I just got a pretty disturbing email from a subscriber:
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Hi Mike, thanks for all the tips on getting a six pack. I just subscribed, but I’ve been trying to get six pack abs for over two years now.
To be honest, it’s been extremely frustrating. The rest of my body I don’t have any problem with…but for some reason my abs are still soft and flabby no matter what I do. I’m not obese or anything, but nobody would ever say I have a six pack either which is what I want.
I’m doing hardcore workouts all the time and I’m keeping my eating fairly clean. I haven’t bought any courses on how to get a six pack yet, but I’ve studied a ton of information which I’ve gotten for free on blogs and forums. I feel like I’ve put so much work into this. But for some reason I’m not seeing results. I’m beginning to think my genetics are such that six pack abs are just not in the cards for me.
Am I doing something wrong? HELP!
Andrew E.
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Hey Andrew,
You’re actually facing three VERY common issues that sabotage guys from getting six pack abs. I’m going to clear up the confusion for you…
And if YOU are reading this right now, and you’ve been trying to get a six pack but not seeing results, you’re likely GETTING SABOTAGED BY THE SAME THREE THINGS. Make sure to pay close attention to this newsletter, because it’s going to address what’s been holding YOU back specifically and show you how to eliminate these “six pack sabotagers” from your life.
SABOTEUR #1: YOUR METABOLISM
What you said:
“The rest of my body I don’t have any problem with…but for some reason my abs are soft and flabby no matter what I do.”
What this tells me:
From the vague way you described your body, I can tell that you have not yet gained a large amount of muscle. Because I’ve spent most of my life hanging around guys who HAVE…and let me tell you, they’ll never describe their body in vague terms like this.
Guys who have bulked up and have built a lot of muscle will be EAGER to provide you with specifics like:
“I’ve gained X pounds of muscle in the past year.”
“I have a muscular build – I regularly get compliments on the rest of my body from women”
“I can eat 3000 calories per day and not gain any weight.”
So I’m going to guess that while you’re in shape, you’re not exactly “muscular” yet.
So here’s what’s been sabotaging you…
There is a myth spread by fitness marketers that you can get six pack abs just through diet and ab training alone. This is 100% FALSE.
If you just try the “crunches and diet’ method of getting a six pack, you’re sure to fail. This is because getting six pack abs requires you to become very LEAN – otherwise your abs simply won’t be visible.
In order to get this lean, your metabolism needs to be very high. Otherwise, you’ll have to severely restrict the amount you eat to 1500 calories per day or less – which just isn’t realistic for most people to do as a lifestyle.
What you need to do BEFORE you diet, and BEFORE you do any direct ab exercise is to INCREASE YOUR METABOLISM.
This way, you burn massive amounts even when you’re resting. Eventually, you’ll be able to eat over 3000 calories per day and not gain any weight (this is where I’m at right now).
The best way to increase your metabolism is to gain lean muscle mass through weightlifting. This lean muscle mass will consume calories day in and day out, just to sustain itself.
This is why you RARELY see six pack abs on guys who don’t have muscle on their entire body – and when you do they don’t look good. If you don’t have bulk on your ENTIRE BODY, getting six pack requires you stay close to a starvation diet. But if you are muscular, you can enjoy food and be constantly full, yet still have a six pack.
TAKEAWAY –> The FIRST thing you need to do when building six pack abs is to INCREASE YOUR METABOLISM THROUGH TOTAL BODY MUSCLE GAIN. This can be done quickly if you want to – but if you don’t do it AT ALL, your six pack efforts are doomed.
SABOTEUR #2: NO UNIFIED TRAINING AND NUTRITION PROGRAM
What you said:
“I’m doing hardcore workouts all the time and I’m keeping my eating fairly clean. I haven’t bought any courses on how to get a six pack yet, but I’ve studied a ton of information which I’ve gotten for free on blogs and forums.”
What this tells me:
SOME free information can be great. If you’re applying the stuff you read here, that’s great. If you’re applying free stuff from another qualified trainer with a good reputation, that’s great as well.
But you have to realize, MOST of the free information out there on blogs and forums is complete garbage. Following random tips that you read from the internet can SERIOUSLY screw up your progress.
If you’re serious about getting a six pack, then you can only take advice from:
1. Guys who have a six pack themselves (this should be common sense…but sadly, it’s not)
2. Who ALSO have years of training experience, and a solid track record of getting results for clients
You cannot, cannot, cannot follow any random thing you read on a forum. You have to realize that most people who post on these forums are overweight losers who enjoy the ego boost of being an “online fitness guru.” They’ve can’t even get themselves in shape, never mind anyone else.
Also – from your vague language about “hardcore workouts” and “eating clean” I can tell that you do not have a single, unified program you are following right now. You are combining tips and advice from many different sources together.
This is a bad idea, EVEN IF ALL THE INDIVIDUAL TIPS THEMSELVES ARE GOOD. Here’s why:
First of all, unless they’re part of a unified SYSTEM, many of these tips probably contradict one another. Some “fitness experts” say that you should eat tons or protein to get a six pack, others advise eating very little. Some experts say that you should do lots of crunches, and others say that crunches are a waste of time. Some tell you to take certain supplements, others tell you that you absolutely cannot take supplements if you want a six pack.
If you just try and collage all these contradictory tips together, you’ll just end up confused.
Second of all, if you do not have a SPECIFIC EXERCISE PLAN and SPECIFIC EATING PLAN, you will not be doing these things with any consistency. Guys who have a six pack will often say things like:
“My workout routine is to get at 10:30 AM, for 30 minutes 5 days a week.”
“My eating plan is to have two healthy meals of brown rice, chicken and broccoli per day, and to give myself one ‘free’ meal”
TAKEAWAY –> If you can’t tell me SPECIFCIALLY what your eating and exercise plan is in one sentence, then you don’t have one. And I can guarantee you that if you have no plan, you are not working out or eating right CONSISTENTLY. You absolutely, positively MUST be following a definite plan if you want to get six pack abs.
SABOTEUR #3: DEFEATIST ATTITUDE
You said:
“I’m beginning to think my genetics are such that six pack abs are just not in the cards for me.”
What this tells me:
I get it…I don’t have the greatest genetics in the world either. And I recognize your genetics CAN play a part in getting your six pack…
But the reality is, for 99% of the male population six pack abs are VERY ATTAINABLE GOAL…IF you are consistently eating and training the right way.
How do I know? Well, despite bad genetics I eventually got six pack abs myself. And I’ve trained hundreds of guys who have every genetic handicap you can imagine, and I’ve seen many of them get the six pack abs they wanted.
If you blame 100% of your failure on genetics, you’re grossly out of touch with reality. I know it’s tough to hear, but it’s really just an excuse you’re using to justify your lack of results.
And even worse, you said that a six pack “wasn’t in the cards,” for you. This type of defeatist attitude is absolute POISON for getting six pack abs, and will keep your gut hanging over your belt for a long, long time.
I’ve said it for a long time…getting six packs abs is only 50% physical, and 50% MENTAL.
You need to have your mind right, because getting six pack abs does take some commitment and effort. You’ll face various obstacles along the way, as well as having to deal with jealousy and lack of support from your friends who aren’t as committed to having a great body as you.
The only way to press through these obstacles is to have a strong, unwavering belief that you WILL get a six pack if you are consistently eating and training right. Even when it seems hard, and even when you’re frustrated.
You need to shed this defeatist attitude ASAP in order to get six pack abs. You have to realize that there are no “cards” – there is only what you accomplish, and what you do not accomplish. It is 100% within your power to get six pack abs. If you don’t get them, you have nobody but yourself to blame. And if you DO get them, you’ll have only yourself to thank. Not your lucky stars, not “fate,” and definitely not “the cards.”
TAKEAWAY –> I’m not judging you for making these mistakes, because I made them all myself at one point. But I do want you to know that there is hope — that you can get a six pack. You just have to shed the defeatist attitude, and learn how to THINK like a guy who has a six pack.
THE NEXT STEP:
If you liked this article and you’re serious about getting six pack abs, I recommend you sign up for my email newsletter. I send out free articles like this one every 2-3 days that teach you exactly how to get six pack abs. I also send out videos of the best exercises for getting defined abs, and videos that show you how to eat for six pack abs.
And it’s all completely free. Check it out here:
<a href=”http://www.sixpackshortcuts.com”>Six Pack Abs Exercises</a>
Mike Chang
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