I'm a Trainer, and These Are 3 Things You Need to Start Doing to Finally See Your Abs

POPSUGAR Photography | Kathryna Hancock
POPSUGAR Photography | Kathryna Hancock

When I'm not writing about how to get your abs to show, I'm training clients, who also want to know the answer to this question along with other hot fitness topics. While there's no exact formula for revealing chiseled abs, in my experience reducing your body fat percentage, doing high-intensity workouts that require a greater energy expenditure, and eating a clean diet typically get the job done.

Remember, abs aren't built overnight, and these tips are just a few tools that can help you work toward your goal of achieving a strong, defined core.

Eat Clean
POPSUGAR Photography | Maria del Rio

Eat Clean

I know this isn't the first time you've heard this, but there's a reason it continues to get said over and over. While some people are genetically predisposed to have chiseled abs, most will have to cut out alcohol, sugars, and processed foods. If you make these dietary changes and are satisfied with your results there's no need to go any further.

Another option is to implement a calorie deficit and eat fewer calories than what you burn to begin to reduce the amount of fat you have on your body. Read here to find a formula to determine how many calories you should be eating daily to drop weight.

Do More Compound Exercises
Unsplash | Ayo Ogunseinde

Do More Compound Exercises

Compound exercises are exercises that work larger muscle groups, like push-ups, lunges, and pull-ups. Doing these exercises make you expend more energy, and as a result, burn more calories and body fat. I recommend implementing these exercises into your fitness routine: squats, lunges, push-ups, and rows.

Incorporate Sprinting Into Your Workout Routine
TONL

Incorporate Sprinting Into Your Workout Routine

In my opinion, sprinting is hands down the best style of training you can do to burn fat. Not only will sprinting help you shed fat, making your abs more visible, it will also help you build lean muscle mass since sprinting uses multiple muscle groups and requires explosive power. In the same way that weightlifting increases muscle strength, short, all-out sprinting bursts also increase muscle strength.

Target Your Abs in Your Workouts
POPSUGAR Photography | Kathryna Hancock

Target Your Abs in Your Workouts

I've heard many people say they hardly ever train their abs, but I'm actually encouraging you to do the exact opposite. Instead of just training your rectus abdominals (the muscles that make up your six-pack), I advise doing a combination of exercises that target your rectus abdominis like mountain climbers, and planks to target your transverse abdominis, (your deep core muscles that help with every day activities from lifting weights to stabilizing your spine).

However, you don't need to dedicate an entire session in the gym to abs. Instead, try doing exercises like bird-dog and plank walkouts before you start your workout, and incorporate other ab exercises like a plank with knee taps and tuck jumps as a form of active recovery, instead of just resting between sets.

POPSUGAR Photography | Kathryna Hancock