How Long Does It Take to Get 6-Pack Abs? (2024)

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    • 6 steps to getting a 6-pack
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How Long Does It Take to Get 6-Pack Abs? (1)

The key to getting six-pack abs is to burn abdominal body fat

If getting a chiseled, well-defined abdomen is one of your goals, you may be wondering how long it takes to get that coveted six-pack. But the truth is, it will probably take longer than you think. So be patient.

The key to getting six-pack abs is to burn the subcutaneous abdominal fat that sits between your ab muscles and the skin. Depending on your current body weight, genetics and approaches to nutrition and exercise, burning that fat may take 6 months or more than 1-2 years even if you follow a strict diet and exercise routine.

Most people need to lose at least 50% of their body fat for their abs to be visible. And fitness experts report that 1% of body fat loss per month is both safe and attainable. Given these numbers, getting six-pack abs may take:

  • 20-26 months for the average woman
  • 15-21 months for the average man

According to some studies, 12 weeks of strength training together with aerobic exercise may be more efficient at reducing body fat than aerobic exercise alone.

While getting a six-pack is definitely not easy, it’s a huge achievement that can have a positive impact on both your health and other aspects of your life.

6 steps to getting a 6-pack

1. Start exercising

If you have excess fat and you want a six-pack, your first step is to get your body mass index down to the level where your abdominal muscles can be visible.

  • Start by doing 15 minutes of intense exercise after work.
  • Harness the power of habit. If you can keep up the discipline, you will start to notice changes that set off a chain reaction of new habits and new wins.

2. Strengthen your core muscles

To be able to work on your core, you need to do exercises targeted towards strengthening your abs and back.

  • Planks are a good whole body workout that strengthens both your core and back muscles.
  • Reverse crunches work your lower abs and bicycling works your side abs. Just make sure to work on both sides evenly.

3. Try weight training

Getting a six-pack means you have to work on the rest of your body too. Working with weights helps strengthen your muscles and increase your stamina and ability to exercise more intensely.

4. Do cardio every day

Cardio is the fastest way to lose fat. You can swim, cycle, play a sport you like or just get on the treadmill.

Many fitness trainers believe that high-intensity interval (HIIT) cardio training is most effective and shedding weight quickly. This type of workout is where you exercise intensely for 30 seconds, take a break then repeat 8-9 times. HIIT workouts may make sense for you if you don’t have a lot of time to exercise every day and need something quick and effective.

5. Change your diet

While a good workout routine will help tone your body, a healthy diet will help to drop unwanted weight. Both are equally important to get the desired results.

  • Stay away from white carbs. Try brown carbs, such as brown rice, quinoa and whole wheat bread. Eat more natural goods instead of processed ones.
  • Since you are cutting down on your carb intake, you need to substitute it with proteins.Your body burns more calories while breaking down proteins than it does to break down carbs and fats. Try to keep your protein intake in check by including whole eggs, Greek yogurt, peanuts, Parmesan, pumpkin seeds, etc. preferably in your breakfast meal plan.
  • Incorporate fats, such as olive oil, coconut oil, fish oils, nuts and avocado. These items help reduce inflammation in the body and improve brain and eye functions.
  • Eat at regular intervals and don’t be worried about eating so often. This will keep your metabolism busy. Take small portions of healthy snacks and you’ll be good.

6. Drink water

Water boosts your metabolism, cleanses your body of unwanted toxins and suppresses your food cravings. Drinking cold water is often recommended because your body works harder to warm the water up, which results in burning more calories. It may even reduce your intake of processed drinks and juices.

SLIDESHOW Pictures of the 7 Most Effective Exercises to Do at the Gym or Home (and Tips to Improve Form) See Slideshow

References

Better Health. Abdominal Muscles. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/abdominal-muscles

Sarnataro BR. Striving for Six-Pack Abs. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/six-pack-abs#1

How Long Does It Take to Get 6-Pack Abs? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Get 6-Pack Abs? ›

According to them, if you lose an ideal amount of body fat in a month and aren't extremely overweight, then you'll see those abdominal muscles in: Women: Between 20 months and 26 months. Men: Between 15 months and 21 months.

How fast can you get 6 pack abs? ›

And fitness experts report that 1% of body fat loss per month is both safe and attainable. Given these numbers, getting six-pack abs may take: 20-26 months for the average woman. 15-21 months for the average man.

Is it possible to get abs in 30 days? ›

No, you aren't likely to get abs in 30 days. Here's how long it actually takes.

Can I get abs in 3 months? ›

Between 20-25% Body Fat: 3 to 6 months to see your abs. If you fall within this range, you can achieve abs in a matter of months. But keeping your results around will require a positive mindset and bulletproof routines that you can stick with for years to come.

Can you get abs in 2 weeks? ›

Can I really get abs in two weeks? It depends on a number of factors. The leaner you start out this challenge the higher the chances you'll be able to see strong definition in the ab area. Most people won't get the shredded defined abs look in 2 weeks, but this does not mean you won't develop your ab muscles.

What does 15% BF look like? ›

At this level , you can expect to see defined muscle definition and a lean appearance . For men , this may look like a visible six - pack and well - defined chest , shoulders , and arms . For women , 15 percent body fat may result in a toned midsection , defined arms and legs , and a slim waistline .

How long do abs take to show? ›

The American Council on Exercise says a 1 percent body fat loss per month is safe and achievable. Given that math, it could take a woman with average body fat about 20 to 26 months to achieve the appropriate amount of fat loss for six-pack abs. The average man would need about 15 to 21 months.

How to get abs quickly? ›

8 Exercises for Abs: The Pros Share Their Favorites
  1. Crunch. "The ab exercise that all other ab exercises are measured against is the simple crunch," Weil says. ...
  2. The plank. ...
  3. Bicycle maneuver. ...
  4. Captain's chair. ...
  5. Back extensions. ...
  6. Crunches on an exercise ball. ...
  7. Vertical leg crunches. ...
  8. Reverse crunches.
Feb 5, 2013

Can I get abs in 20 days? ›

Honestly, guys if you have a long term goal then you should do a six-pack abs at home, because 20 days is just impossible to have a proper six pack abs in 20 days and the most important thing is that you should be consistent about your work and fitness.

Are abs worth it? ›

And chasing a six-pack for aesthetic reasons can actually be unhealthy. “Six-packs are proof that you have a very low body fat percentage, but that may mean you're sacrificing nutrition and not getting the most out of your training sessions,” Dickerson adds.

Is it OK to train abs 3 times a week? ›

If you want to focus on additional core work, consider adding up to three ab workouts per week. Doing ab and core exercises can help prevent injury, improve performance, and tone your midsection.

Is a 10 minute ab workout enough? ›

There's a reason there are so many 10-minute abs workouts out there: You can get in a really good abs workout in just 10 minutes. It might not seem like a sufficient length of time, but if you've ever done a short but intense abs workout, you know that it is. (Even an abs workout as short as 4 minutes can be killer.)

Should I train abs every 2 days? ›

Can I do Ab Exercises Every Day? Strength exercises are recommended every other day, with at least one recovery day in between. Here's why – muscles need recovery time. This recovery time is when the benefits occur.

Is 2 days enough for abs? ›

It takes anywhere from three to 12 weeks for new muscle to develop. Healthy (and sustainable) fat loss means losing only one to two pounds per week. Achieving visible abs is no different.

Can you get 6-pack abs in a month? ›

Although possible, achieving six-pack abs in 30 days is simply not doable for the vast majority of people. One of the most typical workout goals is to get abs in 30 days. Although it is theoretically possible, it is just not doable for the vast majority of people, especially those who are new to fitness.

Is it possible to get abs in 6 weeks? ›

With a proper diet and exercise routine, plus the right supplements, you can get the 6-pack abs you've been dreaming of in 6 weeks or less. Just remember to take it slow, give yourself plenty of rest, and follow a balanced diet that works for you.

Is it possible to get a six-pack in 60 days? ›

Getting a six-pack might seem like a daunting process, but with the right diet and workout routine, you may be able to get one in a month. The key is doing exercises that work out your abs and core, as well as reducing the amount of body fat you carry around your core as much as possible.

Is it possible to get a six-pack in 90 days? ›

It is possible to see significant improvements in abdominal muscle definition in 90 days with consistent exercise and proper nutrition. However, whether or not someone can achieve a “six-pack” in that time frame will depend on a variety of factors such as starting body fat percentage and genetics.

References

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