Ah, the elusive six-pack abs. You see them on strong women like Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Lopez, and Lindsey Vonn, and might wonder: is it genetics, a celeb trainer, or endless hours of core workouts to thank? While every path to visible abs is unique, fitness experts agree on a few key principles to help you strengthen your core and enjoy benefits that go far beyond aesthetics. The first thing to understand? Not all factors that determine whether you can see your abs are within your control. "If you’re wanting to see more muscle definition in your abs in general, you definitely have to pair how you’re eating and drinking with exercise," says Kara Liotta, Titan Rise Health CPT, and co-founder of KKSWEAT. Meet the experts: Kara Liotta, CPT, is a Brooklyn-based fitness trainer and co-founder of KKSWEAT, a training studio with digital and in-person classes. Jamie Costello, CPT, is a personal trainer with the Pritikin Longevity Center with multiple specialties.

Rachel Nicks, CPT, is a Lululemon studio trainer and founder and CEO of Birth Queen. Steve Uria, CPT, personal trainer and creator of Switch Playground NYC. Tina Tang, CPT, is a personal trainer, strength coach, and founder of Iron Strong Fitness. For example, body composition (or the ratio of body fat to lean muscle mass you have) is impacted by diet and exercise, sure, but also genetics. Jamie Costello, CPT, a trainer at Pritikin Longevity Center. Curious to see what it really takes and if it's attainable for you? Here's what fitness trainers recommend to chisel your core and enjoy the benefits that go beyond aesthetics. 1. Exercise your abs muscles consistently. Anna Kaiser, founder of AKT Fitness and the woman behind the abs of stars including Kelly Ripa. Just know that exercise alone isn't enough to give your muscle definition because core workouts won't necessarily decrease belly fat