Can't Get a Six Pack? A Celeb Trainer Explains Why
Most of you have a six pack. This is the truth. If you exercise occasionally and do resistance training even just once a week, chances are that you do have a six pack. The problem is that it is hidden under a layer of fat.
"But I'm doing everything I can!" you say. "Why is that layer still there?" you ask. "How do I get rid of that layer?" you wonder. Luckily for you, I have answers—and I guarantee that if you really are eating right, exercising, and not making the mistakes below, you will see your six-pack appear. And fast! Here are the top six reasons you aren't getting the cut, flat abs you've always wanted. Take my advice and you may be pleasantly surprised the next time you lift up your shirt in front of the ol' bathroom mirror! Plus: Get the weight-loss plan proven to work—for men and women! Test panelists scored six-pack abs in six weeks with Eat This, Not That! For Abs…on sale now!
You Are Doing Too Much Cardio
True story: I do a total of 20-30 minutes of cardio per week. Yes, you heard me correctly, per week! I do this for two reasons: 1) I simply don't have the time. I perform about 40-45 client sessions per week, not to mention running the entire company. 2) Cardio causes me to have more cravings for bad food! When I am training for a race or when I run a little in the summer (more simply because I like being outdoors), I am ravenous the entire day.
I recommend to my clients that they do cardio three times a week of no more than 30 minutes at a time. These 30 minutes are done in interval fashion and will get your body into a burning fat state without keeping you on the treadmill for an hour or more like most people. I have the interval plans outlined in my book if you need more information.
You Aren't Doing Enough Strength Training
Okay, so let's say that you are lean and still don't have a six-pack, or that you are 20 pounds overweight and feel you have no core muscles. Well, they just don't appear there by you willing them to grow! As Britney Spears once said, "You want a hot body? You better work!" Make sure you are doing 2-3 days a week of resistance training (like the resistance training workouts in the book).
These types of workouts will cover all of your core muscles while also targeting your entire body. By building lean muscle tissue, you will actually be burning more calories at a resting state. Each pound of fat that you replace with muscle burns an extra 40 calories per day simply by being there in your body.
You Eat Way Too Much Dairy
I grew up in Wisconsin—the land of dairy!—so I know a thing or two about cheese. The first thing I know is that it is delicious and packed with calcium. We need that for strong, healthy bones! But do we need to have it with every meal? No way! If you have some milk in the morning, you are all set for the day. But most people have dairy for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even with their snacks. This can cause inflammation and bloating in the body and will surely be one of the culprits covering your midsection. Limit yourself to 1 serving per day.
You Have Too Much Gluten in Your Diet
Gluten is a protein found in wheat products that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. This is found in breads, pasta, cereals and cookies. It's not bad for many people—but it does cause inflammation in the body, which is something we want to avoid as much as possible. Just try cutting out gluten for two weeks and see how much better you feel and look. I guarantee that if you cut down your gluten intake for a two-week period, you will drop a few pounds!
You Are Doing the Wrong Type of Core Training!
Are you still doing situps? STOP! You are doing more harm than good! A sit-up places an extreme amount of pressure on the lower discs of the spine and only works a small section of your abdominals in exchange. As outlined in my book, try doing front planks, side planks, and the other core blaster combinations that I explain throughout the workout section. These work more muscles in the core while also keeping your spine healthy. WATCH: 15-Minute Aerobic Abs Workout
You Don't Sleep Enough
That's right, not enough sleep can be an ab killer. Not only is sleep important for muscle repair, but it is also the #1 cause of stress in the body. When the body is stressed, it releases cortisol, a stress hormone. This hormone tells the body, "Let's store fat!" (If you aren't drinking everything in sight, this is why some people lose weight on vacation!) Bottom line: Make sure you get 7-9 hours of quality slumber each night.
