Abs Are Made in the Kitchen: Debunking the Myth & Revealing the Science-backed Truth

“Six packs,” “abs,” “flat tummy” – we’ve all wanted that or some variation of it at some point in our lives, and hopefully you still do, or even already have it.

You may have heard the saying, “Abs are made in the kitchen” one or more times in the past, and wondered just how much truth there is to it. It’s quite popular, especially among diet enthusiasts, but is it really a fact? Is your diet the only factor that determines if your abs are visible or not? Let’s find out.

 

First, what exactly does it mean?

 

The idea behind the saying is simply that what we eat is more important than any kind of physical exercise in our quest to see well defined abdominal muscles (abs).

 

How true is it?

 

The saying, “Abs are made in the kitchen” is so popular because in truth, it is a lot easier to gain weight (or add calories) than it is to lose it through subsequent exercises. You could spend two hours running or biking, sweating profusely and feeling good with yourself. But if you get back home and devour a large plate of amala or pizza, you’ve most likely gained those calories you lost earlier, if not more.

So, yeah, there’s some truth to the saying “Abs are made in the kitchen,” and there are so many different diet plans available these days such as the Ketogenic Diet, the Paleo Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the Whole30 Diet, the Weight Watchers Diet, and more. Most of these plans actually help people lose body fat, with only slight variances between them all.

Obviously, your diet is extremely important in your quest to reveal that six-pack, but that’s only half of it. And no matter how close, a half-truth is simply not a fact. Like we discussed in a previous post, your goals determine your overall approach to your fitness and wellness routines.

Therefore, if your goal is not just to lose fat but also to gain lean muscle mass (which helps you gain more body definition) and reveal those abs, then you have to combine dieting with exercising. And that is the whole truth!

Now, there are many types of exercises you can choose from, but that is not the point of this post. However, high intensity interval training (HIIT) has been found to be highly effective in enhancing body composition, including abdominal muscle definition.

 

What you need to know

 

You may have some questions with regards to losing belly fat and getting six-pack abs, but you can take these to the bank:

1. Abs are made in the kitchen AND the gym.
2. No matter what diet plan you’re on, a calory deficit is necessary for you to lose fat.
3. High protein diets are important in your quest to gain lean muscle mass for more body definition.
4. Only working your abdominal region in a bid to reveal your abs doesn’t work – you must lose fat across your body (by doing 1-3 above) for your abs to begin to show.
5. Last but not least, do your best to make these (a good diet and a good workout routine) a lifelong habit. Belly fat doesn’t appear overnight. It takes a long time, probably years, to accumulate and so is the reverse. It’ll take time to lose it and keep it lost. This is the most important factor to consider as you continue on your journey to fitness and wellness.

 

Thank you for reading this far, and we hope you find this article helpful in your quest to become a fitter and healthier version of yourself. Remember to follow @naijafitfam on Instagram for more helpful content.