Do women have less abs than men?
A dear friend of mine, young mother with two kids, said that women have less abs than men… and that got me thinking, how many women out there actually believe this to be true? So, I decided to shed some light on the subject and hopefully you will find it informative.
Let me start by answering the question and the answer is… False! Both men and women have the same abdominal muscles, which are the rectus abdominis (the "six-pack" muscles), the transverse abdominis, the internal and external obliques.
You can see that women have the potential for 4, 6, 8 and sometimes even 10 pack abs. Below the belly button can sometimes have another division creating that extra tier of abs.
Take this article from Women’s Health for example. (click the image) https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19909906/what-it-takes-to-get-a-six-pack/
They touch on a lot of good points and tips to help you sculpt that 6-pack abs. Cardio, Hiit training, protein, etc.…
I would add that proper nutrition and weight loss will help greatly. Between men and women the main difference lies in the distribution of body fat, hormones, and muscle mass. Men generally have less body fat and higher levels of testosterone, which can make their abdominal muscles more visible. However, the number and structure of the abdominal muscles are the same in both sexes.
Here are some effective exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles:
Plank
Start in a push-up position, but rest on your forearms instead of hands. Keep your body in a straight line from head to heels.
Engage your core by tightening your abdominal muscles. Hold this position for 30-60 seconds.
This works the rectus abdominis (six-pack muscles) as well as the obliques and transverse abdominis.
Crunches
Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Place hands behind your head.
Engage your abs and curl your shoulders up off the floor, exhaling as you contract.
Lower back down with control, inhaling as you return to the start.
Leg Raises
Lie flat on the floor with legs straight out. Engage your abs by pressing your lower back into the floor.
Keeping legs straight, raise them up towards the ceiling as high as you can by contracting your abs.
Lower back down with control.
Twists
Sit on the floor with knees bent and feet lifted. Lean your torso back about 45 degrees.
Twist your torso to the right, bringing your left arm across your body, then twist to the left.
This works the obliques as well as the rectus abdominis.
Mountain Climbers
Start in a high plank position. Bring one knee towards your chest, then quickly switch legs.
Keep your abs braced and move in a running motion, driving your knees up powerfully.
This dynamic exercise challenges the entire core.
Performing a variety of these exercises that target the upper, lower and oblique abdominal muscles will lead to a stronger, more defined abs.
