Having a nice set of abs will undoubtedly look good on the beach and bring out the best in your wardrobe. However that's not the only reason why doctors and fitness trainers look favorably on people who pursue this goal. People with flat stomachs are described as having 'six pack abs' which is a reference to their visible abdominal muscles. Aside from the visual appeal, there are several other benefits to having six pack abs.
Improved Balance
Having six pack abs is a great way of improving your stability and balance. That's because ab exercises improve the strength of the muscles in your lower back, hips abdomen and pelvis. It also improves the harmony of the way they work making your motions more fluid. It is a major reason why most athletes spend so much time building their stomach.
Sharper Metabolism
Simply having six pack abs will do wonders to your metabolism. Muscles burn fat by just being there. You'll therefore be able to elevate your body's BMR (Basal Metabolic rate) by building your stomach muscles. This will increase the amount of fat that you burn during the day making it harder for you to store bad fat.
Improved Health
Your abs will only become visible when your body fat percentage is lower than 20 percent. That's a good thing. With lowered body fat, you'll be less likely to suffer from conditions linked with obesity. Low fat percentages will keep your cholesterol level and blood pressure level fairly low. You'll also be less prone to depression or suffer from heart disease.
Elevated Confidence
There is nothing like looking good and knowing it. Having a nice set of abs will do wonders to your confidence and self esteem. Dr. Kirschenbaum of Northwestern University Medical School cites a recent study, at time of publication, that revealed children battling with obesity suffered from low self esteem. Most people appreciate the amount of effort that it takes to get a taunt stomach line. You'll be able to benefit from the goodwill of the people you meet. The admiring glances will definitely not hurt as well.
References
- MayoClinic.com: 7 Reasons to Exercise Your Core Muscles
- One India Living: Six Pack Abs Benefits to Health
- ABC News: The Abs Diet
- MayoClinic.com:Obesity Complications
- MyOverweightChild.com; Effect of Obesity or Being Overweight on Self-Esteem - Do Overweight Children Have Lower Self-Esteem Than Non-Overweight Children; Daniel S. Kirschenbaum,
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