A member asked:

Please share an interesting fact about getting flat abs.

21 doctors weighed in across 38 answers

Ignore: "flat abs" can be achieved only when two conditions are met: normal or near normal BMI and muscle tone.

Answered 10/18/2018

4.3k views

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Dr. Milton Alvis, jr answered

Specializes in Preventive Medicine

Stay: Stay in constant low level ketosis, a state of burning body fat to support brain, muscles ; health!

Answered 4/20/2014

4.2k views

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Dr. Milton Alvis, jr answered

Specializes in Preventive Medicine

To: To show abs, body fat which hides them must ↓. Thus must eat less mass, stored as fat, to achieve.

Answered 5/3/2014

4.1k views

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Dr. Bradford Romans answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Ignore: You cannot spot reduce.Exercising the whole body is the only way to flat abs.

Answered 6/8/2014

4k views

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Dr. Bradley Butkovich answered

Specializes in Orthopedic Surgery

Ignore: Aerobic exercise is as or more important in building abs as ab specific exercises.

Answered 6/9/2014

4k views

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Flat: Flat abs begin to appear as overall body fat decreases.

Answered 6/17/2014

4k views

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Core: Core exercises strengthen abs; loss of body fat makes abs more visible.

Answered 6/17/2014

4k views

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40%: 40% of the energy you need to stay alive (BMR) comes from your GI tract processing food.

Answered 6/18/2014

4k views

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Tighten: Tighten ab's: crunches, reverse crunches, exercise ball crunches, pelvic thrusts or lying leg raise.

Answered 7/3/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

To: To tighten ab's: Try side bridge & “bicycling” exercise on back.

Answered 7/3/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Poor: Poor posture can affect your stomach!

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Without: Without doing any abdominal exercise, you can look much leaner by simply standing up straight.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Crunches: Crunches are fine, at first, but you'll have to progress to something else to get that area worked!

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Pilates: Pilates focuses on developing not just abs, but internal and external obliques, & transversus abs.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

You: You don't need an expensive GYM, put your feet under the Sofa to do crunches, etc.

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

Rewards: Rewards come with time and consistency!

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Your: Your genetic make-up does play a role.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

You: You won't stand a chance if you're still sitting around with one hand in the candy jar.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Endless: Endless crunches and ditching all your favorite foods isn't the right, or fun, way to do it.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Flat: Flat Abs can be attained by incorporating small changes into your day.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

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

Answered 9/29/2016

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Aerobic: Aerobic exercise is the most effective in burning that deep, visceral belly fat.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Aerobic: Aerobic training burns 67% more calories than resistance training.

Answered 8/22/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

If: If you Pay for GYM membership, you are more likely to go and use it!

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Getting: Getting your spouse to exercise with you will help you both!

Answered 7/13/2015

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

For: For every 10 grams of fiber you eat daily, your belly will carry almost 4% less fat.

Answered 6/13/2015

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

People: People often order more when they hear others order first, so YOU order First!

Answered 3/29/2015

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Too: Too much salt will make you retain more fluid, Cut back on those pretzels!

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Exercising: Exercising when your pregnant will help decrease stretch marks and can get you back in shape earlier.

Answered 9/29/2016

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

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

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Omega-3: Omega-3 fatty acids as found in fish can help decrease fat.

Answered 2/4/2015

3.9k views

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Drinking: Drinking lots of water helps flush bloat that your body might be holding onto in the heat.

Answered 7/24/2014

3.9k views

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Ignore: Abs won't be flat if they're hidden by fat. Cardio is important for showing the abs.

Answered 2/21/2016

1.6k views

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You: You can not "spot reduce" fat and thus, to improve the appearance of abs. Weight loss is the key.

Answered 1/16/2019

851 views

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Abdominal: Abdominal fat can not be "spot reduced" with ab exercises. Weight loss/genetics give the best abs.

Answered 6/11/2017

723 views

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Dr. Thomas Namey answered

Specializes in Rheumatology

Ignore: You cannot spot reduce. You need to loose weight if you have abdominal fat!

Answered 6/5/2017

669 views

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Ignore: Great abs are made in the kitchen. Focus on diet : protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Limit carbs.

Answered 6/13/2018

316 views

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