Do girls need abs? Some consider such forms very attractive, others are of the opinion that the girl's tummy should be soft and slightly rounded. The press cubes for girls are a matter of taste and personal preference. However, before you start working on this detail of appearance, it does not hurt to familiarize yourself with an alternative point of view. Jennifer Dean, Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor, Expert in Nutrition, Weight Loss and Stress Management, explains why she prefers a well-trained core over abs.
Why is a strong core better than a pack of abs?
Jennifer Dean, despite the specifics of her job, does not believe that the press cubes are an indispensable element of an ideal body. Moreover, she believes that such beauty does more harm than good. And the trainer advises to focus on strengthening the muscles of the core, and here's why.
- The rectus abdominis is not as important for spinal support as the core muscles
The rectus abdominalis, which forms the press cubes, works during the swing of the press, twists, contracts, forcing the spine to bend. Thanks to this, the internal organs are held in place during coughing, childbirth, sports, etc. However, under the superficial abdominal muscles there are more important deep abdominal muscles - the core muscles:
- pelvic floor;
- diaphragm;
- transversus abdominis;
- internal and external obliques.
It is the core muscles that are responsible for protecting and stabilizing the spine, ensuring normal digestion, breathing and proper posture.
Neglecting core strengthening and focusing on six pack abs leads to muscle imbalances that can cause:
- pain in the neck;
- back pain;
- posture disorders;
- displacement of the small pelvis.
- Abs as a cause of diastasis
As a trainer, Jennifer Dean learned that women with abs are more likely to develop diastasis, a separation of the outer abdominal muscles.
Diastasis occurs when a thin piece of connective tissue between the two halves of the cubes weakens and stretches. This phenomenon is often observed during pregnancy and is explained by fetal pressure. In the absence of abs, diastasis is often mild and easily corrected.
However, the high-intensity abdominal contractions required for the appearance of six-pack abs result in separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. Diastasis is often the result of a weak core and pack abs and leads to back pain, lower back instability, digestive problems and hernias.
- Abs appear when there is very little fat in the body
The abs can be strong, but the abs appear when there is a very low level of body fat in the body, which can be called unhealthy. Therefore, the coach warns that girls in their 20s and 30s who work on six-pack abs often bring their body fat levels to a minimum, but if it drops below 17%, there is a risk of stopping menstruation and reproductive dysfunction.
A toned belly is beautiful, but do you need six pack abs so much that you are willing to risk your health for beautiful forms? Jennifer Dean considers such a sacrifice absolutely unnecessary, emphasizing that a person who is overly concerned about his appearance often suffers from depression, is not confident in himself and is ready for anything to achieve ideal forms. However, according to the coach, if you follow the right diet, be constantly active and maintain a good mood and positive attitude, you can look great without much effort and, moreover, feel amazing.
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