For those who want to get six pack abs it’ll help to bear in mind that it’s actually a fairly simple journey only made difficult in our minds. There are two core themes to achieving your much desired six pack. These are to reduce your body fat quite significantly and of course increase your abdominal strength. Even thought it does get harder to fight against nature as we age, lots of people are still able to develop a stunning six pack despite being in their late forties.

The only way to get really defined six pack abs is through hard work and a strict dietary program. Many people still hold the mistaken belief that purely focusing on one area of your body will mean that you lose fat from that particular area; unfortunately that’s just not the case. Repeated sit-ups may get you more muscle but they won’t get you to lose more fat from that region.

When it comes down to it the only way to get a six pack as you see them in the magazines is to be really strict with yourself and look at the goal of achieving a six pack as a whole body experience. If you build the following 5 great steps into your exercise program then you’ll be on the right road to the look you want.

Stomach crunches. Whilst lying on your back on the floor put your hands behind your head. Then bend your knees keeping your feet flat on the floor. One form of crunch requires you to touch your right elbow to your left knee and then switch to the other side. Another type involves bringing you head up directly towards your knees. These positions target your upper abs.

Sit-ups. Although similar to the crunch, sit-ups act in a subtly distinct way. Although not essential, it can be helpful to have your feet firmly planted, perhaps having someone hold them down for you. In this move you are lifting your torso off the floor as you do for crunches but now you’re bending in a different place; the aim is to get your upper half as vertical as you are able. This time you’re working your lower abdominal muscles.

The Abdominal Roll. To perform this exercise you have to get some equipment; ideally you should use something like a couple of small free weights on either end of a lifting bar but anything that rolls while you can hold it with both hands will suffice. Lie on your front with the roll-able weights outstretched above your head but also lying on the floor. Next, utilising your stomach muscles to pull you up, roll the weights towards your knees so that you’re on your knees and then roll back down again. This is a really great workout for that difficult lower abdominal region.

The plank requires you to lie on your front, supporting [your weight on your elbows and lower arms. It’s really important to hold your body as flat as possible. Hold this for as long as you can. It may be helpful to get a friend to tell you if your backside is raised in the air because it’s not always easy to see this yourself. The plank works on your central abdominal muscles.

Cardio training. If you are to get a definite 6 pack abdominal muscles look then you’ll have to get your body fat quite low. A demanding exercise program will use up more calories and also get your resting metabolic rate up. You can choose to do whatever gets your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes but whatever you go for one system that works well is to go as hard and fast as possible for 20 seconds and then at a leisurely pace for 10 seconds and repeat as often as you possibly can.

If you develop a sufficiently effective exercise routine and stick to it you still won’t be able to get a good six pack unless you also follow a good diet plan. Your well earned muscles will still be out of sight under a layer of fat. The key things to remember as the very basics of a healthy weight loss diet are to drink plenty of water, eat nourishing foods, keep your calories to slightly less than the recommended daily amount and in addition, many find writing a food journal a great help too. These are the issues that will mean you’re on the right course toward achieveing those coveted 6 pack abs.