Achieving visible six-pack abs requires a combination of building muscle and shedding fat. The rectus abdominis muscle, commonly known as the “six-pack”, is present in everyone, but its visibility is often obscured by a layer of fat. Whether you should focus on building muscle or losing fat first depends on your current physique and personal preferences.
If you’re on the leaner side and lack muscle mass, then you may benefit from initially focusing on muscle building. Engaging in resistance training and consuming a slight calorie surplus can help you develop the rectus abdominis and the surrounding core muscles. This doesn’t mean you should neglect cardio, but your primary emphasis should be on strength training.
On the other hand, if you carry excess body fat, especially around the midsection, then your first step should be to concentrate on fat loss. This can be achieved by creating a calorie deficit, either by eating fewer calories or increasing your physical activity, or ideally, a combination of both. Cardiovascular exercises and strength training both play roles in this phase, with cardio helping in burning calories and resistance exercises preserving muscle mass.
It’s important to remember that spot reduction, the idea that you can lose fat from a specific area by targeting it with exercises, is a myth. So, even though it’s great to include abdominal exercises in your routine, they alone won’t make your abs visible if there’s a layer of fat covering them.
Once you’re at a lower body fat percentage, your abs will start to show, and any subsequent muscle building in that region will make them pop even more.
The choice to build muscle or lose fat first in the pursuit of visible six-pack abs largely depends on your starting point. Those with more body fat should prioritize fat loss, while those who are leaner might benefit from building muscle first. However, both processes are crucial and complement each other in revealing that coveted six-pack.