I was recently interviewed by a fitness professional from NYC, Certified Personal Trainer, Geovanni Derice. In the interview I revealed some of the best secrets for getting a flat, lean stomach.
GD: Welcome Mike to our 4-ever-Toned Fitness Journal. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about what you do.
MG: Thanks for having me, Geo. I’ve been in the sports and fitness field for 17 years now, when I started weight training as a teenager. I immediately became addicted.
In my early 20’s, I decided that I wanted to help other people achieve the benefits that I saw in a better body, improved health and tuning my body to fight diseases. I also wanted to show them that exercising can be fun. I eventually expanded my passion to trying to influence people around the world to live a better life.
GD: Well Mike, what would you say are the top three things to get great abs?
MG: The most important thing is to have a healthy diet to eliminate the fat that is hiding those great abs. The problem is, people have been overwhelmed with different diets telling them what is good and what is bad.
The second most important thing is to exercise with intensity. Focus on the whole body, not just parts of it, to really maximize your fat burning machine.
And of course, you must train your abs. In order to get great definition, you have to do exercises that provide resistance. Most of the traditional drills people use, like crunches and sit-ups, actually provide the least amount of resistance.
One of the best exercises for the abs is the hanging leg raise. These will give you the best results if done correctly. In my book, I show you how to do them the right way, which may be difficult at first.
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GD: What’s the biggest mistake people make in their ab exercises?
MG: This is going to sound weird, but the biggest mistake is spending too much times working your abs. Seeing the six pack involves decreasing body fat. To do this, you have to get the highest fat burn from your workout. That only comes from exercising the largest muscle groups the most often.
GD: What exercises give the most ab definition?
MG: Again, I recommend hanging leg raises and some particular floor exercises. But remember, the best way to define the midsection is to lose body fat everywhere. In my book, I highlight some excellent multi-muscle drills that will really make those abs pop out.
GD: What is your top recommendation for a fat burning diet?
MG: First, keep it as natural as possible. Processed foods will kill a healthy diet every time and will slow down the fat burning process. Incorporate whole grains and natural sources of sugar.
Avoid the fad diets that restrict certain macronutrients and focus instead on a properly balanced, healthy diet all around.
