Skinny People & Toned Abs
Here's a less common problem: what do you do if you are slim, even skinny, but still don't have great abs? In a country full of overweight and obese people, you don't see this one so often, but it is still a real problem.
Just because you are slim or even downright scrawny, it doesn't mean that your abs are well toned or that you don't have a belly.
How Is This Possible?Think about how this can happen. You might have a very slight frame, making you look thin, even skinny. But that doesn't mean you are fit or toned or that you aren't carrying some extra fat.
When I think about this, I think of an extreme case I knew when I was working on the road crew during summer breaks from college. One of my co-workers was thin, even emaciated looking. He had a narrow frame and small weak muscles (he drove the equipment rather than handled a pick and shovel like I did). But...
...he had a major beer belly. Why? His nutrition was terrible (a pint of Jack Daniels and a six-pack of beer for dinner won't help you get the kind of six-pack abs we're looking for). He didn't get any real exercise. His genetics caused him to store all his excess fat around his belly. So if you ignored the waistline, the guy was skinny and looked like he didn't get enough food.
Now I don't mean to compare you to this guy, but the principles are the same: just because you are slim it doesn't mean you have great abs.
How Do I Fix This?
Fortunately, fixing this problem when you have a small build is little different than fixing it when you have a large build. You need to improve your nutrition, and start working out in ways that will build muscle and burn fat. Since you are inherently small of build, it is unlikely that you will pack on much muscle. But you will likely gain some, and the muscles you do have will become stronger and better toned.
As far as your weight goes, you may gain some, or you may lose some. But that doesn't really matters. What matters is that you are healthy and fit and finally get the great abs you are looking for.
For a complete fitness and nutrition program that will work for skinny folks as well as beefy ones, try
The Truth About SIX PACK ABS. The program's emphasis on highly-variable, high-intensity strength training workouts and short intense running activities like sprints and stair-climbing will do wonders for your fitness. When combined with the nutrition advice in the program, you will lose the gut too.