Thinking Beyond The Six Pack Abs!

For most people, the image of human perfection revolves around the washboard abs. After all, that’s the feature that seems to unite virtually every model currently shown in magazines and on TV shows. Thanks to the role of social media, sculpting a six-pack is an even greater desire than ever before.

Make no mistake – Getting six-pack abs is certainly a major achievement that’s worth celebrating. There are plenty of guides on the best exercises and eating strategies to turn that dream into a reality, so you shouldn’t give up on that goal. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that health and fitness is about so more. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other items that should be on your agenda.

Overall Physique:
Even when six-pack abs are the number one target, you must appreciate the need for general fitness. Stomach fat is particularly stubborn. As such, you’ll need to drop your overall fat percentage before even thinking about unlocking that killer stomach. Even when you do, it won’t gain the desired impact unless you also have the legs, arms, and butt to back it up. While you may end up paying increased attention to the abs area, the whole body needs a little TLC. Otherwise, even the flat stomach won’t leave you smiling.

Happiness:
They say that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and there’s no doubt that this should be a priority. Physical activity can actively reduce the threat of depression and anxiety while looking good should make you feel good too. Moreover, exercise offers a great opportunity to enjoy your leisure time to the max. Whether you enjoy the competitive and social nature of team sports, or simply have a passion for running or cycling doesn’t matter. When you find workouts and activities that you adore, fitness no longer becomes a chore. Instead, it becomes your favorite hobby.

Lifestyle:
Enjoying your workouts and eating plans is a great starting point. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that this is only one aspect of your life. There’s little point in finding the right strategy for your image goals if it’s going to harm other parts of your life, like your career or relationships. Life is all about balance and compromise, and finding a way to make the pieces of your jigsaw fit together is vital. Failure to do this will stop you from enjoying the fruits of your labor. Frankly, that’s the last thing that any enthusiast needs.

Health:
We tend to link the athletic build with the concept of optimum health. While it’s not hard to understand the reasons for this viewpoint, being fit sick is real. In most cases, this situation occurs because the pursuit of a certain image encourages people to miss out on key items that the body needs. If a new diet isn’t providing the right nutrients, supplements can repair a lot of the damage. In some cases, though, it might be necessary to adopt a different approach. It may slow your journey to the desired body image, but your health is paramount at all times. Do not forget it.

Comfort:
Aside from boasting good general health, comfort should be a key focus point. A six-pack is futile if your body is damaged by injuries and postural problems that could severely impact your daily activities in future years. Stretches and back supports may help. However, pushing through with dangerous exercises just so that your stomach looks great is never a suitable solution. In most cases, alterations to the strategy will only need to be temporary. But even if it requires a permanent modification, you should not ignore those requirements.

Sustainability:
A lot of people use crash diets and juice plans to lose weight fast. While this can give you a boost during the start of the weight loss and toning journey, this can’t last forever. Likewise, you can’t keep pushing your body beyond its limit. Workouts should be tough, but going too far just to get the six-pack will bring even greater disappointment when you lose it due to a lack of sustainability. Ultimately, there is no rush to get those results, and the key is to ensure that they last. Slow movements in the right direction are better than rapidly moving round in circles.

Energy Levels:
Having the energy to do more in your life is naturally a huge incentive for getting fit. Again, a six-pack doesn’t always equate to success in this aspect. Fatigue and exhaustion are very common when you don’t fuel your body in the right manner. A lot of abs obsessed people don’t get the calories that they need. Even if you have to sacrifice the six pack for a standard athletic physique, it’s a sacrifice worth making. Hydration and good sleep patterns will help the cause. Still, if your body is always tired, that’s a clear sign that you’re doing more harm than good.

Achievements:
While unleashing the six-pack abs is certainly a major goal in itself, it’s not the only one to consider. Getting fit and healthy improves your life in many ways, and gives you the power to accomplish things you never thought possible. This could include training for a marathon or endurance race. Or you may simply want to improve your performance on the basketball court or playing field. This factor is closely linked to enjoyment and happiness but goes beyond that to include so much more. The reward and satisfaction of surpassing your expectations is amazing.

In no way should the above tips discourage you from wanting a six-pack. Good abs can enhance your appearance and self-confidence in one fell swoop. While this might be hugely rewarding, it is not a substitute for all of the others combined.

Whether it means slowing the progress, rethinking your strategy, or settling for slightly less than perfect figure, remember that a happy, healthy YOU will live an enriched life regardless of how prominent the abs muscles become.