A common sense guide to six-pack abs

The first time I took a gym membership in my late-twenties, I remember starting out my session with bicep curls and ending with crunches. “By all counts, the abdominal region is the final frontier for fat loss,” says AK Abinav, coach and founder of NammaCrossfit and Akada Life fitness centres in Bengaluru. It becomes apparent only when one has lower levels of body fat in the trunk region,” he explains, adding, “Our body generally stores fat first in the trunk region and as you cease physical activity you tend to store fat closer to the palms, legs and face.” However, resuming a fitness regimen doesn’t mean you start losing fat around your belly first. Beyond nutrition and workouts “If your nutrition and rest are on point, the stored fat in the abdominal region is used to feed the muscles involved in your exercise programme,” says Abinav. This results in hunger skyrocketing, activity levels dropping gradually, and the metabolic rate slowing down too.” Abinav advises against adopting drastic routines that involve depleting yourself of energy and water content like fitness models, bodybuilders and professional actors often resort to.