Is it possible to get visible abs in this scenario?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to lose fat for visible abs. 140-145 you might have a 4 pack.

This right here! It is all abut diet. If you have too much fat on your body you will not see your abs no matter how much you exercise. The % body fat you need to get down to depends on your build and where you carry your fat but typically 16-20% BF but, seeing where you can't spot reduce, you may need to go even lower if you carry a lot of fat in your middle.

[Anonymous]

Respect to all those that got Abs after 40! You guys are awesome and thanks for sharing.

I've heard that Abs visibility depends on where your Abs sit that is genetic. For some you need very low body fat to see them and for others a bit of muscle (and some fat is OK). Ones with Abs - any truth to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 40, about to turn 41. I’m a woman. I’m 5’8”and weigh 165lbs. I eat relatively healthy but could do better. My exercise consists of two brisk 30 min walks on hills and one to two more 30 more casual walks.

I could easily clean up my diet and I can add in weight training but it may have to be at the expense of one of the harder walks.

I have never had abs in my life but I’d like to try. I have met exercise goals in the past with running but never like this.

Is it possible for me to have visible abs in 13 months for my 42 birthday?

I assume I’ll have to get a trainer.

Visible abs are all about body fat %. Some females can see them at 20%, some have to get down closer 15%.

Males more like 10%.

You would have to lose a lot of weight/fat. I would say as much as 40lbs.
Ideally you would build muscle during the journey for visible abs to make it easier for yourself (increase metabolism) but it really is all diet.

[Anonymous]

Seeing the outline/4 pack is not hard.

Getting the entire 6 pack is way harder and females 15% or lower body fat. Males with true 6 pack are definitely single digit body fat.

That is hard to get to for either sex, but maintaining them is not as bad as getting there because at that point your are probably completely ripped and in shape and burning fat in your sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Respect to all those that got Abs after 40! You guys are awesome and thanks for sharing.

I've heard that Abs visibility depends on where your Abs sit that is genetic. For some you need very low body fat to see them and for others a bit of muscle (and some fat is OK). Ones with Abs - any truth to that?

Of course this is true. It really depends on where you carry your fat. If someone is an apple shape they will need to get to a much lower %BF to see their abs than someone who has more of an hourglass shape or someone who doesn't carry any fat in their belly area.

Along the same lines, I have heavier friends who's arms look very toned because they don't carry fat on their arms. i also have friends who are very fit small pant size but don't have tones looking arms because they carry more fat on their arms.

[Anonymous]

I'm a strong and wiry 5'6, 115lbs. I do not have visible abs. Whether or not you will be able to see your abs at a very low body fat percentage depends on your genetics. I could probably get visible abs if I stayed militantly strict with my macros, and added distance running or a lot of HIIT. No thanks. I'll stick with my normal intuitive eating, weightlifting, walking, pilates, and yoga.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seeing the outline/4 pack is not hard.

Getting the entire 6 pack is way harder and females 15% or lower body fat. Males with true 6 pack are definitely single digit body fat.

That is hard to get to for either sex, but maintaining them is not as bad as getting there because at that point your are probably completely ripped and in shape and burning fat in your sleep.

Correct. I am 44, have been lifting for many years, and have a 4 pack at 110-112 lbs, 5’1”. To get a full 6 pack I would have to be around 105-108, and also eat super clean to avoid any bloating. I have a figure that carries weight evenly all over my body so going below 110 means I don’t like how small the rest of my body gets, especially boobs/butt. It’s just not worth it to me. My friend who is more of a pear shape can get a full 6 pack relatively easily due to fat distribution but then her whole upper body tends to look pretty emaciated. It really is not the natural state for most women…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a strong and wiry 5'6, 115lbs. I do not have visible abs. Whether or not you will be able to see your abs at a very low body fat percentage depends on your genetics. I could probably get visible abs if I stayed militantly strict with my macros, and added distance running or a lot of HIIT. No thanks. I'll stick with my normal intuitive eating, weightlifting, walking, pilates, and yoga.

You could get visible abs by building abs.
Carido make for flat but ab-less tummy. You have to build those abs up with heavy weights to get them to buldge out and have that six-eight pack look.

[Anonymous]

If you become an endurance athlete and drop down to 20 grams of carb per day, maybe.

[Anonymous]

This is not possible for me. I carry any extra weight around my middle.
I lift heavy weights 5x a week. I walk for at least 2 hours a day with a weight vest. I do low intensity cardio classes. I eat low carb and high protein. I’m 5’6 128. My abs are not visible, although my arm and leg muscles are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a strong and wiry 5'6, 115lbs. I do not have visible abs. Whether or not you will be able to see your abs at a very low body fat percentage depends on your genetics. I could probably get visible abs if I stayed militantly strict with my macros, and added distance running or a lot of HIIT. No thanks. I'll stick with my normal intuitive eating, weightlifting, walking, pilates, and yoga.

You could get visible abs by building abs.
Carido make for flat but ab-less tummy. You have to build those abs up with heavy weights to get them to buldge out and have that six-eight pack look.

I was 5’7 and 115 for a long time. Lifted and really worked on my abs. They never showed But I am skinny-fat. So no, visible abs just aren’t in the cards for some of us.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of the input. I guess the answer is maybe. I’ll work on it for a year and see where I get.

I never expected to become a runner when I did either. Several years ago I couldn’t even run a mile but after a while I was running 20 miles on my long run days.

Maybe I’ll remember to come back and update.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’d need to get your BMI down to the low 20s and get focused on crunches, sit ups etc. But do you really want six pack abs? Who will ever see it? I’m very fit with a flat stomach but my abs aren’t visible. I was very happy to get fit and maintain a nice bust and a firm butt. My husband is very focused on getting rid of his keg and getting it down to a six pack but that won’t happen but I admire his goal.

I completely believe that you have a nice bust, but getting fit has very little to do with it. Breasts are just fatty tissue and can't be exercised away or firmed. You can strengthen the pecs underneath, but unless you're pretty small-breasted, it's not going to have a visible impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all of the input. I guess the answer is maybe. I’ll work on it for a year and see where I get.

I never expected to become a runner when I did either. Several years ago I couldn’t even run a mile but after a while I was running 20 miles on my long run days.

Maybe I’ll remember to come back and update.

How did you develop your running program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seeing the outline/4 pack is not hard.

Getting the entire 6 pack is way harder and females 15% or lower body fat. Males with true 6 pack are definitely single digit body fat.

That is hard to get to for either sex, but maintaining them is not as bad as getting there because at that point your are probably completely ripped and in shape and burning fat in your sleep.

Correct. I am 44, have been lifting for many years, and have a 4 pack at 110-112 lbs, 5’1”. To get a full 6 pack I would have to be around 105-108, and also eat super clean to avoid any bloating. I have a figure that carries weight evenly all over my body so going below 110 means I don’t like how small the rest of my body gets, especially boobs/butt. It’s just not worth it to me. My friend who is more of a pear shape can get a full 6 pack relatively easily due to fat distribution but then her whole upper body tends to look pretty emaciated. It really is not the natural state for most women…

.

When females drop below 15% range for body fat you will typically stop ovulating. It is not a pregnancy surviving state so to protect yourself your hormones start shutting things off.
This is why a lot of competitive women have to take supplements and be monitored by professionals.

Males do not see the same impacts from low body fat that women endure.