16 women reveal exactly how they got six-pack abs

“If you’re still on the journey to building your own six-pack abs, don’t find an Instagram personality to copy. Don’t compare yourself to the person next to you. Instead, notice how after every class, every healthy meal, you feel stronger. Most importantly, remember that when you see your core muscles start to appear as a result of your hard work, you can’t just quit. Having six-pack abs is a lifetime commitment to healthy eating, consistent workouts, and embracing what your genetics gave you.”  – Sarah Buie, 32, studio manager and coach at [solidcore].

“I attribute my six-pack abs to the Mission Lean sprinting workouts that I do on the track and the treadmill. When I do my sprints I run at 85 to 100 percent of my absolute maximum capacity – my legs literally cannot go any faster – for one to three minutes depending on the workout. I take 30 seconds or less for a break in between. I never linger during the workout. It’s not long – maybe a total of 15 mins for the sprints (plus a warmup and cool down). Then I rest afterward. The sprinting workouts are so intense that my body not only burns fat in the actual workout but for days afterward.”  – Lyuda Bouzinova, 31, Mission Lean co-founder and ACE-certified personal trainer and a fitness nutrition specialist.

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“Nowadays everybody wants six-pack abs. While there’s no one real secret in achieving six-pack abs, let me emphasise on how important it is to focus on your diet! I make sure to eat enough lean protein to help build muscle and I refuel with complex carbs after my workout.”  – Quianna Burgess, 34, RSP Nutrition athlete and personal trainer.

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“High-intensity workouts added to an educated training plan yields an increase in performance, and a side effect of this higher level of capability is a lean, defined midsection that will keep your body safe. An increase in performance can only be achieved if there are markers of performance in the first place. Train to be stronger and faster, and your body will adapt to be so.”  – Mara Marek, 37, a trainer at New York Health & Racquet Club.

“Abdominal muscles are all about consistency. Unlike other muscle groups that need rest from training, abs don’t. If you are consistent with diet, drink lots of water, do cardio, and follow a good lifting program, your abs will start to show. Everything takes time to develop though. To build a killer body it takes years not just a week or days. Consistency is key.”  – Johanna Stavrakaki, 33, CEO of Sthenos

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“Figuring out what food intolerances you may have (what makes you bloat) and what is hard on your gut will help along with maintaining a healthy balanced diet. It’s all about how you balance your food intake. I don’t deprive myself of any food type, but I focus on portion control and making sure I am eating clean real food.”  – Andrea Rogers, 37, founder of Xtend Barre.

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Source: RD.com