Why is there so few women with abs ?

[shou]

Hi,

Why is there so few women with abs definition (or furthermore six pack) ? It's a pity really since it's a very sexy asset on a nice woman !

[nakedbabytoes]

BF%.
women naturally have a higher BF%, and a naturally smaller muscle stature. These 2 things make it harder for us ladies to have defined abs. We can do it, but it's harder. Nature didn't intend for us to be the "hunter & gatherer" body(male), we are the "nurturer & child raiser" body(female).

[kait123]

It alllllll goes back to BF%.
Like the above said, women have more of it.

[shou]

It alllllll goes back to BF%.
Like the above said, women have more of it.

Congratulations for your very nice lean sexy figure !

[bethanyboo]

We have to get to a very low body fat percentage to get abs. For a lot of us, such a low body fat percentage is just not healthy or maintainable.

Personally I prefer a softer, curvier look anyway. I look sickly when I get too skinny.

[born2dothis]

We have to get to a very low body fat percentage to get abs. For a lot of us, such a low body fat percentage is just not healthy or maintainable.

Personally I prefer a softer, curvier look anyway. I look sickly when I get too skinny.

it is hard, it means you literally have to stick to your diet 98% or better, which everyone aspires too, and I personally have times where I do better than others, but with my lifestyle sometimes bad food happens lol, just the way it is.

I think striving for it is whats important though, and also i will add that after having a baby excess skin can stop you from seeing them too, just a thought for the OP.

[kait123]

Congratulations for your very nice lean sexy figure !

Thankyou. I put a lot of work into it! It isn't easy.

[shou]

Thankyou. I put a lot of work into it! It isn't easy.

Your hard work is clearly giving its fruits !

Congratulations again (and you are not very far from the six pack!)

[freebirdmac]

Women??? Where are all of the men with 6-packs that aren't bottles filled with alcohol? Or even 4-packs?

[juliacheh]

Your hard work is clearly giving its fruits !

Congratulations again (and you are not very far from the six pack!)

What's with that obsession with a sixpack?
Some us have to be at 14% bf to get it, not very healthy and hardly maintainable.
Learn smth about female physiology before posting nonsense.

[Snowgrrl83]

Not just that, but I've heard some men (and women) say that abs on a woman is not sexy and is "manly".
Personally, I have an easier time than most getting abs (not sure why, genetics or the sports that I've been doing for years?!) but I love my abs!

Some super skinny girls don't even get them, so it really depends on how your body distributes your fat and of course this may be dependant on genetics. As mentioned above, some women need 14% or less BF to get abs which is difficult to sustain in the long run....while others will have ab seperation at 19%+. If you have a hard time getting abs, diet is probably key to improving.

Meanwhile, you can also be anorexic and not have abs (see runway models). That's probably because they don't do any strength exercise and simply diet (and don't add very much protein!). They therefore lose all their muscle and only have layers of fat with whatever is left. Most Marathon runners have abs, and they don't do a whole lot of lifting.

[shou]

Women??? Where are all of the men with 6-packs that aren't bottles filled with alcohol? Or even 4-packs?

I was not saying that 90% (and i include myself in this 90%lol) of men got a six pack lol...

Just wanted to say that this rare asset for men is even rarer for women.

[freebirdmac]

I was not saying that 90% (and i include myself in this 90%lol) of men got a six pack lol...

Just wanted to say that this rare asset for men is even rarer for women.

I know, just being fair

It is tougher because of bf%. Women have to be very careful that they don't get so caught up in seeing abs that they end up at less than healthy bf%. We have more than a few on this site. And they think they are healthy. They get kudos and compliments. They drive even more women to what can easily be an unhealthy goal.

[SuperRichCoco]

I know, just being fair

It is tougher because of bf%. Women have to be very careful that they don't get so caught up in seeing abs that they end up at less than healthy bf%. We have more than a few on this site. And they think they are healthy. They get kudos and compliments. They drive even more women to what can easily be an unhealthy goal.

Hmm interesting point. As a person who has a goal of obtaining a more defined ab area (more defined than it is now and not necessarily a full on six pack), your comments make sense. We should set realistic goals as it relates to our individual body. I'm not going to stop working at it but now that I understand the whole concept of bf% better I won't be as hard on myself about it.

[t.willou]

Physiologically women aren't meant to have that low of BF%. Even at 14%, I didn't have visible abs. Getting that low in BF is insanely tough, even tougher to stay there, and immensely hard on the body.

Women
Age Underfat Healthy Overweight Obese
20-40 yrs Under 21% 21-33% 33-39% Over 39%
41-60 yrs Under 23% 23-35% 35-40% Over 40%
61-79 yrs Under 24% 24-36% 36-42% Over 42%

Men
Age Underfat Healthy Overweight Obese
20-40 yrs Under 8% 8-19% 19-25% Over 25%
41-60 yrs Under 11% 11-22% 22-27% Over 27%
61-79 yrs Under 13% 13-25% 25-30% Over 30%

Look at the chart. Visible abs come at ~10%BF.... Obviously if it was easy to do, more women would have those visible abs.

(I got the chart offline.. dont hate if you think it's off. I looked at couple different ones and the numbers seemed to be similar.)

[jagadzie]

lot of it has to do with genetics too. i do no direct ab work but when lean, can make out my abdominal muscles. i do not diet hard, i do not work abs intentionally, just do mostly compound exercises and then there they are. just some luck.
now calves on the other hand... they refuse to ever grow... also taking up genetics on that one.

[discdoggie]

Look at the chart. Visible abs come at ~10%BF.... Obviously if it was easy to do, more women would have those visible abs.

.)

Not if one is pear-shaped. I can---and have before---show a very sharp and chisled mid-sction at 20% (or more!) and have cellulite on my ass and legs.

[ananf72]

lot of it has to do with genetics too. i do no direct ab work but when lean, can make out my abdominal muscles. i do not diet hard, i do not work abs intentionally, just do mostly compound exercises and then there they are. just some luck.
now calves on the other hand... they refuse to ever grow... also taking up genetics on that one.

Ha! Same here. Right now my abs are hiding under baby #4 fat but normally they are my best feature. I'm sure they were inherited. And my terrible calves refuse to grow also. And I have a fetish for nice calves. Guess you win some, you lose some.

[litttlemiss]

We have to get to a very low body fat percentage to get abs. For a lot of us, such a low body fat percentage is just not healthy or maintainable.

Personally I prefer a softer, curvier look anyway. I look sickly when I get too skinny.

i think it can be healthy for some women and natural when i was at my healthiest i wasn't working on abs at all but i had a six pack and had one as a kid and kinda have one now

genetics are import also i think most womens goals is not a six pack like you said softer tends to be more sexually attractive because its more feminine, super strong and muscular tends to look masculine

[MrB1g]

Women??? Where are all of the men with 6-packs that aren't bottles filled with alcohol? Or even 4-packs?

Oh hello there.

[grace_ou]

... , super strong and muscular tends to look masculine

This makes me want to rage every time I see it! I so disagree. The only women I know that look are strong, muscular AND LOOK MASCULINE are women that are not only using gear but using alot of it. Being muscular and strong does not make you look masculine. Hell using gear correctly want even do it. It's the women who abuse it IMO that end up looking masculine.



This is a body building site we strive for strong and muscular. I don't think it makes masculine.

[kimm4]

This makes me want to rage every time I see it! I so disagree. The only women I know that look are strong, muscular AND LOOK MASCULINE are women that are not only using gear but using alot of it. Being muscular and strong does not make you look masculine. Hell using gear correctly want even do it. It's the women who abuse it IMO that end up looking masculine.



This is a body building site we strive for strong and muscular. I don't think it makes masculine.

Thank you for saying this.

I read the post earlier, bit my tongue and moved on...

[xraychick]

This makes me want to rage every time I see it! I so disagree. The only women I know that look are strong, muscular AND LOOK MASCULINE are women that are not only using gear but using alot of it. Being muscular and strong does not make you look masculine. Hell using gear correctly want even do it. It's the women who abuse it IMO that end up looking masculine.



This is a body building site we strive for strong and muscular. I don't think it makes masculine.

i workout for me..not to satisfiy someone elses view of what i should or shouldnt look like.

[ShortNflexible]

I've never had abs! this sounds horrible, but everytime I get close to visible abs my boobs have gotten so small that I don't want to stay at that low of a bodyfat.

[freebirdmac]

i think it can be healthy for some women and natural when i was at my healthiest i wasn't working on abs at all but i had a six pack and had one as a kid and kinda have one now

genetics are import also i think most womens goals is not a six pack like you said softer tends to be more sexually attractive because its more feminine, super strong and muscular tends to look masculine

You're my height 110# and 19 years old. You certainly don't have to worry about being muscular and masculine. Skinny-fat is your concern.

Oh hello there.

Hi!!! Now let's see if you can keep those abs over the next 40 years

In real life there aren't a whole lot of people of both genders with abs after 30

[MrB1g]

Hi!!! Now let's see if you can keep those abs over the next 40 years

In real life there aren't a whole lot of people of both genders with abs after 30

[Doc.Happy]

Not if one is pear-shaped. I can---and have before---show a very sharp and chisled mid-sction at 20% (or more!) and have cellulite on my ass and legs.

this is very true. i was at 30% bodyfat and still had abs showing. carry most of my weight on my ass! abs have always been easy for me regardless of my % bf and i have 2 children age 5 and 6. i think like anything to do with the body, a good percent is genetics. that being said i have always worked my abs, even when i wasnt into working out! so i had a good base start. i work my abs everyday and have no problem with them showing and being hard and having a 6 pack!

[Doc.Happy]

This makes me want to rage every time I see it! I so disagree. The only women I know that look are strong, muscular AND LOOK MASCULINE are women that are not only using gear but using alot of it. Being muscular and strong does not make you look masculine. Hell using gear correctly want even do it. It's the women who abuse it IMO that end up looking masculine.



This is a body building site we strive for strong and muscular. I don't think it makes masculine.

X2

i have been back in the gym for a year and a half. i lift heavy and i still wear the same size pant at 15% bf as i did when i was 30% bf. everything is just changing places. i dont think i look masculine at all. muscles are beautiful and sexy on women!

[iPoopWhey]

Women with abs are gross, so that's why women don't get abs

[juliacheh]

super strong and muscular tends to look masculine

Are you sure you are on the right web-site?