Six pack abs require you to put in plenty of dedication and hard work.  They also require you to have patience since they won’t show up overnight.  Some people don’t see any reason to go through all of this work, but there is actually a reason.  In fact, there are several great reasons to get six pack abs.   

One of the top reasons to get six pack abs is to have a strong core.  While your abs aren’t the only muscle group in your core, they are an important factor.  Strong abs can help you in several different ways.  It helps to keep your spine aligned properly, preventing injury to your back.  It also helps you have good posture, which makes you look taller and more confident.  Having strong abs can also help you in sports and other physical activities.  You’ll have better balance, stability, power, and endurance.  All of these things will help you perform better in your activities.

Another reason you may want a six pack is to look more attractive.  There’s no denying that amazing abs are an incredible turn on.  Since the majority of people don’t have great six pack abs, it’s even more attractive.  You won’t look like every other person on the beach or anywhere else you can show off your abs.  They also show that you take care of your body and you know how to stay in shape.  Six pack abs tell people that you’re disciplined, since it takes a lot of hard work and patience to get a six pack. 

If  improved performance and looking more attractive aren’t reasons enough for you, maybe having more confidence is.  Confidence is rated among the top traits that men and women look for in the opposite sex.  It’s the most attractive quality you can have.  Being in great shape can give you incredible confidence in yourself.  Six pack abs are the ultimate symbol of great fitness.  Every time you see your abs, you’ll be reminded of all the hard work you put into your body.  And instead of shying away from situations where you have to show your stomach, you’ll be proud of what you’ve accomplished and want to show off your amazing six pack abs.  

You may already have a reason for wanting six pack abs, and that’s great.  The reasons above can just reinforce your decision.  However, if you don’t already have a reason to get six pack abs, all of the reasons above will hopefully persuade you.  You’ll have a stronger core, be more attractive and confident, and perform better in activities.  You really don’t have anything to lose except for your flabby stomach.

While any ab workout you perform is going to get results, some workouts are much more effective than others.  When you’re trying to get six pack abs, you want to focus on workouts that will give you the best results possible.  Here are some of the most effective workouts to get rock hard abs. 

• Exercise ball workouts- Abs workouts on an exercise ball are a great way to tighten your abs. There are many great reasons to use an exercise ball while working your abs. First of all, your abs will work much harder than doing the exercises on the floor, since your abs will constantly be engaged trying to stabilize your body. You’ll also get a larger range of motion with your exercises on the ball. There are several different types of exercises you can do from regular crunches to exercises designed specifically for the ball. It may take you a little while to get used to doing exercises on the ball instead of the floor. Once you do get used to them you should notice a huge difference in your abs.

• Weighted ab exercises – These are great exercises to perform if you want to build your abs as well as define them.  Weighted ab exercises are just as they sound.  They are ab exercises that use weight to increase resistance.  There are several different exercises you can do with weights.  You can even turn traditional abs exercises into weighted exercises.  For example, if you want to do a traditional crunch, you can hold a weight on your chest while doing your reps.  Another example is to wear ankle weights while doing Captain’s Chair crunches.  Adding weight to your ab routine can really help you gain the muscle that you want. 

• Isometric contractions – These are exercises where you contract your abdominal muscles and hold the contraction for a period of time.  Isometric exercises are great for strengthening your core.  They also help to keep your abs flexed even when you’re not exercising.  One of the most popular isometric abdominal exercises is the plank pose.  This is where you hold you body in a variation of a push up pose, using your abs to hold you up.  You hold the pose for as long as you can.  There are several great variations of this exercise that you can try if you want a more advanced workout.  

 
The workouts above are by no means the only ab workouts you can use.  They are just some of the most effective workouts for your abs.  You can choose to do one of the workouts or even try a combination of all of them.  You can do more research on each type of workout to decide which one would be best for you to get the rock hard abs you want.

When you start any new workout routine, you’re almost guaranteed to make mistakes. While it may not be possible for you to avoid making any mistakes, there are a few that you can look out for and try to avoid. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when they’re trying to get six pack abs.

Mistake 1: Not making peace with your body. Every person has their own pre-determined body shape. You may see someone in a magazine with abs you would kill for, but it may not be possible for you to actually get them. You should really try to focus on getting your body in the best shape you can, whatever that may be. Your abs will still look fantastic even if they don’t fit the picture perfect ideal you have in your head.

Mistake 2: Trying to spot reduce. You may already know this, but just in case you don’t, it’s not possible to reduce one area of your body alone. If you want to lose the weight around your stomach, you’re not going to be able to do it with crunches alone. Ab exercises will build your muscles to get a six pack, but they won’t get rid of that layer of fat covering the muscles. To remove the fat, you have to watch what you eat and burn calories through cardio and strength training.

Mistake 3: Doing hundreds of crunches everyday. Some people have a tendency to go overboard with crunches when they’re trying to get six pack abs. First of all, when you do too many reps at once, there’s no way to focus on doing them correctly. If ab exercises aren’t done correctly, you won’t see the results you want. Also, when you’re trying to get great abs, you need to rest them in between workouts. It’s usually not a good idea to work your abs everyday. Instead you may want to take a day or two off in between.

Mistake 4: Not eating a healthy diet. It’s won’t do you any good to spend hours working on your abs if you don’t watch what you eat. Eating a lot of fattening foods will sooner or later show up on your abs, making all of your hard earned effort useless. If you want the work you put into exercising to actually matter, you should try to eat a healthy diet to keep the weight off.

These are just 4 of the most common mistakes people tend to make when trying to build six pack abs. If you’re just starting to work your abs, you may want to pay attention to the tips above on how to avoid these mistakes, so you can see results even faster.