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There are problems with six-pack abs. Six-pack abs aren't for everyone. There are drawbacks to every new fad exercise and you may find six-pack abs are one of those exercises.

In order to get abdominal muscles like those in the magazine ads, you have to have a body fat ratio in the single digits. In order to keep that six-pack, you have to maintain the single digit body fat ratio. Getting and keeping body fat in the single digits can be a difficult, and unhealthy, task for some people. Some body types aren't destined to be weight lifters or body builders and others won't ever be good long distance runners or cyclists. If you have problems getting your body fat below 15% you may be the body type that will never have rippling abs, and you may be healthier for it. Everyone is different and so is our healthy body fat ratio for who we are. I'm definitely not advocating overweight as being healthy, but if you find you feel, or look, worse at 9% body fat than you do at 18%, go for 18.

Many who strive to have six-pack abs also have problems with constipation. If you tense the outer muscles of the abdomen you tense up the internal muscles, including the intestines, and keeping that six-pack look requires tension. When you exercise and strengthen the abdominal muscles you need to strengthen the lower back muscles as well. When the muscles in front are shortened, without balancing out the tension and strength of the muscles on the opposing side, the tendency is to begin collapsing the chest and lowering the sternum. That posture in turn restricts breathing and lessens lung capacity.

Being healthy involves more than looking good at the beach, true health is a lifelong pursuit.

More information on health can be accessed at http://www.larryRmiller.com Larry R. Miller has been a freelance writer since 1982. His main topics are health and fitness, travel, adventure and increasing fuel economy. He is a photographer, inventor, weekly newspaper columnist and international Internet marketer. Many of his published articles can be found by web searching Larry R. Miller. His middle initial is necessary, otherwise you'll get a car dealer in Utah.