Flat Abs.

How many magazine articles, internet ads, blog posts, diet books, etc. have you read or seen on flat abs? Seriously, there are probably too many to count, it’s sort of ridiculous. It’s ridiculous, but it’s clearly something people want to know about.

You see these pictures of buffed out chicks with six packs and you’ve been running your ass off…why don’t your abs look like that? I’m not sure if that strikes a cord with you but it does with me. Sometimes I just don’t get, blame it on genetics, and move on.

It’s hard to believe though that all these women (and men) have a genetic predisposition for a hot body.

But maybe they do, who knows?

In my humble opinion, I think these gals work their beautiful buns off. I mean in the gym, but also in the kitchen. I’ve read some articles on fitness professionals and what they eat (which by the way, is a huge part of keeping a rockin’ bod) and they basically eat an insane amount of protein and vegetables at each meal.

The model seems to be: 5 meals a day, protein and veggie at each one like chicken breast 5 times a day (ew), and the only carbs you consume are (obviously) some fruits, sweet potatoes, or whole grains like oatmeal.

 

I feel like I eat a relatively healthy diet but I’m sure I don’t even come close to a fitness model. I think that’s the thing that us “normal” folks need to understand: it takes hard work to get and maintain flat abs. I wish it was as easy as doing crunches at the gym, but unfortunately, you can’t spot remove fat.

I guess getting flat abs is pretty simple: clean eating, watching your calories, and working out. It sounds simple doesn’t it? I think it’s one of those things that’s easier said than done but at least we know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. It might not necessarily be in your genetics but it could still be done.

Does anyone else hate when celebrities say they get their workouts “chasing their kids,” or they “don’t diet.” Bitches…and liars.

Here are some clean foods that are nutrient rich and fill you up (which helps lower your overall calorie consumption for the day):

• Oatmeal– Oatmeal is great because it’s fiber rich and keeps you full for hours. Just try to pick non-sweetened, plain oats. I know, it’s lame but the sugar won’t help!
• Almonds or other Nuts-Nuts are a great snack, I’m sure you’ve all heard that. Just be careful with your portions because they are still really high in calories. Even if you’re eating too many healthy calories, you’re still eating too many calories unfortunately. Olive Oil and avocado are also like this: high in calories, but healthy.
• Berries– Everyone loves berries! They’re naturally high in fiber and obviously, delicious! They can be a little expensive during the winter so try the frozen kind. Just make sure they’re unsweetened!
• Lean Meats– Those fitness models love a good chicken breast! I get sick of chicken really easily. I just feel like I overcook it all the time so it’s always dry and kind of bland. Just remember there are other meats out there! You’re probably better off staying away from cold cut meats because they’re really high in salt (which doesn’t do much for the belly bloat).
• Veggies!– This one is a no brainer: high in fiber, low in calories, and high in nutrients. This is something I need to work on. I’m trying to eat veggies like a vitamin: before every meal, take your vitamins! AKA veggies. I’m not a huge veggie lover so it’s something I have to remind myself to do.
• Eggs- I love me some eggs. Eggs are great because they’re really high in protein but not as expensive as meat. You can incorporate them in lots of different meals or just have them scrambled.  You can also cut out some calories but leaving out the egg yolk if you’d like.

Those are just a couple foods to try and incorporate into your diet if you don’t already do so. My big one is veggies! Why can’t veggies be fruit? Fruit is so much better. 🙂

So, sorry if today’s post is kind of sad. I wish you could run a marathon, take a pill, or just do some crunches and have amazing abs. But amazing abs seem to be the result of really hard work. Work in and out of the gym. Diet and calorie intake is a huge part of a lean waist. That is a damn shame if you ask me.

As much as I want those killer abs…I personally, don’t want to lose sight of what’s really important: having a life! It would be sad to me to go out for my husband’s birthday or even my own and decline a bite of cake because I’m too caught up in having the perfect body. I understand if that’s part of your job, i.e. you’re a fitness model. But I’m not. I’ll continue to work out because I like feeling strong. I’ll continue to work on my diet because I want to be around for as long as possible. It’s easy to get caught up in the perfect body…but ya gotta live your life too!!

(all pictures from Pinterest…duh).