Fitness Instagrammer Gets Real About the Truth Behind Building Abs

With body insecurities rife among women, and Instagram feeds serving as a constant reminder of Kendall Jenner et al's washboard stomachs, it's not surprising that so many people dream of having abs.

The stomach is typically an area of sensitivity, so it often becomes the target of fitness plans. The problem is, progress can be slow, abs don't tend to quickly materialise, and it can leave people feeling disheartened, or like a failure.

If any of that sounds familiar, fitness Instagrammer Hannah Barry (@squattingsushi) has news for you: not everyone's body will develop abs in the same way, so stop beating yourself up about it.

In a recent post, Hannah decided to tackle the tricky issue for the benefit of her 65,000 followers. "First thing's first - everyone has abs," she wrote.

Reassuring her followers that they are no less of a person if they don't have protruding stomach muscles, Hannah pointed out that there are numerous reasons lots of women might not able to build or maintain a flush six-pack.

"How visible your abs are comes down to your body fat percentage, where you genetically store fat, and the thickness of your abdominal wall (also high waisted leggings, good lighting and a tan)," she added.

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HOW TO GET ABS ? First things first- everyone has abs. How visible your abs are comes down to your bodyfat percentage, where you genetically store fat & the thickness of your abdominal wall, (also high waisted leggings, good lighting and a tan??‍♀️). A lot of females will not be able to maintain a flush 6 pack for many reasons, the first being that they’d have to take & maintain their bodyfat at an unhealthy percentage; whilst everybody is comfortable at a different level, the female anatomy is naturally engineered to bear a child, and for that reason alone females require a higher bodyfat level than a male. let’s not forget your organs need protection too. Like any other muscle- you can build your abs to be “thicker” but again- this isn’t a matter of cutting carbs??‍♀️ this is a matter of consistent training and spending a long period of time in a caloric surplus with adequate macronutrients. Something to remember is EveryBODY is different- I’m a platinum card member of the itty bitty titty committee and Naturally I carry less fat above my waist. I also have taught myself a lot about nutrition and train very consistently. But if you ate how I ate everyday your results would not be the same as mine. (everyBODY is different and has different needs) Visible Abs are NOT the be all and end all- and for some are also genetically unhealthy. And if you really overthink it they just look like speed bumps on your belly?+?=?

A post shared by Hannah Barry (@squattingsushi) on Jun 21, 2019 at 5:02am PDT

Hannah herself has visible abs, but she's aware that's down to a combination of having a body that is genetically designed that way, and the fact that fitness and nutrition is a major part of her working life. That's not the same for everyone - and Hannah is also aware that there are other parts of her body she can't control in the same way because that's not the way she was made.

"Something to remember is EveryBODY is different," Hannah wrote in her post. "I’m a platinum card member of the itty bitty titty committee and naturally I carry less fat above my waist. I also have taught myself a lot about nutrition and train very consistently. But if you ate how I ate every day, your results would not be the same as mine," she pointed out.

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MONDAY FONDAY, have a fabulous day?got in a lovely little back session this morn; busy week ahead for me- hope you’re all well ?

A post shared by Hannah Barry (@squattingsushi) on Jun 24, 2019 at 5:28am PDT

Signing off, the fitness influencer reminded her followers: "Visible Abs are NOT the be all and end all... and for some [people they] are also genetically unhealthy."

If you're not genetically pre-disposed to have a six-pack, why put the pressure on yourself to do so? Next time you look in the mirror, try pointing out the things you really like about your body - just like these women - and see if you can perhaps reframe any negativity about your body image that way, instead.