Women, weight loss, and six-pack abs

Times have really changed. Before, men are the only ones who would want to have a muscular body. So what they do, they go through rigorous training and exercise just to achieve six-pack abs. But now, women are also into the same thing because many of them believe that having a muscular body can be a gauge of their sexiness.

Studies show that more and more women are into getting six-pack abs because they are so conscious about their appearance. Since having six-pack abs indicate that one is slim, many of them are into losing weight. For those who are thinking of ways on how to get six-pack abs, losing weight can be an effective key but they must familiarize themselves with various means of weight loss before trying one.

Weight loss as an effective key to six-pack abs

Indeed, one of the most effective means of getting six-pack abs is to lose weight. And for most women, the easiest means of losing weight is through a weight loss program, which can either be followed by attending a class or can be used a guide especially on online classes. While it's true that many people can attest to the effectivity of various weight loss programs, please bear in min that not all programs will lead to desirable results. To ensure that if the weight loss program will help you get six-pack abs, make sure you’re your conduct research on the available programs very well.

Nowadays, there are so many programs for losing weight. But, fitness experts categorize these into two—the clinical and the non-clinical. Clinical refers to the services provided in a health-care setting such as clinic or hospital and administered by licensed health care professionals like doctors, nurses, dietitians, and psychologists who suggest scientifically-proven weight loss care and treatment. Here, services such as physical activities, nutrition education, behavior change therapies, and surgeries are included to ensure that the program will help the student achieve a desirable body.

Non-clinical, on the other hand, pertains to commercially-operated weight loss procedures that privately owned such as in weight loss chain. This type usually requires people to join others in a support group, a worksite program, or community-based projects and may require patients to use the various foods or supplements offered by the program. The patients can follow a non-clinical program on their own with the help of a counselor, a guidebook, a website, or even the use of weight-loss products.

The type of weight loss program to get six-pack abs will depend on your schedule and your need. But experts warn that no matter which type of program you choose, make sure that you engage in any activity or diet provided by the program to ensure results. It is also advisable to visit a registered or licensed physician first before using any weight loss product offered by the program like food supplements, herbs, or over-the-counter medications and rigid sets of exercises.

Adhering to weight loss diets can also be an effective means of losing weight and achieving six pack abs. More and more people agre that weight loss diets can promote simple processes of burning calories such as the "Atkins Nutritional Approach" allowing the person to eat satisfying amounts of delicious and nutrient foods while customizing the program to specific individual needs, tastes and preferences; the "Bill Phillips’ Eating For Life," based on four primary ingredients such as food, amount, combos, and times; "the Blood Type Diet" aiming to lose weight by matching the body’s biological profile through blood type, and the "NutriSystem" that manages diet through prepackaged foods that are ideal for people who want to achieve six-pack abs despite their busy schedules.

Women preparedness for six-pack abs training

Women who undergo rigorous training just to get six-pack abs is now becoming a popular trend worldwide because it promotes an effective means of keeping the body fit, sexy, great looking, and healthy. Although many women who are benefiting from this, there are still those who refuse to consider the idea because they think that having a six-pack abs is a guy thing only.

What hinders women from getting six-pack abs

Despite the advantages it brings to make bodies of women sexier, there are so still things that hinder women from getting six-pack abs. If you were one of those who are planning to achieve six-pack abs but still have hesitations, it is a must that you conduct a simple research first on the advantages and disadvantages of training to get six-pack training. 

One of the things that hinder women from getting six-pack abs is that the training makes the woman's muscles bulky and the overall appearance masculine. If truth to be told, women—despite training for six-pack abs—would not have a bulky physique since her body cannot produce enough amount testosterone that is needed to have huge muscles like those in men. Women who are muscular did not get those from training but from having excessive amounts of testosterone in their bodies.

Preparing through diet

For women to achieve six-pack abs, the key formula for success is good and proper nutrition. This is because it provides the basic things such as energy for growth and sustenance can be derived from proper diet.

According to nutritionists, proper nutrition should include proper sets of foods. For people who are planning to develop six-pack abs, this should be a major factor to consider because it will make the training more successful. The following are some eating tips to prepare women get that six-pack rips and muscles in no time:

1. Make sure that you eat at least six times everyday. For beginners in developing six-pack abs, this is the most basic rule because this will ensure that you have the energy to endure weight lifting. Eating meals once every 2 to 3 hours will ensure the stability of blood sugar. This will also ensure satisfaction of cravings, maximization of metabolism and energy, and constant need to feed the building muscles.

2. Enough amounts and significant types of protein should be consumed properly. Indeed, protein plays a big role in developing six-pack abs because it makes up the person's tissues. To know how much protein you need to get that much-coveted six-pack abs, multiply your total bodyweight by 1.2. The result will be the amount of protein—in grams—is the ideal amount that should be consumed everyday.

3. Ensure that you consume the right types and amounts carbohydrates. In women who are training for six-pack abs, carbs are very important to supply the energy your body needs. To figure out how much carbs you need daily, multiply the lean body mass of your body by 0.8 and the result is the total amount of carbs—in grams—is what you need. Remember that since getting six-pack abs has something to do with losing fats, you must only consume the foods with low carbs such as brown rice, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes.

4. Always include veggies into your diet. Women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs should ensure that green leafy veggies like green beans, broccoli, and lettuce have a place on their diet. These types of foods will ensure that cravings can be suppressed without getting hungry. While training, veggies can also aid metabolism which will make the absorption of protein easier and faster.

Women health supplements needed to achieve six-pack abs

More and more supplements for women are becoming available in the market especially for those who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. These women health supplements usually include vitamins, minerals and other acids that aim to provide the body with the nutrients it needs for the rigorous work out or to supply the amount of nutrients the body lacks.

As defined, health supplements refer to products that intend to supplement a person's need for nutrients that contain one or more ingredients like vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals. These are usually taken orally and come in the form of pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid. Health supplements can easily be recognized because they are usually indicated on the label of the container along with information on nutrient contents and other claims.

For women who are gearing towards having six-pack abs, the most common supplements include products that aim to boost health and energy levels. These supplements are usually composed of vitamins including Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, K, and "X"; minerals that include calcium, magnesium, potassium, boron, zinc, copper, manganese, and chromium among others that are beneficial for women's health; and a set of amino acids that are said to be vital to women's physical and emotional being.

Finding the best supplements for six-pack abs

If you are training to get six-pack abs and you feel that you need health supplements, your must look for products that are complete multi-vitamin, mineral, and herbal formulas especially created and formulized for women's needs. Experts say that a good women health supplement to aid the development of six-pack abs should also have a quality formula that is composed of the most natural ingredients as well as food factors available and should not use synthetic chemicals and substitutes that can be harmful to the body.

To find the right health supplements needed to achieve six-pack abs, women should:

- consult a physician or a registered nurse first before trying on a specific supplement to know if there would be possible complications if you are dieting;

- educate one's self through simple research which can help you be familiarized with the essentials of women supplements and what they must contain and read about different minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E to make sure that you know what kind of nutrients that enter your body.

- only use the supplements appropriate for one's age to adapt to the different physical, intellectual, and emotional changes along the way;

- get feedback from people who have tried it to get first hand information about its effects and possible side effects;

- follow the instructions on the label carefully and religiously so you will not have greater risks of getting side effects and will more chances in getting the desired results.

The market is now full of supplements for women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. But before trying any of which, it is very important for you to determine quality of the health supplements by buying only to companies that are pharmaceutical GMP compliant. Also, always check the label intently to see if the health supplement is made up of cheap additive fillers like cornstarch, rice, sugar, silica, artificial colors, and flavorings. It is also of high importance to buy a health supplement with a local consumer product help line so you can for inquire about the product anytime you need to.

Where to develop six-pack abs

Today, fitness centers have become a popular haven for people who are conscious about their figure—especially to those who are looking forward to having six-pack abs. For them, enrolling in specific programs offered by the fitness center can ensure their success in achieving their goals to have a body that is fit and healthy.

Nowadays, most fitness centers are unisex which caters to both men and women. They have different offerings for both sexes because the owners know that these individuals have different needs. Unlike before where most centers are male-centered, today more and more fitness establishments also provide a venue specifically designed for women. This is quite effective for women especially those who feel awkward when men see them doing their stretching and weight lifting exercises during their scheduled workouts. Aside from the space provide for them, many women enjoy working out in these types of fitness centers because these have special facilities, unique programs and even women instructors to guide them.

For women who would want to have six-pack abs, it is advisable to enroll in a fitness center or in a gym to be guided by the instructors accordingly. Here, specific workout plan will be created for them so they can achieve successful health goals.

Choosing the right fitness center

If you are one of those who are planning to enroll in a fitness center or in a gym to develop six-pack abs, it is best that you will feel comfortable in the place. The major considerations should include the safety, cleanliness, and well-maintained environment. Since you will be staying inside the fitness center during while developing that six-pack abs, it is best to look for a fitness center or a gym with:

- Good location. The most ideal and convenient location of the fitness center is near the home or in the workplace. When the fitness center is nearby, you can be encouraged to drop by thinking they will not have to worry about going home or to the office late because the center is just within the area.

- Workout schedules that are adjustable. Once you have decided to do your work outs in a fitness center, choose for those that offer services that can suit your schedule. This is important for it will ensure that you can work out because the place is open for you. For those who have erratic schedule, look for a fitness center that is open for 24-hours so you can drop by whenever you are free.

- Affordable monthly fees or membership fees. Choose a fitness center that is budget-friendly. Before enrolling, make sure that you inquire about the fees and its breakdown so you will know if your money will worth it. Stay away from fitness centers that charge high prices. For beginners, try enrolling in fitness center that offer lower charges for trials.

- Advanced gym facilities and equipment. The set of facilities and equipment that the gym offers will give you an idea about the quality of service that you will be getting. Before signing up, make sure that you visit the condition of the facilities and equipment.

- Professional trainers and friendly staff. Having enough number of trainers will ensure that there will be somebody who will guide you as you train for your six-pack abs. Aside from guiding you in your work outs, professional trainers can also monitor your development and can give you suggestions on how to improve your weak areas. The friendly staff will also be a bonus because knowing that somebody will assist you will somehow motivate you to come back.

The trend of getting six-pack abs among women

Getting six-pack abs has become one of the popular choices to keep the body fit and healthy among women. This is because it does not only guarantee a fast way of improving muscle but also the body's endurance and strength as well.

Experts say that for a woman to develop six-pack abs, she must undergo workout training where the exercises are designed to develop the muscles in the torso area. Here, the woman's muscles exert force against different forms of resistance like free weights, which greatly aids to the development of wonderful six-pack abs.

Strength training as the key to six-pack abs

Women who are looking forward to having six-pack abs must undergo strength training so she can endure all the physical requirements of her goal. To start with, it is ideal to do strength training exercises at least 3 times a week for at least 20 minutes or so to prepare the muscles for more rigorous physical movements.

Aside from preparing your body's muscle for more extreme physical exercises, strength training can also give a woman firm muscles for a great looking physique in the future. Studies show that strength training is very important for women who are gearing towards having six-pack abs because it can increase the endurance and strength of the developed muscles that can allow women perform tasks daily with lesser exertion and effort. This can also improve the working capacity of the muscles buts also aid the body's coordination, balance, and blood circulation as well as the strength of the joint, ligaments, and bones.

Experts say that to be able to develop muscle and achieve six-pack abs through strength training, women should always make it a practice to stretch before she starts and after she has performed some weight exercises to prepare the joints for the pending motion during the weight lifting. Stretching is very important for beginners because it can reduce soreness after the exercises and can help prevent cramped muscles while increasing the range of your motion.

Women who are doing workouts to get six-pack abs can do common stretching exercises such as warm-ups that include flexibility and stretching exercises to keep the muscles supple, increase the joints' range of motion, heart rate and body temperature, and blood flow to muscles, enhance flexibility, and improve coordination. Cool-downs are also important to return the heart rate as well as the blood pressure to resting mode gradually. Since they are composed of slow walking and stretching, it can relax the sore muscles during and after the exercise.

After stretching, the strength-training exercises can help women who are into the trend of getting six-pack abs:

- side shoulder raise which focuses more on arms, thighs, elbows, and palms to give more strength to the shoulder;

- front shoulder raise which highlights the arms using thighs and palms during weight lifting repetitions;

- upright row which is good for the shoulders, neck, and upper back because it strengthens a woman's upper back to endure more activities;

- biceps curl which is good for strengthening the biceps or the front arm by curling it upward using repetitive motions up to the shoulders; and the

- one-arm dumbbell triceps curl which is the most ideal strength training for women who are looking forward to perfect six-pack abs because the effort exerted here benefits almost all parts of the body.

Six Pack Abs: Do we Believe in the Right Thing?

Washboard, killer, six pack abs.  Good looking guys and women with excellent midsection are admired and make other people’s jaw drop.  If we can just do a hundred sit-ups a day, then it is possible to get the perfect abs that we want.

Myth alert!

It seems like not all the things that we heard from “experts”  or overheard in the public areas are true.  Maybe the reason why we are not getting those perfect abs are because we are not doing it right.  Then that would be such a terrible waste of our time.  So we need to know the myths and what is real to get the chiseled abs we want.

Six pack Myth 1:  Abdominal muscle is different from regular muscle.

Muscle is muscle.  Abdominal muscle is the same with our biceps and lats.  The only difference is the location.  Abdominal muscles are not resting on a bony surface, instead it is against the stomach and intestines.  There is no significant difference whatsoever.

Six pack Myth 2:  Strong abs means a strong back.

The key to a strong back is a balanced abdominal muscles.  You can work your abs, but no more and no less than you work your other muscles throughout the day.   There are heavy emphasis on working your abs, this heavy emphasis is often misunderstood to be the contributor of food health.  Infomercials give the false belief that by working out just one part of your body will give your health great benefits.

Working out and exercise should not just be concerned with one part of the body.  What you need is an overall body fitness to be healthy. 

Six Pack Myth 3:  You have to train your abs at least every other day.

They say that you need to train your abs hard enough twice a week, that is to give them time for recovery.  The key is to choose exercises that fatigue your abs, so that they actually need recovery time.  Include exercises that use the abs functionality.  Since abs are used to stabilize the body, holding a push up position without letting your body sag will really feel and develop your abdominal muscles.

Six Pack Myth 4: To gain results, high repetitions are required.

The key to abdominal gains is the to overload.  If you aim abdominal endurance, the more crunches you do each time, the more you can do later on.  It does not strengthen the abs very much but it also eats up most of your time.

Six Pack Myth 5:  Hard rock abs can be attained by doing a lot of sit-ups.

Many doctors say that sit-ups and crunches are the work exercises and perhaps should never be done.  A common mistake done during crunches, is throwing the neck out.  Crunches and sit-ups cause the abdominal muscles to be pulled to tight, this excessive pulling put stress on the neck or what is known as throwing the neck out. The overuse of crunch type exercises may even lead to the reduction of thoracic extension and contributes to bad posture.

Six Pack Myth 6:  It takes years to get great abs.
 
Everyone has abdominal muscles, you just need to train them in the correct order and reduce the fat surrounding them.  For some, it would take a few weeks.  For other it may be longer.  Different body type develop at different rates.

Six Pack Abs? Abdominal Exercise Equipment

Six pack abs are desired by almost everybody.  Getting those washboard abs are becoming a necessity because of long and convincing infomercials that we see a lot.  There are numerous abdominal exercise equipment in the market nowadays like abdominal belts, abs-rockers, abs-lounges and many more.

When choosing for the correct equipment you would need to consider some things first.  You should not be deceived into buying fancy equipment which you do not really need.  You can do some research about abdominal exercise machines and workout equipment before you buy them.  The selected equipment must be easy to move and easily detachable. 

Before attempting any rigorous fitness schedules at home with the newly purchased machine, consult  with a doctor first regarding injuries and medical conditions.  Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining the machine.  All said and done, the bottom line is any piece of exercise equipment is a good choice if one uses it.

So what are the benefits of  having an abdominal exercise machine at home?  This would allow you to focus on hard on the target.  Some abdominal exercise equipment is poorly designed or made from weak, undependable materials; some can even be dangerous to use.  Strained or torn abdominal muscles are incredibly painful, and can put you on the shelf for a long time.  Buying poorly designed abdominal exercise equipment is a risk you don’t have to take. 

There are steps to ensure that you are choosing the correct abdominal equipment for you:

(1)    Choose the equipment based on how much  space you have and how intensely you plan on working out.  If you live on a small apartment, you may wish to opt for smaller devices.

(2)    Make sure to adjust your abdominal equipment so that you are comfortable throughout your exercise.  Lay your towel where you can easily get it to absorb your sweat.

(3)    When picking up or using weight, make sure that it is not too heavy or it will injure you and will make you fall. 

(4)    You can interlock your feet, ankles, or knees in the abdominal equipment you are using.  This would give you added support and stability while working out.

(5)    Begin by inhaling , tightening your abdomen back toward your spine and then raising your neck and head a few inches off the ground.  Exhale as you roll up.  Support your head with your hands so you don’t strain your neck.


Some great pieces for your workout include:

(1)    Stability Ball (Exercise Ball)

The stability ball is a great piece of equipment. In addition to increasing range of motion for crunches and other abdominal exercises, the stability ball also improves your balance and coordination. You can start with the basics such as regular crunches or oblique crunches.

(2) Medicine Ball

The medicine ball is simply a weighted ball. Although some people may think that medicine balls are only for boxers and athletes, medicine balls can really enhance your core workout.

(3) Ankle Weights

Ankle weights can increase the intensity of reverse crunches and leg raises. When regular leg raises become really easy, you can add ankle weights to increase the muscle work in your abs.

(4)  Cables or Resistance Tubes

Here is another way you can add resistance to your abdominal muscles to break through strength.   You can perform cable crunches from a low cable tower by lying on the floor and holding the resistance behind your head. Or you can perform cable crunches from a kneeling position.

There are number of equipment in the market that you can use to  get yourself  six pack abs.  Your just have to choose the correct one and the one that suits your needs the best. 

Easy Tips for Having Six Pack Abs

Have you ever seen people with rock hard, six pack abs and wish that you have one like that?  There are people who would like to have a great body without spending too much time in the gym.  With the fast paced kind of lifestyle that most people have, would there be easy ways to get the body that you want?

Actually there are some easy and simple tips that would help you get the six pack stomach that you want.  Avoid eating while watching the television.  Since your mind and focus will be on the movie and television show that you are watching, you would not be able to watch the amount of food that you are eating.  You may tend to overeat while watching television.

Do not skip breakfast.  It is the most important meal of the day.  Upon waking up, the metabolism is accelerated and fat starts to burn.  You would need enough food to cope to cope up with the day.  Calories would burn while you perform your daily tasks.  By avoiding a meal, you tend to overeat the next meal.  Since you would feel that need to make up for the lost fat.

Incorporate good eating habits to your daily routine.  Aside from making sure you eat regularly and not in front of the television,  you need to make sure that good fats are incorporated to your diet.  Some people shudder in the word fats, well, there are fats that are good for your.  Fish oil, flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil are the healthy fats.

Water is good for you.  The more water you drink, the better.  You don’t have to stick just drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water when you can drink more.  But we are required to drink that much water everyday to keep hydrated.  This would regulate fat burning and body metabolic process. 

If drinking milk, the choose skim milk.  There are healthier alternatives, all you need to do is make sure that whenever you go to the store to buy groceries, you choose the healthier alternative. 

Diet is incomplete if you don’t put some mobility into your routine.  So still incorporate exercise routine into your lives.  Doing a hundreds of sit-ups a day is not good enough.  Think about your whole body and not only about your abdomen.  When aiming for six pack abs,  cardiovascular exercises are a must.  This kind of exercise increase stamina and heart condition, it burn fat in a quick way.  Cardiovascular exercises can be done 5 minutes a day, and can increase it to 45 minutes.  Aside from cardiovascular exercises you can also do some weight training to get the body that you want. 

Not all exercises can be done inside the gym, take your exercise outside.  Take a walk, stand straight in a cocktail party, you can even do some exercises during your break time while you are sitting down on your chair. 

Aside from proper diet and exercise, getting the minimum seven to eight hours of sleep every night is very important.  Sleeping rejuvenates your body.  It repairs muscular system by decreasing the stress hormone levels. 

And last, you need to be consistent.  You may plan or devise your own exercise regimen, but getting your six pack abs just does not stay there.  You must be consistent with the plan or regimen you devised.  That is why diet or exercise do not work, because we lack consistency in doing things.  Six pack abs are easy, as long as you put yourself into it. 

Easy Six Pack Abs: Tips for Easy Workout

You are always busy.  You don’t have enough time to go to the gym.  You don’t even have time to stand up away from your computer.  But you have a dream.  A model’s body.  A six pack abdominal glory.  Want to get that dream?

There are some easy abdominal exercises that you can do even at home.  Here are some exercises that can easily be done: 

• Crunches

Almost all people know how to do this.  This exercise targets the upper abdomen.  It’s one of the basic but effective exercises. To perform crunches, you need to lie on a flat surface with your hands in your chest or behind you head.  Contract your abs, then hold for 2 seconds, then return to your lying position.  Proper crunches are in a continuous and controlled fashion.  Concentrate on your abdominal muscles to pull your upper body up.  Avoid using the neck or shoulders to push yourself up.  This incorrect practice will cause stress and strains. 

• Side Crunches

They are basically the same as regular  crunches, except that the main focus is on the oblique muscles which are also called love handles.  It also uses the same technique, only that you are crunching to either side of our abs.  This would burn the sides of your abs. 

• Lying Leg Lifts

This exercise targets the lower abs.  with this kind of exercise, you are on the same position as with the crunches,  you lie flat on your back and lift your legs six to twelve inches of the ground.  This would exercise the muscles in the lower part of the abdomen.  When performing leg lifts, place your hand under your buttock.  It adds leverage and helps you get your feet elevated. 

If you want to add more weight into the exercise, attach padded weights into your ankles.  These weights can be purchased at the local sports store.  If you do not want to buy weights, you can simply fill up old tube socks with enough clean, unused cat litter to make one or two pound weight. 

• V- Crunches

It’s almost like lying leg lifts except your chest is at a 45 degree angle starting out.  Sit at the edge of a bench and reach back just enough to support yourself from completely lying on the bench.  Once you’ve stabilized, bring your knees toward your chest.  You would be creating a V motion.  The base of the V would be your abs. 

• Cat stretch

It’s the same with the movements made by a cat when they stretch their back. This simple action is a quick and easy exercise.  Get down on the floor with your hands and knees, with muscles relaxed and looking straight ahead.  Next, tighten your abdominal muscles while thrusting you back upward as far as you can.  Maintain the position for five counts before lowering your back. 

• Bicycle Crunch

To do this, start y lying flat on the floor. Put your hand beside your head then raise knees up to 45 degrees angle and them perform a pedaling motion like what you do when you ride the bicycle. 

• Standing Side Bends

Standing side bends encourages the loss of fats in the oblique muscles.  To start, stand up straight with the stomach sucked in, legs straight and hands on the sides.  Simply lean the body from left to right being careful not to rotate the hips and while keeping  body facing front.  There is a variety of side bends, this is the torso twists.  Instead of bending side to side twist or rotate the upper body from left to right while keeping the legs straight.

You can remove your flabby stomach and replace it with six pack abs, as long as you have disciplined and of course the will to do so. 

Are Six Pack Abs Sign of Good Health?

Yes you have six pack, killer abs.  Bur are you sure you are healthy?  Of course you can measure a person’s health on their outside appearance, but there are other ways of measuring how healthy you are aside from basing it on the midsection. 

Weight of course, can tell is a person is healthy or not.  But weight is also not the reliable.  Doctors use body mass index or BMI to measure or judge a person’s size against weight.  BMI is a calculation of kilograms/meter squared.  A BMI between 18 to 25 is healthy.  But someone who is very fit and muscular could have a BMI greater than 25.   This would classify them ass overweight.

BMI is a useless indicator for people under 16.  Instead of using the weigh and height ratio, what should be factored is the person’s age and potential for growth.  An example would be if a child was gaining weight to quickly for their age or it they were not gaining enough weight or growing. 

Body shape can also be an indicator of good health.  Doctors are looking at waist measurements because they know that “apple-shape” people carry excess weight around their middle.  These people can be at risk of obesity-related conditions such as heart disease.  Be sure to measure your waistline.  If your waistline is larger than 35 inches, you are at an increased risk of health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  Paying attention to your waistline helps you to avoid unhealthy eating and increase mobility or exercise.

Other health indicators would be the skin.  Tan, freckles or moles that are odd shaped or growing, this probably mean an unhealthy skin.  Tanning or sun exposure an age the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.  Use sunscreen and get a dermatologist opinion about spots and moles.

When brushing your teeth, check your spit.  If there is blood, your gums may need attention.  Bleeding gums indicate poor oral health and vitamin deficiencies.  Gum disease may also be a sign of cardiovascular problems.  Blood on the toothbrush or dental floss is one of the earliest and most common sign of gingivitis.  Gingivitis is preventable and reversible.  Gums need undergo a through removal of plaque, improved daily oral hygiene practices, a good diet and nutritional supplements. 

It is more than just bad breath.  Gum problems can now be linked to heart disease, clogged arteries, stroke, premature birth, and diabetes.  women who have preterm deliveries have more severe gum conditions with mothers with normal deliveries.  People with gumdisease and tooth decay are almost twice as likely to die of heart attacks and almost three times as likely to have a stroke.

Also, feel your lips.  If your lips are dry and chapped, it could signal to you that you are dehydrated, which is an unhealthy state for your body to be in.  Dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue, as well as drain the moisture from your skin making it look old and dry. 

Also watch out for your fingernails.  Healthy fingernails and toe nails are strong, colorless and smooth.  If they are yellowing, brittle, have ridges, crumbling and having white spots, then these are obvious signs that your nails are not healthy.

Nail problems can indicate viral, fungal, bacterial or yeast infection.  It may also show abnormal levels of oxygen in the blood, kidney disease, thyroid disease or psoriasis and malnutrition or a vitamin deficiency.

You do not have to rely on six pack abs, biceps or lats to say something about your health and other people’s health.  There are telltale signs that you should never ignore.