Can a woman get a six-pack? Yes, and here's how

Can a woman get a six-pack? Yes, and here's how

10 July 2019

For years, the six-pack has stapled itself to men’s fitness magazines and celebrity as one of the must have male accessories, while the female six-pack is one that often slips under-the-radar as being something overly masculine or unappealing. But the days of gender discrimination are over, and the female six-pack is in. Here’s how all you women out there can get started on this eye-catching abdominal definition.

For years, the six-pack has stapled itself to men’s fitness magazines and celebrity as one of the must have male accessories, while the female six-pack is one that often slips under-the-radar as being something overly masculine or unappealing. But the days of gender discrimination are over, and the female six-pack is in. Here’s how all you women out there can get started on this eye-catching abdominal definition.

Understand the importance of diet

Most of the hard work in achieving a six-pack is found in the dietary and nutritional elements of the pursuit. It’s important that your diet reflects the hard work that you’re putting in at the gym and you’re eating healthily. A good six-pack diet can be found in a diet that ignores any refined or processed foods where possible. Eating smaller meals, six times a day is a great way to keep your body well-stocked and supply your muscles with the proteins it craves. It may sound difficult to eat six times a day but always remember, meal prep is key.

Reduce Body Fat Percentage

Reducing your body fat percentage should only ever be attempted when necessary and should be done based on healthy guidelines outlined by medical professionals. While male bodies are more capable of operating with a much smaller body fat percentage, female athletes enjoy a body fat percentage of between 14 and 20%, up to 7% more than their male counterparts. With this in mind, it could be argued that it’s simply more difficult for females to achieve that six-pack bod. Average female body fat percentage is around 25% in the USA.

Do the right exercises

They key to any good gym routine is completing the correct exercises. There’s no point spending all your gym time doing bicep curls when you’re trying to achieve a six-pack. Obviously the best six pack related exercises are ones that focus on your core and stomach. This makes things like sit-ups, abdominal crunches, planking as well as pull-ups as some of the best exercises for females to achieve a six-pack. Alongside resistance and strength based exercises it’s also a good idea to introduce a little bit of cardio into the equation as this provides an all-round body workout that reduces fat. There’s a reason why footballers and long-distance runners all have six-packs. If you’re looking for an entry point into the world of fitness and running, why not try out a Fitness Holiday from Prestige Bootcamp.

Always remember genetics

One of the main factors that will enable you to get a six-pack is genetics. Some of us are just not genitally created to harbour a six-pack no matter how hard we try. No matter how much we exercise or diet achieving the ideal six-pack could be physically impossible. Female bodies consist of many varying shapes and builds with a more athletic ectomorph figure more suitable to achieving a six-pack.

Whether you’re looking to achieve a flatter tummy, or a fully-fledged six-pack is your goal, the above tips are well-worth taking into your day-to-day life. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise will set you up for more than just a toned stomach, providing you with improved focus and reduced stress, as well as more energy and cardiovascular endurance. A six-pack is always nice to show off to yourself in the mirror, though.