Want a six pack ?

Anybody who has attempted to build a set of washboard abs understand the difficulty of carrying it out. Extended periods of cardio and crunches will inevitably lead you to lose momentum if you see no tangible results over time. But there are alternatives if you are clever about the way you do things.

There are a few factors in building the abdominal muscles that many people miss. The first one is the importance of your diet. It may sound boring and not the kind of information you want to hear but it is the truth. If you have a poor diet then you will not see those abs coming through. You can have solid muscle hidden underneath that layer of fat but nobody will ever know.

So aiming to eat good and healthy food should be an important first step. Aim to avoid foods with lots of sugar and white flour, and of course any fast food. Try to have approximately six to eight meals of a smaller size as opposed to the traditional few main meals. This speeds up metabolism and sets you on the right course. Try to have plenty of water each day to replace any sugary drinks you may have.

As soon as you are all set with your updated diet then you can think about exercise. Arguments are frequent over the most successful methods for getting strong abs. Some folks get great results from the long cardio routines and hundreds of crunches while others stay clear of it. There are plenty of cases of those who stick to regular jogging and crunches but never get the abs they are looking for.

It may be wise instead to stick to moderate periods of crunches of 3 or 4 times per week and no longer than 10 minutes each time. This is more than enough to build up your stomach muscles alongside the correct diet.

With your cardiovascular efforts you do not need to be excessive. Try doing some hard paced work in short bursts in place of the usual slow and long periods of cardio. Think about a short distance runner over a long distance runner and you will notice the difference in muscle mass. You really do not want to be stripping muscle from your body, just fat, so avoid the long cardio routines that some people preach.

And lastly you should aim to lift weights as part of your training schedule. Work on the standard exercises which include squats, dead-lifts and the bench press that can be instrumental in growing muscle while working off fat. Sticking to a routine like this can lead to a great six pack and a strong body which is what most people want.