Crafting a killer six-pack takes weeks, sometimes months, of hard work and dedication to your training, eating, and sleep. If you’ve been hitting the gym, maintaining a caloric deficit, and hitting all your other checkmarks but still not seeing the midsection of your dreams it’s probably because of one problem area and one very popular question: How do you reveal your lower abs.
For whatever reason, it always seems like the hardest part to lean out is your lower abs. But you can’t call it a complete six-pack and reveal your lower abs by using the same exercises as before or just cranking up your cardio. You need a different approach.
Here, we focus on different training patterns and eating rules you should follow to complete the six-pack. On the latter, it’s vital you’re eating the right amount of calories. You can do crunches until the cows come home but if your gut is covered by a layer of fat (no matter how small it may be) you’re never going to impress the ladies.
You’ll never see your lower abs if you’re carrying too much body fat. Your mid-section will always be hidden behind a layer of fat, regardless of how many core exercises you do. To truly get that V-line to show, you need to get lean.
The best way to drop fat is to create a caloric deficit: eat fewer calories than you burn per day. Use a food journal for just a few days to track exactly how many calories you’re consuming. Then, reduce your caloric intake by 500 calories per day — that should be enough to boost your fat loss and melt the fat around your mid-section (and everywhere else, too). Every two to three weeks, measure your body fat to make sure you’re moving the right direction.
2 of 4
gradyreese / Getty
Boost Your Testosterone With Heavy, Compound Exercises
Research suggests that a disproportionate amount of body fat around your lower abdomen could be related to low testosterone levels. But to boost your body’s natural testosterone production, bicep curls and calf raises won’t cut it; you need heavy, total-body lifts to stimulate a lot of muscle growth and unleash a massive hormonal response. Heavy strength exercises also speed up your fat loss, which will reveal your lower abs faster.
Fill your workout with lots of heavy squats, deadlifts, lunges, barbell presses (bench or military), and heavy rows. Target between 4-8 repetitions for 3-5 sets and go as heavy as you can while using flawless form.
3 of 4
JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty
Limit Your Carbs to Workout Days Only
Starchy carbohydrates like rice and potatoes can actually be great when leaning out — if you eat them at the right times, that is. By saving your carbs for the days you hammer your muscles with heavy, complex exercises, you’ll ensure that your body is using that energy specifically for recovery and muscle growth.
Completely eliminating carbs from your diet, however, will work against you. Carbs give you the fuel you need to build muscle, melt fat, and target your abs; without it, your performance in the gym will suffer.
Â
4 of 4
gilaxia
Do The Right Core Exercises
To get serious definition at your lower abs, you still need direct ab exercises. But not every core exercise emphasizes your lower abs — some focus on your obliques while others isolate just the top part.
