by Nikki Nicholas: MALE models with six-pack abdominals and women with stomachs of steel have been splashed across the covers of magazines for years.

The media continues to sell everything from aftershave to power drinks using the ideal body specimen, and the pressure grows.

Soft bellies appear vulnerable abs of steel don't. In fact, we are a culture afraid of the belly.

People with washboard abs are probably doing some fairly heavy-duty aerobic exercise as well as concentrated abdominal work, including different crunches, curls, twists and hip lifts. You don't just do sit-ups to look like that.

It's a matter of having the right genetics, maintaining a very low percentage of body fat, restricting calories and being dedicated to daily exercise. It requires a certain amount of obsession that just doesn't fit into the average person's working week.

People sometimes think that doing a specific exercise for a problem area will reduce fat in that area. They spend so much time working on their stomachs, for example, that they fail adequately to address the opposing muscles of the back.

An imbalance between these muscles can lead to back pain, poor posture and a host of other orthopaedic problems.

The goal of any exercise routine is to provide a balanced workout that addresses all areas of the body equally.

Back extension work, in which you lie face down and pull your chest off the floor, is a simple exercise in the opposite motion of a stomach crunch.

If you are determined to obtain that rippled look of six-pack abs, consider what you may sacrifice to obtain it: that look might cost you flexibility and freedom of movement and it can also lead to a flattening of the lumbar curve, creating a weakened spinal structure, which can lead to hunchback conditions.

In our obsession with abdominal minimalism, we often lose sight of the true nature of this crucial part of the body. Abdominal muscles assist breathing, align the pelvis, flex and rotate the trunk, keep the torso erect, support the lumbar spine and hold in the organs of digestion. The women reading this should consider that we are meant to have a rounder belly. We are designed to store fat around this area to protect our reproductive organs. In fact a lot of men find a soft spot very sexy.

The crunch-obsessed fitness fanatics are partly right, though: strong, toned muscles at the core of your body support good health. But that does not mean we should cultivate a permanent navel cramp, hold our breath and stand like soldiers on parade. Chronically tight abdominals aren't any healthier than chronically tight hamstrings or back muscles.

Remember, a lot of it's down to genetics. Some people just show better in that part of their body than others do.

** If you have any health issues or questions you want me to discuss please send me an email at nikki_nicholas@hotmail.com