Ask Rob
I was told that I need to first eliminate the fat covering my abs by diet and cardiovascular training before I could then try exercising them to see those muscles. Will training the abs just burn fat or it is only for growing ab muscles?
There is no reason why anyone cannot lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. With the appropriate program and right amount of training intensity, you can do both. Muscle is "fat burning" machinery. Therefore, it would make sense to do weight training first, followed by cardio.
The last thing you want is to exhaust your cardiovascular system by doing aerobic exercise first and not have enough energy afterwards to stimulate your "fat burning" machinery with the weights because you are too tired! Using weights will stimulate muscle and increase the body's ability to burn more energy after training.
"Spot reduction" is a myth. Thinking that a person will reduce his or her waist by doing tons of reps of ab exercises does not do it. It is a combination of better eating and knowing how to use ALL YOUR AVAILABLE energy in the gym. The abs are like any other muscle. Train them and they will grow.
If you are really not a fan of ab exercises, or are unable to do them such as having a poor back (often through bad posture), then do not worry. My motto is that abs are made in the kitchen, and as long as you have a low enough body fat percentage - your abs while shine through.
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