There are two aspects of a well-proportioned muscular body. The first is having an optimum body weight as per your height and build and the second is exercised muscles that have a visible tone. People have a wrong notion that if you have abdominal fat exercising abdomen will trim your abdomen and bring out your abdominal muscles. So, if you want a well-proportioned body first is to knock off the extra weight and then strengthen specific muscles.

For weight reduction two things are most important. First is to cut down the food intake and the second is to increase your metabolization rate by remaining active right through your waking hours. The effect of one hour of strenuous exercise can easily be undone by an extra hamburger or a muffin and may be even by a few extra cups of well-sugared coffee every day and by lazing off most of the time after strenuous exercise. You will do well to consult your dietician and your doctor to arrive at the desired diet exercise regimen for cutting down extra weight. Most of the miracle exercises touted around by fitness centers are worthless: they mostly reduce body fluids that quickly get made up and restore you to your original weight.

While you are on weight reduction program it is important to undertake muscle-toning exercises. This has to be done for all muscles and not just the abdominal muscles. Muscle strengthening exercises should be started in consultation with a physio, who can advise you which exercises to take up and for how long. Unduly long and strenuous exercises can even consume the muscles instead of building them. Beginning must be made with lighter exercises and then by gradually increasing their severity. Any exercise which requires the muscle to be subjected to a stress such as weight training, press ups, sit ups, raising your back after lying down to achieve an abdominal crunch with hands folded behind your head will strengthen your abdominal muscles as well as your back muscles.

There is no miracle shortcut to attain a shapely muscular body. Patience and perseverance with diet exercise regimen with a regular schedule is the key. You should not exercise less than 40 minutes less than 4 times a week. Similarly, diet discipline has to be a lifelong routine. Remember, remaining active is even more important to losing weight than the strenuous exercise. If you give up the diet exercise and activity schedule you'll be back to your old flabby self even before you know it. Therefore, regularity, patience and perseverance with the chosen diet, activity and exercise regimen are the key words that should not be forgotten.