This Is the Wild Reason Arnold Schwarzenegger's Can't Get Six-Pack Abs
Not all washboard abs are created equal. It's possible to possess two-packs, four-packs, six-packs and even eight-packs. Famous owner of a four-pack, Arnold Schwarzenegger has never had a problem shedding his shirt for a photo opportunity. That said, there is a reason why the famous Austrian has always sported a four-pack, even when walking the bodybuilding stages.
The absence of the missing two is less to do with body-fat percentages, and more to do with genetics.
Why Does Schwarzenegger Have a Four-pack?
The rectus abdominis muscle is split up by bands of fascia (connective tissue) running across it horizontally. The bands of fascia give the appearance of six-pack abs, or in Arnie's case, four-pack abs. These are genetically predisposed, which means you cannot build extra bands of fascia. So if you have a six-pack, you can't build an eight-pack.
The majority of people have three sections, leading to the term 'six-pack.' So if they were to adjust their nutrition and work to reduce body fat to a level where their abs are visible, they would have have the six-pack look. However, Schwarzenegger will always have a four-pack, regardless of how much his body-fat levels fluctuate.
It's important to note that the bands of fascia don't effect strength. The absence of those bands of fascia have never stopped Schwarzenegger from picking up several bodybuilding trophies.
There have been times when Schwarzenegger had a higher body-fat level than when he competed in bodybuilding, and his lack of abdominal definition was less to do with genetics and more to do with a higher body-fat percentage and his diet.
Regardless, the GOAT's physique is still coveted by many, and his four-pack has never held him back.
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