Recipe for Six-Pack Abs

As elusive as a unicorn, a premium set of six-pack abs takes a lot of hard work and superb patience. Just about anyone you see on the streets will tell you they would love to have a six-pack. But they don't. Not everyone has what it takes. The discipline, consistency, and patience are not characteristics that everyone possesses when it comes down to it. But if you are serious about persevering toward the amazing reward that you will find in the mirror upon completion of the task, then read on and learn just what it takes to get that famed attribute everyone wants, but not everyone has. Here is what you need:

1. A good cardio plan. This, just like everything else on the list, is a must. Without a good cardio plan to trim away the flab around the abs, noone will ever be able to see your hard work. A good cardio plan is an efficient combination of endurance training and interval training. One of my favorite cardio plans is The Hurricane from 'Training for Warriors' by Martin Rooney. Running a few miles a day is great and everything, but mixing in a spinning class or some high intensity sprint intervals will keep your body guessing. And it will keep the flab off of the abs.

2. A good ab workout. Yes, running alone won't cut it. It is also necessary to work those ab muscles. But don't just think that crunches alone will do it. You want to hit all of the muscles individually. Try a combination of crunches and hanging leg raises to really solidify the muscles. Then to really lean out those abs, I recommend investing in a hip-hop dance or belly dancing instructional video. The moves in these dance forms are amazing at isolating the individual muscles. If you have cable, check out FitTv's Shimmy.

3. A good diet. This is, of course, an essential part of the plan as well. You can't expect to develop a six-pack while gulping down sugary soft-drinks and eating sodium-laden frozen dinners. Read: Diet Coke and Lean Cuisine. Neither of these things will help you get that fabled six-pack. Instead, opt for some good 'ole water and fresh ingredients. Stay away from processed foods and eat as much as you can raw. 'The Abs Diet' has some great tips on what to eat and what not to eat.

Above all else you must have discipline. None of these things are easy to do. And they are certainly not easy to do consistently. Discipline and consistency leads to a six-pack. Not some amazing new diet pill or a new As Seen On Tv workout machine. Gaining and maintaining a six-pack is definitely hard work. That, again, is why not everyone has one.