Whether you’re looking to tone up your stomach or make your abs pop with a defined six pack, we’ve put together our top tips for getting a six pack to help you on the way to achieving your goal.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Six Pack?
Unfortunately, there’s no set answer to this question. How long it takes to get abs will depend on each individual’s personal habits plus their body fat percentage, workout routine, and dietary intake just to name a few factors. For your abs to truly pop, women need to aim for around 15% body fat and men will need less than 10% body fat. This is where diet becomes key to helping you get a six pack, in addition to consistent exercise that includes plenty of upper body and core workouts.
What Exercises Are Best for Getting a Six Pack?
It’s worth bearing in mind that focusing your exercise just on abs will not result in a six pack. You will need to train your entire core to ensure that you are working out every muscle from every angle, as well as increase your cardio for lowering body fat percentage.
When training your core, you won’t need any fancy equipment or weights, as bodyweight abs exercises are perfectly fine and will still work your muscles. Remember to include a mixture of lower abs workouts, upper abs exercises, not forgetting oblique crunches and side crunches too.
What Diet Is Best for Getting a Six Pack?
Try to ensure you’re getting all the best nutrients in your diet that are needed for building muscle – especially protein. Up your protein intake by consuming more protein-rich foods, like lean meat, chicken, fish, legumes, nuts and seeds. You can read more about how much protein to eat per day on our blog.
To help you to achieve your nutritional needs on your quest for a six pack, consider including protein powder such as KLEAN ISOLATE in your diet. Available in a delicious chocolate or vanilla flavor, as well as an unflavored option, you can add it to shakes and smoothies to give you the essential amino acids to build muscle and repair muscle tissues.‡
Remember to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water – before, during, and after your workouts. Add grains and good carbs to your post-workout meals, such as sweet potato and oats, as these will help you to continue getting valuable vitamins and minerals into your body. Try to avoid processed foods and consume less sugar, switching out unhealthy snacks with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Get more ideas and inspiration for your next post-workout meal here:
Our Best Post-Workout Recipes
Try these delicious post-workout recipes, from protein smoothies to a well-deserved mocktail.