Fitness In The City - Let's cut to the chase

IN OUR modern culture, fuelled by the influence of media, the image of a chiselled torso has always been projected to be sexy. Even women find other women with a nice set of abs alluring.
This is one of the ultimate goals of people who exercise – to obtain a six-pack. I hate to say this, but most personal trainers and exercise experts have come forward to say that the six-pack look is overrated.
Here are five reasons why.
» Clothes get in the way
I don’t know about most people but I wear clothes all of the time, even in the gym. If I see a guy walking around with an exposed midriff, that is just socially wrong.
I don’t make my living being shirtless and neither do most people out there. Personally, I’m quite happy with showing just a hint of a visible four-pack.
» It serves no purpose towards functionality
Seriously, it really doesn’t. A flabby strong belly is just as useful in strength terms as a flat six-pack.
The difference is in the layer of fat on top of the muscle. A person with more fat won’t show any sign of the muscles being visible.
» It’s all about the body fat
As mentioned earlier, the layer of fat determines the visibility of the muscle, in this case, it’s called the rectus abdominalis.

Generally, you will need to have a low body fat percentage – below 20% – by following an intense exercise routine, and a very strict diet.
To maintain this low percentage, you have to consistently work towards maintaining a balance between not eating excessively, which means controlling your calorie intake, and keeping a workout schedule.
It takes a lot of work to get a six-pack, and a lot more work to maintain one. For many people, this means counting every calorie, pre-planning every meal, and working out every single day.
» Be prepared for the shame
Everybody else is making plans to go eat and drink, while you spend hours in the gym each day.
Dining out with friends is also uncomfortable, with others sometimes feeling guilty eating and drinking in your presence.
There is always that someone needing your approval that what they are eating is healthy, and there are always trolls around you who judge you for eating carbs like it is a mortal sin. Being ultra-healthy is a sad, lonely journey.
» It’s not about ab exercises only
Contrary to the quick fixes that exercise programmes out there promote, you won’t achieve six-pack abs simply by performing exercises like crunches, situps and planks every day.
Sure, exercising your midsection will help to build and strengthen your abdominal muscles, but it doesn’t do much to burn away fat stored around your stomach, or make you lose weight.
Not only is over-exercising not an effective way to achieve six-pack abs, but repeatedly performing exercises like situps and crunches could lead to spinal injury.
Still aiming for that six-pack torso?
Perhaps maintaining a goal to be healthy with consistent exercise is more prudent and wise.
Let’s be fit!

Jonathan Tan is the Club Manager of the Sports Toto Fitness Centre at Berjaya Times Square. He can be contacted at lifestyle.jonathan@thesundaily.com.