Hey, I've been hitting the gym for about 9 weeks now and i've put on about 12/13lbs of muscle (144 to 156/7, at one point I was even 162 but I took a week or two off and went off the creatine). Anyway, Im not sure of my exact body fat percentage, I believe somewhere around 11-12%. I'm still looking to put on more weight but at the same time I would like to cut the small ammount of fat on my abbs, mostly right in the bellybutton area. This is the only area I really notice any fat and honestly its a rather small ammount.

Will an increase in ab exercises pretty much take care of this? Currently I'm not doing hardly any ab workouts, just leg lifts on leg days of my 3 day split (Pull, Push, Legs) and I usually go in for cardio 1 or 2 times a week as well.

You can't "cut" body fat in any one spot on your body. As you decrease your body fat, you will lose fat throughout your body.

Now if you add in calisthenics, you can tone up what you already have. You know what the next step is, add in an ab routine, and you will see your abs tone up in no time.

Yeah I have heard about the no spot reduction fat on here many a time, I guess I just need to cut a bit of fat. I've heard from some that a specific ab routine was not needed just because that abs get worked on other exercises already but I guess thats not entirely true.

I'm not an expert...

But, you need to re-examine your goals.

If you want to have a six pack, then cut. If you want to add more muscle, then bulk. You can't do both, so take your pick.

Hey, I've been hitting the gym for about 9 weeks now and i've put on about 12/13lbs of muscle (144 to 156/7, at one point I was even 162 but I took a week or two off and went off the creatine). Anyway, Im not sure of my exact body fat percentage, I believe somewhere around 11-12%. I'm still looking to put on more weight but at the same time I would like to cut the small ammount of fat on my abbs, mostly right in the bellybutton area. This is the only area I really notice any fat and honestly its a rather small ammount.

Will an increase in ab exercises pretty much take care of this? Currently I'm not doing hardly any ab workouts, just leg lifts on leg days of my 3 day split (Pull, Push, Legs) and I usually go in for cardio 1 or 2 times a week as well.
Working your abs will push them, and the fat out further. May not be a bad thing. When you finally reduce the fat, you’ll be better able to SEE your abs if there’s something there under the fat.

Assuming your on-creatine weight of 162, from 144 that’s 18lbs in 9 weeks. 2lbs/week is a pretty fast pace for a bulk. I’d say you’re likely to continue adding fat to your frame with that speed. I assume you’ve got a big calorie surplus that’s fueling that mass increase. Better double-check that, you might be able to bulk slower on a slightly smaller calorie surplus, and not add as much fat on top of your abs.

Of course you could always forus on bulking now, not worry about the abs, and cut the fat when you're finished bulking.

I'm not an expert...

But, you need to re-examine your goals.

If you want to have a six pack, then cut. If you want to add more muscle, then bulk. You can't do both, so take your pick.

yep...

you can actually bulk and keep lean, but lemme tell you, the process is so slow, it's actually a waste of time to do it this way. just bulk, don't worry about the abs, and cut when you feel you're ready to, and the improvements will be much faster than a slow bulk while trying to keep cut.

Working your abs will push them, and the fat out further. May not be a bad thing. When you finally reduce the fat, you’ll be better able to SEE your abs if there’s something there under the fat.

Assuming your on-creatine weight of 162, from 144 that’s 18lbs in 9 weeks. 2lbs/week is a pretty fast pace for a bulk. I’d say you’re likely to continue adding fat to your frame with that speed. I assume you’ve got a big calorie surplus that’s fueling that mass increase. Better double-check that, you might be able to bulk slower on a slightly smaller calorie surplus, and not add as much fat on top of your abs.

Of course you could always forus on bulking now, not worry about the abs, and cut the fat when you're finished bulking.

Well the thing is its not actually much fat, when I'm standing up or sitting down and leaning back you can definetely see my abs. I was on creatine when I was at 162 but then I dropped down to 156 after I went off it, I guess I just lost a bunch of water weight.

Also, the funny thing is I'm really not eating that much but in comparison compared to what I used to eat (next to nothing) it does seem like a lot. I probably am eating about 2000-2200 calories a day including whey.

I guess I will just continue doing what i'm doing, just try to do some ab exercises as well. Do you suggest working abs once a week just like every other muscle group or can I work them say, a little on each of the 3 lifting days?

Well the thing is its not actually much fat, when I'm standing up or sitting down and leaning back you can definetely see my abs. I was on creatine when I was at 162 but then I dropped down to 156 after I went off it, I guess I just lost a bunch of water weight.

Also, the funny thing is I'm really not eating that much but in comparison compared to what I used to eat (next to nothing) it does seem like a lot. I probably am eating about 2000-2200 calories a day including whey.

I guess I will just continue doing what i'm doing, just try to do some ab exercises as well. Do you suggest working abs once a week just like every other muscle group or can I work them say, a little on each of the 3 lifting days?
You're still putting on 1+lb/week... on 2000-2200 calories?! That doesn't sound right - are you sure you're counting properly? I think that's only possible if you seriously f***ed up your metabolism from eating next to nothing as you said. If that's the case your weight gain should slow on its own and you'll have to up calories to continue.

I was working abs 2x/week on my previous phase, others go even more often and I think it's probably perfectly fine to work them often.

I really am not exactly sure how much calories i eat because i never do exact proportions but a standard day looks something like this

Toast + OJ in the morning
Turkey Sandwitch, Baked Lays, Juice or Water for Lunch
Rice crispies in the afternoon
Whey Protein Shake post workout in the afternoon
Chicken/Fish/Steak for dinner with beans/potatoes ect
Whey protein before bed

I also throw in some cheese and crackers or fruit on occasion.

hrmm, that is NOT 2200 calories. unless stuiff like baked lays and rice crispies are super calorie loaded, i never eat that kind of stuff. just a reccomendation, maybe chill on eating whey before bed, go to cottage cheese

I'm not an expert...

But, you need to re-examine your goals.

If you want to have a six pack, then cut. If you want to add more muscle, then bulk. You can't do both, so take your pick.


The general idea is to "bulk" without putting on fat.
If you can find the correct balance of calories i believe you can bulk while losing fat at the same time.
Ive done it since i started bodybuilding, i dont do cutting cycles then
bulking cycles i just try to bulk full time.
If you eat too much your not growing just muscle because of that, your putting on fat as well.
Even if you cut carbs and eat too much protein you will put on fat.
There has to be a balance and the right amount of cals for each individual.
If what you do works well then stick to that, all im saying is you can bulk and decrease fat at the same time.
But it does take a bit of homework. :tu: