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by Gerry Marsh

Men and women with all sizes of waists constantly search the web for the magic to get rid of stubborn belly fat. Fitness forums are bombarded with the questions and the replies. The answer most often given is to get a particular ab exercise routine or apparatus and burn it off. Unfortunately, the magic routine or apparatus often recommended more often than not simply doesn’t work.

If all of the magic actually worked, why would so many people still be seeking the elusive elixir? Let’s face it, the models you see posing attractively while using the equipment and demonstrating the routine did not get those six-pack abs and sculpted bodies from using the equipment. The models were chosen because they already had six-pack abs.

So how did they get those sexy stomachs? For sure it is not from abs exercise alone. Even if exercise by itself was enough, the exercises most people are looking for are not the correct types to help lose that stubborn belly fat. Besides which, there simply is no combination of abs exercises or complete workouts that will melt off that belly fat.

Ab workouts are good. They just do not burn fat. The purpose of abs exercises is to tone and strengthen the abdominal muscles. The abs are already there under the fat but if you want to see them you need to work on getting a full body workout. This jump starts the metabolic rate and increases the fat burning potential of your system.

Many authorities stress cardio routines to gain this, but again, cardio alone is not the answer. What it takes is a complete, rounded program that works all of your lean muscle tissue with resistance training and multi-joint high intensity exercises.

The real secret to melting that extra belly fat that hides the abdominals is consistent total body, high intensity routines combined with a healthy, nutrient rich balanced diet. Ab workouts by themselves even if they include specific ab exercises like crunches and leg raises will never burn off your belly fat.

In spite of this, the majority of people trying to lose their gut still continue with their daily ab workouts using hundreds of reps. And the internet is full of people still handing out this bogus advice in fitness forums. But it does not work! The “experts” did not get six-pack abs that way and neither will you.

I am not saying that you should ignore ab routines. Abdominal exercises are important. You need them to strengthen and tone the abdominal muscles and they are a major aid to your back. But you need to mix them into a complete exercise routine to enjoy their full benefit. The fact is that abdominal exercises are not structured to melt the fat and they never will.

The most important factors for weight loss in general and belly fat loss in particular are a full body resistance workouts and a healthy, balanced diet. Full body exercises will also work the abs and core muscles and melt the belly fat so you can see that six-pack of abs that you already have buried in there.

About the Author:
Lose that stomach and discover your six-pack when you grab your FREE copy of Training & Nutrition Insider Secrets on the authors’ blog. Secrets to ripped six-pack abs, dumping the belly fat and many other weight loss and fitness tips are revealed.