Fitness Myth

Will exercises strictly focusing on my abs make them appear?

Perhaps the most common misconception in the fitness world is rational behind spot reduction. The idea that a person can reduce the fat specifically on one area of their body is completely baseless. One must understand how energy systems are utilized when doing certain exercises. When muscles do anaerobic movements (e.g.: crunch or biceps curl), they primarily utilize glycogen (carbohydrates) stored within the cell of the muscle that convert to ATP (Adenosine Tri-phosphate). This means there is minimal usage of fat altogether while doing these kinds of exercises. In other words, you’re burning no fat on the area you’re fatiguing.

In one study, for example, the circumferences and fat deposits in the arms of high-level tennis players were compared. The investigators proposed that if spot reduction worked, the playing arm of a tennis player should have considerably less fat than the inactive arm. This prediction, however, was not the case. Despite the fact that circumference measures in the playing arms of the athletes were greater due to more muscular development, skin fold thickness measures revealed no difference in fat deposition between the two arms.