I need to start this off by saying the following. There is no lazy easy way to get a stomach gladiator/goddess ripped stomach. Period, end of story, forget the infomercials that depict models rocking back and forth in some padded "ab seat". Be honest with yourself here, do you really think they got six pack abs just by rolling around in an overpriced piece of equipment for 15 minutes a day? The honest truth is, no they did not. They achieved those toned abs by following specific criteria, that if you also follow, it is near impossible to fail. Allow me to overview these steps below:

Nutrition

Nutrition is the most important aspect of the course of action you need to take, when working to achieve six pack abs. No matter how many sit ups, crunches, or ab seats you buy, your abdominal muscles will be forever hidden under a layer of stomach fat that many carry. So what are you supposed to eat? A very brief summary of a proper nutrition plan is as follows:

• Proteins: Chicken (not fried), Fish, 97-98% lean beef, skim milk, etc.
• Carbs: Whole grain breads, rice, and oatmeal, broccoli, carrots, coli flower, sweet potatoes, etc.

This is merely a microscopic look at what you really need to be eating when working on getting those six pack abs you've always wanted. Here are some things to remember when eating. You need to stay away from foods that are high in fats, especially saturated. Fat's coming from fish, is best, as it contains high amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, which has many health benefits. You can eat carbs, but they should only be of the whole grain type. Stay far away from refined sugars, such as, white breads, candy, white rice, and potatoes that are not orange inside. You can live by this rule of thumb, if the food is white, don't bite.

Exercise

Combined with proper nutrition, the right exercise plan, not can, but will catapult you to the six pack abs you've always wanted. The exercises needed, can be done right in your own home, with the need to purchase expensive gym equipment, or 'ab seats'. Here is a high level over view of important exercises that should be considered working towards a flat stomach.

• Cardio: Jogging/Running 3 times a week. It is important to know your limits here at first. Don't overdo it. Whether starting off just by walking, or jogging is fine. Try to walk or jog for 10 minutes a day, 3 days a week at first. Exercise such as this smacks you right in the face with the real truth of just how in shape you are. But, the more you do this (jog), the sooner you'll be running around the block with ease, incinerating fat in the process.

• Ab Focused Workouts: The crunch will be your foundational exercise for achieving the six pack abs you want. But, let me list the many other ab workouts you will be using to strengthen, tone, and sculpt your abs to glory:

-abdominal crunch
-leg lifts
-bicycle kicks
-leg raises
-vertical leg crunch
-long arm crunch
-captains chair

Sound fun and interesting? Well, it actually can be when you have a proper plan to go along with your nutrition, and exercises.

Plan

The last phase to getting on the road to your six pack abs journey, is to have a proper plan. A good fitness plan lays everything out in plain English. Everything from the best nutrition, to the right exercises, is put down for you step by step, in a way you can understand and follow. When you find a plan like this, you are on the road to success, and failure is utterly impossible. So, the question is, where can you find a complete plan?

To learn more about the proper plan needed to achieve six pack abs, visit: The Truth About Six Pack Abs

Michael Maciejewski is an expert in nutrition, and exercise training. Revealing the truth about healthy living, one article at a time.