Health and Fitness

Getting a great six pack ab stomach is on the top of many people's fitness goals. Whether it is for vanity's sake or otherwise, having a ripped six pack is a significant marker of physical fitness and I believe is a worthy goal to aspire to.

There are a lot of ways to go about getting a great six pack and a lot of people do it the wrong way. For starters, there's no need to do excessive cardio to get lean and ripped. Sure, cardio has its place, but it needs to be implemented in the correct way if you want to see the right results.

Priority should be placed on weight lifting in any six pack program. Cardio will only get you about a quarter of the way there and then lifting will take over and help you define your stomach, burn extra calories and fat, and tone your ab muscles.

When you hit the weights in the gym, it is important to lift very heavy and preferably using free weights because they target stabilizing muscles that the machines do not. Aim for six to eight reps and ensure that you are giving each lift a maximum effort. Finishing your lifting workout should be incredibly challenging.

It is that intensity that is going to get you the best results. Too many people do not go "all out" in their programs so they lack the intensity needed to sculpt their abs and get them to achieve their goals. You should be in the gym three times focusing on multi joint, compound movements.

Example exercises in a good six pack abs workout include squats, dead lifts, military press, bench press, lunges, pull ups, chin ups, and dips. These don't necessarily target your ab muscles, but they are crucial to burning fat, toning your muscles, and in fact do activate your abs very specifically.

When you do work on your abs, basic exercises like the plank and hanging leg raises work well. Also use a medicine ball for weighted ab exercises and focus on basics like 180 to 90 degree toe touches, v-ups, around the world, and work with a partner or use a wall to do reverse sit ups. Like the other gym exercises, intensity is the key here and each exercise should be done to exhaustion.

The classic exercise sit-ups don't work well so don't bother with them. Leverage the intensity rules above and you'll see results with your six pack abs workout in a matter of weeks.

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I'm a fitness guy who likes helping others get in shape!