The 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Trying to Get Abs

The pursuit of a visible six-pack is perhaps the most common goal in fitness, yet it is also the most misunderstood.

1. Believing in Spot Reduction

Doing thousands of crunches will build your abdominal muscles, but it will do absolutely nothing to burn the fat covering them. Your body loses fat systemically — from everywhere at once — based on a caloric deficit.

2. Treating Abs Differently Than Other Muscles

The rectus abdominis is skeletal muscle, just like your biceps or quads. To make the blocks of your abs thicker and deeper, you need to train them with resistance and apply progressive overload.

3. Ignoring the Kitchen

The cliche “abs are made in the kitchen” is entirely accurate. No amount of training can outwork a poor diet. Until you maintain a sustained caloric deficit to bring your body fat percentage down, your abs will remain hidden.

4. Neglecting the Transverse Abdominis

A weak TVA can lead to a distended, protruding stomach even if you have low body fat. Incorporating anti-extension exercises like hollow body holds and ab wheel rollouts will train the TVA to pull the stomach wall in tight.

5. Relying on Fat Burner Supplements

Legal fat-burning supplements do almost nothing. Most are simply expensive caffeine pills. Save your money and invest it in high-quality whole foods and a food scale.