Abdominal exercises are great for developing the abdominal muscles.
They will sculpt and tone the muscles. However, if the stomach area is
covered with fat it will not matter, no one will see them. Contrary to
popular belief, or wishful thinking, spot reduction of fat stores is
not possible.
In order to lose fat over the stomach total body
fat stores must be reduced. If fat is lost over the entire body the
amount of fat covering the abdominal muscles will be reduced and they
will become more visible. This is where nutrition comes into play. Good
nutrition plays a vital role in fat loss.
Exercise is important
and will help to burn calories, but without quality nutrition it will
not be enough. The abs will develop under the fat and begin to take
shape, but will remain hidden unless the fat is removed. Good quality
protein will be important in the diet to ensure that the abdominal
muscles, along with other muscles, can repair and build properly.
Without protein, the muscles of the abdomen may actually shrink and
look even flabbier with the body fat cover over them.
Let us take
a look at the basics. In a very simplified look, if you have a
3500-calorie deficit (either by burning more or eating less) the body
will liberate one pound of fat from the fat stores to make up for this
deficit. There are certainly nutrient specific issues to look at and
certain vital metabolic processes within the body to consider. Meal
timing plays a role in this, as well.