How Long Does it Take to Get Abs

In this blog, we are going to answer a common question, how long does it take to get abs?

Face it, pretty much everyone would love to have a nice set of abs. People just like a nice six-pack. I mean, even a flat stomach would be nice for many people, right?

But, does everyone know what it takes to get nice abs? Are they willing to do what it takes to get a nice stomach and build a strong core?

So, How Long Does it Take To Get Abs?

As it turns out, getting abs isn’t about just doing one thing right. It’s about doing many things right. And it’s about doing those things consistently over time.

And so how long does it take to get abs? Well, that’s going to vary from person to person.

I mean, if you are 5’8 and weigh 300 pounds, it will probably take you a lot longer than the 150-pound man who is also 5’8.

Heck, if someone is 5’8 and 150 pounds, they might already have abs.

Let me also add, no matter what your circumstances may be, you can make progress with building your abs.

I’ve had three major surgeries on my stomach. Even with surgeries, I’ve still been able to build a stronger core. You can actually see my abs, although they’re not exactly perfect.

Below I’ll discuss a few things, that if a person does right, it can greatly decrease how long it takes them to get abs.

1. Work Your Abs Regularly, Duh!

Yes, unless you are blessed with some crazy superhero genetics, you’ll probably need to work out your abs regularly.

This is especially true if you want to get abs as fast as you possibly can. You need to strengthen and build your core.

Great workouts for abs include:

• Scissor kicks
• Crunches on the exercise ball
• Side to sides
• Knee ups
• Planks
• Other exercises that you find on YouTube that hurt really bad

Also, I have to mention the Ab Coaster. I use this thing at least four to five times a week.

It stabilizes your body and puts the focus on your abdominals and the rest of your core. It also does a great job of hitting your lower abs really well.

One cool thing about this machine is that it works for beginners just as well as it does for those who are more advanced.

This machine is friggin’ awesome. I highly recommend you trying one out at your gym, or even consider buying one to keep at the house.

Hey, another idea is to just go to the sporting goods store as needed and try one there.

2. Do More Cardio to Get Abs Faster

Okay, so certainly you didn’t think that getting great abs and a flatter stomach was just some magic did you?

You are really going to have to turn up your cardiovascular exercise a notch or two to get abs quickly. And if currently, you don’t even do cardio, start!

Increasing cardio can greatly impact how long it takes for you to get your abs as you want them.

So yeah, you can get abs without cardio, but it will be much harder and take much longer.

Walk on the treadmill, do the Stairmaster. Heck, just walk around outside a few times a week. Again, cardio will be a major factor in how long it takes you to get abs.

I get bored with the treadmill, so I do other things for cardio. I do boxing drills on the boxing bag, for example.

PRO TIP: If you get bored on the treadmill and Stairmaster like me, consider downloading Audible or listening to a podcast. It can really make the time pass by much faster.

How Long Should You Do Cardio to Get Abs?

First off, always check with your doctor before starting any workout routine and before making any diet changes. This is especially important if you are taking any medications or have any health conditions.

Okay, now that I’ve got my disclaimer out of the way, let me give you some info.

For your abs to be visible, you have to one, have your abdominal muscles and core built up. That muscle has to be there. This is why you should be doing the ab exercises mentioned above.

The other part of the equation is that you have to be lean.

Cardiovascular exercise is going to help you get lean. And basically, the more you put in, the better results you will see.

So if you want to get abs faster, I suggest putting in time in the cardio department.

I grew up around fitness nuts. Heck, I am still surrounded by fitness nuts.

The one thing I’ve always noticed is that when these people are their leanest, they are doing cardio at least four days a week at the gym if not more.

Some people go for 30 minutes per cardio session, and some people go as long as an hour per session.

The amount of time you put into your cardio is something you will have to gauge for yourself.

Also, the amount of time you put into your cardio can greatly impact how long it takes to get abs that are impressive and noticeable.

3. Clean Up Your Diet

Are you eating fast food? Are you eating processed food? Yuk! It’s okay, I cheat, too.

Oh, and stop. Because to answer the question, “how long does it take to get abs,” will be, “a long time,” if you always eat like crap.

In order to make those abs show, you must clean up your eating habits.

You are going to want to eat small meals every two to three hours during the day as well.

I personally suggest cutting your carbs in the evening. Yes, this means cutting the fruit in the evening also.

Just always remember, diet is a major piece of the puzzle in getting those abs to pop out. You can’t ignore eating right.

Even if you are going to the gym and doing knee-ups, scissor kicks, and a crap ton of other exercises for your core, you won’t get the results you want without cleaning up your diet.

You’ll want to increase your protein as you clean up your diet as well.

Actually, try to eat one gram of protein per pound of body weight each day. So if you weigh 150 pounds, get 150 grams of protein each day.

In short, that is roughly 30 grams of protein per each meal (five meals). This isn’t hard to do when you add in a couple of protein shakes.

Sample Meal Plan to Get Abs:

Meal 1 (Breakfast)
A small bowl of raw oatmeal, with blueberries
Boiled eggs
A protein shake (Protizyme protein powder)

Meal 2
A protein shake

Meal 3 (Lunch)
Salmon
Brown rice
Broccoli

Meal 4 (Afternoon snack)
A protein shake

Meal 5 (Dinner)
Baked chicken
Squash
Cottage cheese and blueberries

4. Drink Plenty of Water

As I talked about in my blog on how to make your stomach look flatter, drinking water can help tremendously with your core in many ways.

Drinking cold water can literally make your body burn extra calories.

Also, drinking water is great for overall gut health.

Water helps combat constipation, supports the mucosal lining of the intestines, and also helps preserve good bacteria that live in the gut.

5. Consistency is Key to Getting Those Abs

Every person I’ve ever known who has had success with fitness, or anything, including myself, has been consistent.

The people who want abs don’t really sit around and ask, how long does it take to get abs.? The people that want that awesome six-pack and tone core just put in the work. They do what it takes. Period.

They exercise their abs, do cardio, and eat right. And they do all of these things very consistently over a period of time.

Because let’s face it, just getting a good midsection isn’t something that just happens fast. It’s work. And how long it takes to get abs will totally depend on your circumstances and the time you put in.

Recap on Getting Abs

So how long does it take to get abs? Well, as you can see, it depends on several factors.

Getting great abs is something that can be achieved but depends a lot on the person and the choices they make.

The length of time it takes to get abs depends on a person’s consistency with their exercise routine, cardiovascular exercise, and, of course, their diet.

What are your thoughts? What else can help with achieving great abs? And, if you have abs, how long did it take you to get your abs?