Abs: 4 Pack vs 6 Pack vs 8 Pack – The Truth

You often hear those words from different people (other than just the gym bruhs) with some sorts of different meaning, and you seem confused. You have applied all of the craps you hear, read or probably buy to get you your desired abs but little to nothing seems to happen. You wonder if it’s some form of genetics you are unlucky not to possess, etc, etc.

But enough… what exactly is the real deal about them? Here we go without much ado.

What are Abs?

Abs are simply short for the abdominal muscle, or rectus abdominis muscle (if you want to go scientific) – simply the paired parallel muscle vertically running down your abdominal walls.

If you’d read carefully, you would easily notice the singular use of the word “pack” instead of “packs” as you often have said or hear most people say. A well-developed (visible) abs is all what we call a six pack. You’d want to look that up in a (good) dictionary – please don’t hesitate to castigate or report this post if you find “six-packs” instead of “six-pack” with this same bodybuilding and fitness meaning.

The reason is a simple one -there is only one muscle with those kinda segmented visible layers, and not many muscle groups as many think. The abdominal muscle has only got some tendinous intersections across it (like bands dividing some stuffs into layers) which accounts for the segments or layers we tend to call pack(s).

What then is the difference in 4, 6 and 8 Pack?

Often you hear amateurs and some self-acclaimed pros counting the layers or their lines apart to determine if it is a 4, 6 or 8 pack. It is outright ignorance. No matter how few or many the layers are, once they are visible and well-defined, they are a six pack!

However in recent times, some pros have begun using the words to distinctly specify in terms of the segmentation of a six pack, but yet know it’s all a six pack.

How to upgrade a 4 or 6 Pack to an 8 Pack

Almost no way – yeah, you got it. If you naturally have some specific abdominal segments, there is almost no way to add another, with that “almost” only accounting for a scenario where you have some segmentations but are almost totally hidden/undeveloped, which by proper training and dieting you can recover. So, if you’re thinking of creating an extra ab section yourself, just know it’s mission impossible; and if you feel you’re achieving such a feat, just easily know your “newly created segment” already existed but was either not developed or hidden that you didn’t notice.

Possessing the holy 8 pack is all down to generics and not some hard work or training as you’d thought – not even the god, Arnold Schwarzenegger had as many as four segments, as many people often say! You can only build, develop and tone your already existing abs sections, layers or whatever.

Who can get a Six Pack?

Everyone has got abs but not a 6-pack abs -get it? Now, even the fattest person you know has got the abdominal muscle but it is either not developed, hidden or both. What we define as washboard abs isn’t necessarily the strongest but the most visibly carved/chiselled abs. That means you could train your abs often and properly, have strong and big abs muscle but not have them visible if you still harbour the don’ts of abs training in your cupboard or do not involve much in the dos. You can check out our Dos and Don’ts of Abs Training here.

In a like but different manner, you could as well have a cool six pack and have weak abs and core.

While you may be unable to add an extra section to you abs, you can get them developed and build the washboard abs you desire, which our subsequent posts will be covering

Conclusion

Now you know there is just a “6 pack” and regardless of how many sections it is divided it remains just that. Do not feel bad if you haven’t gotten the alpha 6 or 8 segments or can’t get the rocky six abs you desire, just get to do the right things all to help you build your best possible abs.

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