six pack abs

If you want to know how to build six pack abs fast, then I want you to read the 3 steps I have listed below. The time it will take to get flat abs will depend largely on how much fat you need to lose. It could take anywhere from as little as one month to more than 8 weeks to see those washboard abs, but just think, if you get started today, you are that much closer to getting a flat stomach.

Step 1: Exercise

It may be obvious that exercise will play an important role in how to build six pack abs fast, but it's the kind of workout you do that will make the biggest difference. I'm sure you've been told countless times to do lots of abdominal workouts, but the truth is, abdominal workouts alone are not the most effective way to get six pack abs.

You have to combine abdominal workouts (which best serve to strengthen your abs) with some cardio, such as mountain biking, swimming and stair climbing, along with weightlifting and full body workouts. Out of all of these exercises, using full body workouts, where more than one joint is involved, will burn fat and add muscle quicker than just doing crunches and sit ups.

Step 2: Eat Right

This too may be a no-brainer for some, but it's alot harder than you think. All around us we are surrounded by unhealthy foods. This is especially true if you have a family. It's real hard to stay away from the donuts if your husband or wife buys them and sticks them on the counter in plain site.

It would be ideal if you could persuade the whole family to eat healthier, but that's easier said than done. It may not be easy, but try to prepare meals that incorporate only fresh, unprocessed foods in your menu. Good choices would be:

*Lean meats (skinless chicken or turkey and fish such as salmon, flounder or whitefish)

*Fruits (berries are excellent, citrus, apples or melons)

*Vegetables (peppers, avocados, tomatoes, dark green leafy lettuce, carrots)

*Eggs

*Natural peanut butter, nuts

*Whole grains, oatmeal

*Non-sugary drinks (unsweetened coffee or tea and water are best)

Eating healthy should be a priority anyway. Learn to by-pass soda, processed foods and anything with high-fructose corn syrup. Cut down on salt intake and skip the margarine.

Step 3: Boost Metabolism

This step kind of fits in with eating right, but it's the way you eat that also has a big impact on how to build six pack abs. We have been trained as a society to eat three large meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is fine, except if you want to get a flat stomach.

Instead, eat 6-7 small meals throughout the day and you will keep your metabolism working 24/7. Each meal should consist of foods that were listed above. Do not head out and get yourself any fast food, take the time to prepare healthy meals and snacks.

One of the most desired and sought out areas of the body to whip into shape and maintain is the abdomen. Those flat, washboard abs are what many are interested in having more than anything, and one quick glance at that stomach area is usually the determining factor in how people feel about their current physical condition. Six pack abs are the most popular goal set by people every day, but are also the most popular goal to give up on.

People that are looking for instant gratification and fast results are the ones that often quit. It has to be understood that great abs are a process and you have to be in it for the long run and work at the results. It is not an extremely hard task but most people build it up in their heads that if it was easy everyone would be walking around with six packs left and right. The truth is, it is extremely easy to build those muscles; the hard part is fully understanding and staying dedicated to the process.

Keep in mind that you will not see results overnight. You have to be ready to work hard, stay committed, disciplined, and have the mentality that slow and steady wins the race. The way to washboard abs just like anything else is through proper exercise and eating right. The dedication to stick to those factors must be present throughout the process. Through all the personal commitments and work life there must be an effort made and outside factors must not get in your way. There are three things that you have to have to get to that six pack and they are:

Loss in body fat.

Specific exercise for developing six pack abs.
Proper diet.

To get to that flat stomach, it is essential that you not only do exercise designed for abs but also exercises that burn fat. Cardio exercises should be concentrated on just as much as the isolated ab workouts because the truth is we all have abs right now, believe it or not. The problem we face is that they're hidden under a layer of fat. Cardio exercise is when our heart rate is raised above its maximum rate and the benefits we get by doing cardio exercises are loss in weight, reduction in stress, better sleep, a stronger heart, and a flatter stomach. These exercises include but are not limited to running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, rowing etc. You need a minimum of 20 minutes of continuous elevated heart rate at least 3 times a week for the best results.

Isolation exercises are what people usually focus on the most and these exercises are what will tone, develop, and strengthen your abs. They include crunches, twisting crunches, ball crunches, bridging, sit ups (for lower and upper abs) and leg raises. These exercises should also be done every other day. It is a myth that abs workouts should be done on a daily basis and it is in fact harmful for results if you push your abs to the limit every single day. Just like any other muscle the abs need recovery time in order to repair and grow, so giving them a day to do so will help bring those long awaited results a lot faster.

Maintaining those abs you worked so hard for also requires a very good diet. One simple thing you can do is start eating smaller meals more often. Doing so will also help to increase your metabolism helping you to burn fat easier as well. On a daily basis at least five liters of water should be consumed, vegetables for vitamins, egg whites, whole wheat and whole grain pasta for protein, and for nutrients, lean meat, fish oil, walnuts and almonds, green tea, and fruits.

Diet and fat loss are extremely underrated in the ab development process. You could have the strongest abdomen muscles on the planet but if they are hidden under a layer of fat you would never be able to notice them. The concentration should not just be on the strengthening of the muscles because that will only do just that; strengthen them. So many people chase this dream simply by diligently doing sit-ups for a period of time only to become distraught and soon give up rather quickly without seeing results and it is because there is more to the process than just crunches. Cardio exercises and eating right will help you lose and keep off the excess fat so that you can see the results of your hard work. It is not a hard process to get those dream abs but it must be done properly and you have to be dedicated and disciplined.

This is a sample meal plan for a person who is looking to build better abs and perhaps add a bit of muscle mass. The calories and meal times can vary based on your schedule and nourishment needs, but try to eat something every 2.5 to 3 hours.

Many of us have wild schedules and feel as if we are destined to simply be out of shape forever, but my friend this is not the situation. It is actually very easy to attain a dream body, provided you stick to the correct steps.

The opening step is preparation. In order to win the meal plan game you must prepare for everything, so I constantly advise people to spend a few hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon and plan all of their food for the workweek, set it into tupperware containers as individual meals and freeze it.

Then you would simply take a days worth of food with you to work and you will not have to be anxious about being tempted to go to the Burger King Thru and ruin all of the hard labor that you just put in the night before at the fitness center!

Here is a sample diet that I have used with some success to decrease my body fat, get ripped fast, and keep my six pack abs on point. You may modify it to suit your needs.

MEAL 1

• 6 Egg Whites


• 1tbsp Flax Oil


• 1/2 Grapefruit


• 1 cup peppers,


• 1/2 cup onions


• 1/2 cup mushrooms


• 1/2 cup Oatmeal

Protein 35, Carbs 40, Fat 14, (in grams) Calories 456

MEAL 2

• 30 Grams whey protein


• 1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt


• 1/2 cup strawberries


• 2 tbsp raw almond butter


• Celery sticks

Protein 37, Carbs 18, Fat 17, (in grams) Calories 415

MEAL 3

• 6 oz lean chopped steak


• 1/2 cup Grilled onions


• 1 cup Grilled Peppers


• 1/2 Sweet Potato


• 1 Cup Spinach

Protein 36, Carbs 37, Fat 6, (in grams) Calories 354

MEAL 4

• 30 grams whey protein


• 1 cup boysenberries


• 12 almonds

Protein 30, Carbs 20, Fat 15, (in grams) Calories 330

MEAL 5

• 6 oz Grilled Skinless Chicken Breast


• 1/2 cup brown rice


• 1/2 cup yellow pepper


• 1 cup zucchini


• 1/2 cup red pepper


• 1/4 cup diced onions


• 2 tsp Olive or Flax oil

Protein 42, Carbs 43, Fat 14, (in grams) Calories 516

MEAL 6

• 30 grams Protein powder


• 2 tsp Olive or Flax oil


• 1 Plum

Protein 30, Carbs 8, Fat 14, (in grams) Calories 265

Remember to include these whole, natural foods in their unprocessed states into your diet. You can manipulate the macronutrient (protein, carbs, and fats) ratios to suit your individual needs.

Following the dietary and nutrition principles outlined here can be overwhelming initially, especially if you are just starting out and have been eating the improper way for years.

This can without doubt be an extreme shift in lifestyle, but eating this way will help you achieve a better body and remain healthy and strong for life.