Getting Flat Abs or a Six-Pack Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Ab Workouts Achieving a Six-Pack By Paige Waehner Paige Waehner Paige Waehner is a certified personal trainer, author of the "Guide to Become a Personal Trainer"; and co-author of "The Buzz on Exercise & Fitness." Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 27, 2021 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Heather Black, CPT Reviewed by Heather Black, CPT Heather Black, CPT is a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching. Learn about our Review Board Print Thomas Barwick/Stone/Getty Images A question many personal trainers get is: "Can I get six-pack abs?" The short answer: Maybe, but it will take a lot of work. Why Do We Have Fat Around Our Abs If you were to ask most people. "Where is the one place you tend to store extra fat?" Most would say around their bellies. Genetically, many of us hoard extra fat around the torso and it's difficult to get rid of. The Truth About Six-Pack Abs The first thing you need to know is this: We all have six-pack abs. Six-packs aren't "created" by doing ab exercises. They already exist. The reason most of us can't see our abs is because they're covered by a layer of fat. What this means is that: Only doing ab exercises to reveal a six-pack is an impossible task. Spot reduction just doesn't work, although you do still need to work your abs for a strong core. A strong core is exponentially more important than flat abs; it keeps your body in working order. Flat abs just sit there, but a strong core works to support your body. The only way to see your six-pack is to reduce your body fat. Your body stores and loses fat in a certain order. If you've ever lost weight, you might have noticed you lost it first around your face or maybe your hips or some other area. The order your fat is lost is really based on genes, age, gender, and other factors we usually can't control. How to Reduce Body Fat Okay, so we've answered the question, how to get six-pack abs: Lose body fat. So, how do you do that? Cardio: Obviously, cardio helps you burn calories and that calorie deficit is what you need to lose weight. For best results, incorporate more interval training into your routine. Strength training: Lifting weights gives you strong muscles and muscles are metabolically active, which means you'll burn more calories all day long. A healthy, low-calorie diet: This is by far the most important aspect of a fat-reduction plan. You must get the diet right or you won't see the results you're after. Keep in mind that, for some of us, it's just not in the genetic cards to get a six-pack. The sheer amount of work you have to do to achieve flat abs usually doesn't fit very well into the average everyday life, so sometimes it's best to focus on other goals, the most important of which is your overall health and happiness and not whether or not you have a visible six pack. Keep Doing Your Ab Exercises This doesn't mean that ab exercises serve no purpose. Strong abs support your spine and protect your back, especially when you focus on building core strength. However, keep in mind that your ab workout is just one part of a complete program when it comes to getting a six-pack. By Paige Waehner Paige Waehner is a certified personal trainer, author of the "Guide to Become a Personal Trainer," and co-author of "The Buzz on Exercise & Fitness." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles Why You Should Strive for Strong and Not Just Flat Abs 5 Facts You Should Know About Working Your Abs The Best Exercises to Get Your Abs in Shape How to Strengthen Your Abs How to Do an Abdominal Crunch: Techniques, Benefits, Variations An Overview of Ab Exercises Don't Waste Your Time With Ab Crunches—Try These Core Burners 10 Ab Exercises That Won't Waste Your Time Learn How to Do a Plank to Improve Core Strength Tips and Tricks to Uncover Your Hidden Six Pack Abs Weight Training Exercises and Workout Basics 5 Reasons Why You're Having Trouble Getting a Flat Stomach When Ab Envy Goes Too Far Sports to Build a Six-Pack Without Abdominal Exercises Can You Get Rid of Belly Fat Rolls? 12 Pilates Exercises to Work Your Core in 15 Minutes When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All