Ask the Anytime Fitness Team about getting 6-Pack abs and getting rid of muffin tops

Question: I would do almost anything to get a nice 6-pack or get rid of my “muffin top”. Can you give me some tips and hints?

Answer:  Absolutely! Not everyone has this particular goal, but the ones that do seem to be very passionate about it. First of all, you have to do some serious core work, focusing on the abdominals, obliques and low back area. In doing this, most people make one of two mistakes. The first mistake is working these muscles too many days of the week. Some think you need to do abs almost every day, but you wouldn’t do this for chest, back, and legs, so why would you do it for your abdominals? The other common problem is that people don’t push themselves when doing core work. We’ve seen plenty of people stop their set right when they start to feel the “burn.”  Remember, the harder you work your abdominals, the less you’ll have to do them—and you’ll get better results. Aside from strength training, the real key components to getting a firm, lean mid-section include cardiovascular exercise and, of course, proper diet. You should try to do cardio 4-5 days per week, especially if you have some extra flab to lose, and try to follow a well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet. If you have more specific questions, be sure to schedule a meeting with a trainer or dietitian here at Anytime Fitness.  You might also want to check out our “AbSolution” class! (Contributed by certified personal trainers Ann Irr Dagle and Liz Krams)