How to get a nice set of abs (six pack)

TheFish Hello, In the most very basic sense, there are three factors that contribute to how your 'abs' look. One of these factors is simply genetics which can not be modified. You can not change who your parents are. The other two are; the amount of energy your body is storing as connective tissue (CT)(aka. fat), and the size/mass/cross-sectional area of the abdominal musculature. First, to modify the amount of energy your body is storing as CT you just need to work with the equation: energy in = energy out + storage. The two variables you can really control here are energy in, and energy out. However, some of the supplement folks will suggest that certain products can change how much energy you store as CT. Modify these accordingly. This is what jerrycat was getting at. Your abs may be great, but because they are covered with CT, no one can see them. Second, to increase the cross-sectional area of the abdominal musculature, you need to provide stimulus for these muscles to grow. This means giving them work. In the swimming world, I feel that butterfly kick (particularly on your back) works the abdominal musculature most efficiently. To get the most 'bang for your effort' so to speak, evaluate yourself. If you have a healthy supply of CT, then you may get the best results by simply reducing the amount of CT you carry. To do this, modify the energy balance equation above. If you do not store much energy as CT, then you may get the best results by working on the abdominal musculature itself. On a personal note, I swim quite a bit of fly and fly kick. I will swim over 1000 meters full stroke fly on a fairly regular basis. The only kick I do is dolphin kick (mostly on my back). I do not have 'great looking abs'. Yet I have known guys/gals who hardly did any fly, but because of any of the other factors listed above, their abs were like washboards. I hope this helps.

TheFish Hello, In the most very basic sense, there are three factors that contribute to how your 'abs' look. One of these factors is simply genetics which can not be modified. You can not change who your parents are. The other two are; the amount of energy your body is storing as connective tissue (CT)(aka. fat), and the size/mass/cross-sectional area of the abdominal musculature. First, to modify the amount of energy your body is storing as CT you just need to work with the equation: energy in = energy out + storage. The two variables you can really control here are energy in, and energy out. However, some of the supplement folks will suggest that certain products can change how much energy you store as CT. Modify these accordingly. This is what jerrycat was getting at. Your abs may be great, but because they are covered with CT, no one can see them. Second, to increase the cross-sectional area of the abdominal musculature, you need to provide stimulus for these muscles to grow. This means giving them work. In the swimming world, I feel that butterfly kick (particularly on your back) works the abdominal musculature most efficiently. To get the most 'bang for your effort' so to speak, evaluate yourself. If you have a healthy supply of CT, then you may get the best results by simply reducing the amount of CT you carry. To do this, modify the energy balance equation above. If you do not store much energy as CT, then you may get the best results by working on the abdominal musculature itself. On a personal note, I swim quite a bit of fly and fly kick. I will swim over 1000 meters full stroke fly on a fairly regular basis. The only kick I do is dolphin kick (mostly on my back). I do not have 'great looking abs'. Yet I have known guys/gals who hardly did any fly, but because of any of the other factors listed above, their abs were like washboards. I hope this helps.