

You have to put in real work and give it time. Regardless, you won't build a six-pack overnight. There's no sure-fire answer because so many factors are involved, including your current body fat, your fitness level, your exercise routine, your diet, stress, and your sleep duration and quality. This is probably the most common question we hear from our clients at CircuitFIT. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a quick fix-it's all about proper nutrition, consistent exercise, and overall caloric expenditure. Hormonal changes that result from lack of proper sleep, stress, and aging add more fat to your waistline. When I was competing in bodybuilding, my lower abs were the last to appear before a show. Why is Stomach Fat So Hard to Lose?Įveryone's different, but the stomach is generally the body's favorite place to store and hold fat-even on a strict diet and fitness plan. High-volume, whole-body resistance training significantly elevates resting energy expenditure up to 72 hours after exercise in both trained and untrained subjects.2,3 In fact, a study from the National Taiwan Normal University found that EPOC after training with heavier weights-75 percent of one rep max (1RM)-is higher than after training with lighter weights at 50 percent of 1RM.īasically, the heavier and harder you train in the gym, the more you burn when you're done lifting.

High-intensity exercise has been shown to stimulate lipolytic hormones, including growth hormone and epinephrine, which promote greater post-exercise energy expenditure and fat burning.1 This after-burn effect is associated with a boost in metabolism, known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). They also burn more calories, giving you extra bang for each rep you perform. A study from San Diego State University showed that the vertical chair knee raise, for example, stimulates up to 210 percent more abdominal activity than a regular crunch!Ĭore muscles are also an integral part of deadlifts and squats, both of which are more effective than crunches. Crunches work your abs, but there are more effective core-centric exercises. Are Crunches the Best Way to Get Ripped Abs?
