Who
has the best chance of achieving a six pack?
Of course the answer is very simple, anyone who has low enough body fat
can achieve abdominal definition. By now I'm sure you're well aware of
the body fat ratios needed. 10% or less for men and 15% or less for
women. We all know as you get older that it does get increasingly more
difficult to stay and keep in shape, this all boils down to our
metabolism, which as we grow older begins to slow down, meaning that
body fat can be twice as hard to shift. You know I used to find it
pretty easy to stay in relatively good shape during my teenage years and
early twenties, yet as soon as my 30th birthday was creeping up on me I
really began to notice how much harder it was to shift even the smallest
amount of fat.
With that being said it will of course be much easier for a teenager or
person in their early twenties to achieve abdominal definition simply due
to a much faster running metabolism. So what about everyone whose
teenage years have long deserted them, how can I increase my metabolism?
The answer and solution is pretty simple. Smaller, more frequent meals
eaten every two-three hours will increase your metabolism instantly!
Combine these meals with both a good serving of quality protein and some
low glycemic carbs and you're on the right track.
If you're over 25 you cannot afford to stick to a two-three larger meal
per day routine, it's not going to do you any favors. I understand the
difficulties of sticking to such a plan especially with job commitments
and a busy schedule, however what I found most beneficial to me is
supplementation. Protein shakes and bars are so important in my routine
in helping to keep my metabolism active. I
don't have the time to eat balanced meals every three hours day
in, day out, so what I now do is prepare my beaker/shaker, add four
heaped scoops of whey protein powder, about 300ml of skimmed milk and
100ml of water, add three ice cubes and take with me to work, I'll then
have half the shake at mid morning (which provides me with 40g of
protein) and the other half mid afternoon, this alone takes care of two
of my meals, on training days I'll add a piece of fruit to each of these
meals. This simple little addition to my plan has made all the
difference, on occasion I'll sometimes have a low carb bar if I'm real
busy or just a piece of fruit, just so I know my metabolism is being
stimulated and not slowing down.
Carb Rotation has also
been an absolute blessing, I never realized just how a simple change
like this could help me burn fat and keep hold of my muscle mass. My
Online Trainer Matt had advised me to increase and decrease my
carbohydrate intake according to my activity level. With carbs being an
energy source it was important to consume a higher amount on the days I
felt I needed more energy and less on the days I didn't. I workout four
days a week and do both my cardio and weights in the same session which
is early evening at 5pm. On the days I train I aim for a
solid 40-50 grams in every single meal up until my last meal of the day
which is just a protein shake. This provides me with 250 grams of carbs
which gives me the energy I need for a good workout.
As
I have a desk job, my activity level is pretty low during the day, so it
would be pointless on the days I don't train to consume the same amount
of carbs, why? Because I'm not going to burn them off and we all know
what happens to carbs that don't get burned off!!! They turn to fat!!
Therefore as suggested to me, I half my carb intake down to
approximately 125-150g, which not only gives my metabolism a massive
shock, but gives the energy I need to get on with my daily activities.
I continue to maintain my protein intake every day, which is around
about 175g, as I weight 165 pounds.
I'm now 35 and I feel like I'm in the greatest shape of my life. You too
can make real progress if you really commit to the advice the Team @
SixPackNow lay down for you. Once you get into the swing of doing this,
it becomes second nature. I promise you. you'll see the difference. We
cannot turn back the years and expect the same results we got when we
were 18, but we can still make the most of our routine by carefully
planning and executing our goals.
Best
of Luck
David
Sixpacknow
Trainee, 35 from
Delaware