Having a six-pack abs is a dream for many men. They also do consistent exercise and reduced calorie intake in order to get the desired abs shape. At the same time, assumptions are circulating regarding the formation of abs, such as abs training needs to be done every day, abs exercises can directly burn belly fat, so that abs muscles always indicate a healthy body. Based on this assumption, here are 5 facts you need to know about the formation of abs or abdominal muscles.
Abs muscles don’t need to be trained every day
Many people think that muscle building will be maximized if it is done every day or at least as often as possible. In fact, muscles actually form after training. Muscles need a minimum of 24 to 48 hours to repair and rebuild damaged tissue. The same applies to the abdominal muscles. When it continues to be trained without being given time to recover, the formation of abdominal muscles actually becomes not optimal. In fact, it can lead to muscle stress and overtraining.
A number of professional coaches also said the same thing. One of them is Lee Wratislaw, a certified personal trainer at Gold’s Gym who states that it is enough to do abs training 2-3 times a week. This is because some types of exercises such as squats and deadlifts also employ the abdominal muscles so that special training does not need to be done every day.
Abs Workout Doesn’t Mean Losing Belly Fat
Myths about burning fat in certain body parts are still circulating today. Some people believe that special training can eliminate fat in certain areas. In fact, burning fat is not like that. When training a certain area, the muscles increase their endurance and strength, but the burning of fat in that area does not occur. The reason is that the energy used during practice comes from all parts of the body, not just certain parts. So, the only way to lose fat in certain areas, including the abdominal muscles, is to burn fat overall and maintain a calorie deficit.
Low Body Fat Percentage for Abdominal Building
Abs formation will not occur if the body fat percentage is still high. Especially for those whose most of their body fat is stored in the abdomen. Everyone’s body is different in distributing fat. So, don’t be surprised if two people with the same body fat percentage have different body shapes. Regardless, for visible abs, most men will reduce their body fat percentage by 6%-9%. While women reduce up to 16%-19%. However, this number is actually lower than what is recommended for overall health conditions, which is 15%-20% for men and 20%-25% for women.
Everyone Can Build Abdominal Muscles
Everyone’s body shape is not the same. Several factors such as age, gender, body type, hormones, to lifestyle can affect. It’s no exception to how the muscles look. Some people naturally have a flat stomach shape due to genetic influences. Those who manage to build abs also have different forms. Some have a six-pack form, while others are four-packs, eight-packs, even ten-packs. Regardless of how the abdominal muscles look, consistent exercise and a healthy diet will lead to successful abs formation.
Abs are not always a sign of a healthy body
In fact, the formed abs muscles do not always indicate a healthy body. The abs muscle that has been successfully formed, is largely due to exercise and a healthier diet. However, too low a percentage of fat in the formation of abs is said to cause other health problems. Sam Leahey, director of exercise science at Precision Sport Science, says that abs are not always a reflection of a person’s fitness level. According to a guideline belonging to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), about 2%-5% of the amount of fat in men and 10%-13% of the amount of fat in women is essential. The fat is in charge of protecting the organs in the body, including the brain and heart. Therefore, when the amount of body fat is too low, it can interfere with organ function.