10 STEPS TO AN 8 PACK

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

There’s a difference between “in shape” and “ripped.” If you’re just looking to get in shape, you can skip this story. But if you want true bodybuilder definition…read on.

You don’t actually need abs that show.

Most men in America will go through their entire lives without ever having seen their abs, except maybe briefly one summer when they were 12. In fact, even many professional athletes don’t have abs their girlfriends can do laundry on. Few baseball pitchers, and no offensive linemen, see their abs when they suit up before a game.

But if you’re going to be fit, why not show it? For the average guy who’s in shape, getting abs isn’t that hard. It’s like taking an A- and turning it into an A+. Challenging, but hardly impossible.

Getting abs is a lot about diet, a little about exercise, and all about attitude. As a fitness model, trainer, and former natural bodybuilder, having defined abs has been part of my job description for the past decade, so I’ve learned to eat, train, and program my mind accordingly to keep them sharp. The following slides contain 10 tips I’ve used that make the difference between regular and premium.

Set A Dead Line

Break your main goal (to get flat, ripped abs) into smaller goals, such as losing one pound per week or adding a round to the ab circuit described on in step 10. Then set a deadline for each one. Losing a lot of weight to reveal your abs can seem like a big undertaking, but it’s much less daunting when you take the time to divide it into smaller, achievable checkpoints. Deadlines also make you accountable, giving you a schedule to keep and a bit of pressure to improve.

Take it a step further and tell your friends. Making your deadlines public is a powerful motivator because it puts your reputation on the line, says Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University and author of The New York Times best seller, Predictably Irrational. In fact, the more attention you draw to what you’re doing, the less likely you’ll be to renege on it. Announce your intentions on Facebook or e-mail your buddies. That makes it harder for you to back down, and you’ll find that you have a support group full of people who want you to succeed.