Strong in New York City, told Yahoo Life.
The trainer explained that setting a goal to achieve a visible six-pack often involves “severe caloric restriction and getting to a very low body fat percentage, which, for many people, isn’t healthy at all…not to mention, often what determines the visibility of your abdominal muscles has more to do with genetics than anything else.”
Fried also says that extreme dieting and restriction is often a risk factor for eating disorders, which has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. She also told Yahoo Life that “Considering so many women struggle with disordered eating, seeking a body type that requires such extremes is just something I would never recommend from a mental health standpoint.”
Experts — even ones who believe a six-pack is an achievable goal — also point out that having visibly sculpted abs isn’t the only sign of being physically fit or having a strong core. “The majority of those with a strong core do not have noticeable abs,” notes Araceli De Leon, an American Council on Exercise-certified health coach and certified personal trainer.
“Think of how strong a powerlifter is, and how strong their core must be to deadlift, squat and bench press hundreds of pounds/kilos. This population of athletes is a prime example of a strong core that, at times, don’t have the traditional sculpted six-pack abs. So yes, it is possible to have a strong and healthy core without the noticeable sculpted abs.”
Fried agrees, saying that body shape and size “tell us very little about someone’s fitness levels and their health.” She believes that visible abs simply tell you that you have a low body fat percentage and the genetics to maintain a flat stomach. “They tell you nothing else about someone’s health, their strength, their endurance, their abilities in the gym, their diet, their exercise routine.”
According to her, some of the best athletes on the planet do not have visible abs. “If your goal is to be fit and strong, I highly recommend setting performance-based goals rather than aesthetic ones,” she says. “These types of goals are much more realistic to achieve, much more fulfilling and far more motivating!”
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- "If your goal is to be fit and strong, eating disorders, highest mortality rate, New York City, told Yahoo Life
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