# Easiest way to get abs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2016, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361 "2016-07-08T06:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/1 "2016-07-08T06:04:48Z")
Hi I was checking out this ad: [http://www.maxworkouts.com/lp/g-metabolism-mistakes-iso](http://www.maxworkouts.com/lp/g-metabolism-mistakes-iso) > [@](#): > > Mistake #2: Doing Crunches & Sit-Ups To Get Flat Abs > > …So even though you “feel the burn” when you do crunches and sit-ups, you’re actually putting unnecessary pressure on your back, causing much more harm than good. These ab-targeted exercises can cause lower back injuries by forcing your spine to flex too much, and they do very little to actually strengthen your abs… His program talks about doing full body exercises rather than isolating the muscles. Then I came across this guy - here he shows 7 ab exercises and none involve plain situps. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaEK2IZVb48&t=2m14s) BTW his “Fat Diminisher” system is crap. Anyone with abs have advice on how to get them? Do you use any equipment? Ideally I’d like a method that doesn’t require equipment. Well I do have a vibration machine that cost AU$550… :smack: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6NFaG_01zY&t=1m35s) In the past I’ve tried using it for 10 minutes while moving a 10 kg medicine ball around. That might be good for my “core” muscles. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/2 "2016-07-08T09:00:40Z")
As the saying goes, abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym. They’re simply the result of low body fat. ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/3 "2016-07-08T09:07:37Z")
Cardio. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/4 "2016-07-08T09:37:46Z")
By removing the negative. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/5 "2016-07-08T10:31:13Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > As the saying goes, abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym. They’re simply the result of low body fat. So you’re saying it is the diet? Btw apparently Hugh Jackman ate chicken, did leangains but also worked out. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/6 "2016-07-08T10:32:20Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > By removing the negative. I’m a programmer and I get it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/7 "2016-07-08T10:37:32Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Cardio. I know an obese woman that does Zumba, etc, and now is getting thin arms and legs bur her belly is still huge. ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/8 "2016-07-08T10:38:21Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > I know an obese woman that does Zumba, etc, and now is getting thin arms and legs bur her belly is still huge. Gut fat is the last to go. Do cardio. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/9 "2016-07-08T11:25:36Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Gut fat is the last to go. Do cardio. Losing fat doesn’t guarantee that there will be impressive ab muscles… e.g. [http://www.ivstatic.com/files/et/downloads/christain-bale-the-machinis.jpg](http://www.ivstatic.com/files/et/downloads/christain-bale-the-machinis.jpg) Here is Christian Bale again with some ab muscles: [http://www.musclemeasure.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/christian-bale.jpg](http://www.musclemeasure.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/christian-bale.jpg) I’m pretty sure that actors/models with impressive abs didn’t get them with cardio alone… ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/10 "2016-07-08T11:27:23Z")
> [@John Clay](#): > > Losing fat doesn’t guarantee that there will be impressive ab muscles… Quit making excuses. Do cardio. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/11 "2016-07-08T11:39:14Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Quit making excuses. Do cardio. In a similar way that that obese woman had thin arms and a big belly, here is a pic of Jeremy Clarkson with thin arms and pretty thin legs… [![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/06/00B1DA3B00000578-0-image-a-49_1417826395837.jpg) ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/12/06/00B1DA3B00000578-0-image-a-49_1417826395837.jpg) So if he wanted to get abs your sole advice would just be to do cardio? I wonder if his gut is from too much beer? Also in that first pic of Christian Bale he didn’t have any significant ab muscles… if I was in his shoes would you say to just keep doing cardio? No ab exercises or weights? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/12 "2016-07-08T11:42:23Z")
In addition to cardio and diet, I do tons of hanging abs - knees to chest, leg raises, windshield wipers, “Ls”, and weighted knee-ups on the dip machine. I also do inverted situps, bicycle crunches, and cable crunches. I’m not sure this is the “easiest” way, but it works for me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/13 "2016-07-08T11:43:00Z")
> [@Tithonus](#): > > Quit making excuses. Do cardio. You need both core work and cardio (and strength work and a good diet) in combination. Besides the fact that core work is highly beneficial in general, what is revealed by weight loss won’t be all that impressive. Those photos of Bale, he has 10-12% body fat, the one on the left is under that. That’s not easy for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/14 "2016-07-08T11:46:35Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > …Those photos of Bale, he has 10-12% body fat, the one on the left is under that. > That’s not easy for anyone. When he was 55 kg maybe he’s even less? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/15 "2016-07-08T11:51:39Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > Losing fat doesn’t guarantee that there will be impressive ab muscles… You know, you don’t show a history of doing anything but strenuously [arguing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=787736) with good advice. You’re doing it again in this thread. Why do you ask for advice if all you want to do is argue with it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/16 "2016-07-08T11:53:06Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > When he was 55 kg maybe he’s even less? Based on the photos, most likely. You _don’t_ want to go there. That is _not_ healthy. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/17 "2016-07-08T12:26:32Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You know, you don’t show a history of doing anything but strenuously [arguing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=787736) with good advice. You’re doing it again in this thread. Why do you ask for advice if all you want to do is argue with it? I am mainly arguing with ONE of the guys. I am saying that I think people require more than just cardio to get impressive ab muscles but Tithonus is saying that cardio alone is fine. You saying that is “good advice” means you agree with him. beowulff said: “In addition to cardio and diet, I do tons of hanging abs - knees to chest, leg raises, windshield wipers, “Ls”, and weighted knee-ups on the dip machine. I also do inverted situps, bicycle crunches, and cable crunches.” That is an example of one person’s advice that I liked and I didn’t argue with him. In that link you gave there was only one person replying. To answer your question: “Why do you ask for advice if all you want to do is argue with it?” If more than one person had gave advice in that thread I might have not argued with it. This “history” involving ONE mentioned thread where I disagree with ONE person isn’t much of a history. Well there are other examples of threads but my point is that I’m happy with a lot of the advice here. BTW I asked for advice from people with abs… I wonder if Tithonus has impressive abs even though he says cardio alone is enough. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/18 "2016-07-08T12:41:15Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > BTW I asked for advice from people with abs… I wonder if Tithonus has impressive abs even though he says cardio alone is enough. You need to stop focusing on good abs. Visible abs are the _result_ of a good diet and fitness routine, _not_ the goal. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/19 "2016-07-08T12:54:39Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > Well I do have a vibration machine that cost AU$550… :smack: > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6NFaG\_01zY&feature=youtu.be&t=1m35s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6NFaG_01zY&feature=youtu.be&t=1m35s) This is a joke, right? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361/20 "2016-07-08T13:01:23Z")
Weren’t you topic banned from this shit again? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easiest-way-to-get-abs/759361.md?page=2)