A member asked:

Please provide some do's and don'ts on getting flat abs.

28 doctors weighed in across 39 answers
Dr. John Michalski answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Ignore: Stand up tall, do ab tightens several times per hour. Pilates 100s can also be used upright.

Answered 3/23/2014

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Do:: Do: Exercises such as sit-ups regularly or crunches Don't: Eat too many carbs or fats; sit too much.

Answered 5/31/2014

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Dr. Ihab Ibrahim answered

Specializes in Pain Management

Increase: Increase protein intake, decrease carbs/fat, increase reps of bicycling, walking, swimming,sit-ups,.

Answered 5/23/2015

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Ignore: DO strengthen whole core. DO go to YouTube and see "Fitness Blender" Abs workouts - they are GREAT!

Answered 7/12/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Lose: Lose the pot! Weight loss will remove belly fat to reveal your abdominal muscles.

Answered 7/28/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. Allan Tissenbaum answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Ignore: Flat abs are related to body fat, less body fat flatter abs.

Answered 7/23/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Stand: Stand up straight! You can improve your abs look, without doing any abdominal exercises.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

You: You need to lose excess weight if you are going to have flat abs.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Hold: Hold your abs in while you walk and add the right HEALTHY fats to your diet.

Answered 7/24/2014

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Include: Include a friend! You're likely to work out harder if you have an exercise buddy.

Answered 9/29/2016

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Suggest: Suggest a weekly "walk-and-talk session" with a friend.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Get: Get your spouse to exercise with you, it will help you both!

Answered 9/29/2016

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

When: When you're out for girl’s night, order first. People often order more when they hear others first.

Answered 7/30/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Exercise: Exercise anywhere.Tighten your abdominal muscles while you push back and forth a vacuum cleaner.

Answered 8/22/2014

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Eat: Eat less salt, as increased salt makes you retain more fluid.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Decrease: Decrease ETOH! Alcohol intake is known to raise cortisol levels, sending fat straight to your belly.

Answered 7/24/2014

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Drink: Drink more water, it helps flush bloat that your body might be holding onto in the heat.

Answered 7/27/2014

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Maintain: Maintain healthy body weight. Eat diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Do core body work.

Answered 8/5/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Crunches: Crunches are great to tighten Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Tighten: Tighten Ab's with pelvic thrusts.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

No: No equipment ? Bicycle on your back to flatten Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

3.5k views

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Use: Use reverse crunches to get flatter Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Exercise: Exercise Ball Crunches are great for flattening AB's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Side: Side Bridge can help to flatten your Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Use: Use lying leg raises for a flatter abdomen.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

If: If you desire to lessen abdominal fat – need to lose weight.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Flat: Flat Bench Alternating Chest Press can help work toward those flat Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

The: The Bicycle Crunch helps to flatten Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Mountain: Mountain Climbers help flatten Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Side: Side Planks help to tone Ab's.

Answered 11/19/2014

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

You: You can give your abs a great workout with Resistance Bands.

Answered 11/20/2014

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Dr. Justin Greiwe answered

Specializes in Allergy and Immunology

Whenever: Whenever you eat, always make sure that you're keeping an eye on your portion size.

Answered 4/1/2015

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Regular: Regular exercise, both cardio and weight bearing. Avoid eating too much, especially in the evening.

Answered 5/16/2015

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Ignore: Flat abs are made in the kitchen. Eat a sensible diet. Fat on either side of the abdominal wall ba.

Answered 6/22/2015

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Dr. Kevin Bernstein answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Don't: Don't avoid carbs, eep simple/added free sugars.

Answered 11/23/2015

1.9k views

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Dr. Edward Hellman answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Ignore: Limit calorie intake to less than calories burned, keep core strong, find fun ways to exercise.

Answered 1/4/2016

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Ignore: Don't do sit-ups. Too hard on the neck. Crunches are effective and physiologically safer.

Answered 2/21/2016

1.6k views

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Dr. Thomas Namey answered

Specializes in Rheumatology

Lose: Lose body fat and do ab and core exercises!

Answered 6/5/2017

669 views

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0: 0 calories drinks exist: water, black tea and coffee. Play with flavours: vanilla + black coffee.

Answered 7/5/2017

634 views

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