What is the best ab workout to get you a flat stomach or a nice six pack? There are a number of factors that actually go into a good ab workout that really works.

Before we get into creating the best ab workout, I would like to stress that exercise alone will not help you get washboard abs. You seriously need to be taking a look at your diet and nutrition. If you do not have the right diet, your fitness plans are going to fail. You can read about how to lose belly fat here as well as learn about some of the best fat burning foods you can add to your diet here. You can also check out The Abs Diet, a diet designed specifically for losing stuborn stomach fat.

When to do your Best Ab Workout

Believe it or not, the timing of your ab workouts can actually make a difference in how much harder your abs have to work. If you have read our article on the best exercise for getting a flatter stomach, then you know that cardiovascular exercise such as walking, running, jumping rope, etc. is a very important part of burning fat from your body. The best ab workout will actually come after you do your cardio workout.

Why?

When you do cardio, you engage your abdominal muscles. If you perform your ab workout after a cardio workout, your abdominals must work harder to perform the exercise because you have already worn them out a bit. Therefore, your ab workout will be much better and much more effective than if you did it before you did cardio.

Best Ab Workout

The best exercises to use are exercise that engage more of you whole body. This way you are not only toning your abdominal muscles, but you are also working on your other muscle groups. Remember, you are going for a total body workout since you cannot burn fat from just one spot on your body.

Plank:

Plank is a great exercise to do. I find this very challenging to hold for longer periods of time. When you first start, you might not be able to hold this position for more than 30 seconds and even that might be a stretch. Now worries. Jsut do the best you can. The goal is to eventually be able to do this for 1-2 minutes at a time, for 2-3 reps.

Lying face down on the floor you are going to go into a push up position. This means you arms should follow straight underneath your shouler, your back should be flat and your head looking straight down. You can also do this exercise on your elbows as pictured below.. Make sure to keep you abdominals contracted and do not let you back arch or you butt fly up in the air.

V-ups:

V-ups were evil when I first learned them in college. I honestly could not even get my back off the floor. It was pretty demoralizing, but after a while I was actually able to do one, then two, then a whole set of ten. Just stick with it.

Lying flat on the ground you are going to simultaneously lift your upper body while lifting your legs off the ground. You want to touch for your toes so that you body makes a V shape. Then, return back down flat to the floor. You can repeat this for 2-3 sets of 15-25. If you can only do 10 at first, do 10. No worries.

To start, you might have to already have you legs lifted off the ground. Try that a few times to build your strength until you can do a full V-up.

Oblique V-ups:

If you are going to have the best ab workout possible, you cannot ignore your obliques also known as your love handles. Many people ignore their obliques by focusing on the six pack muscle group. You will not make that mistake with this exercises.

For this exercise you are going to lie on your side. Place you hand closet to the ground flat on the ground for support and stabilization. Then, put your other hadn to your ear. Push up with your hand on the ground to lift your upper body, then lift your legs up and down. Your legs and shoulder should come back down but not completely touch the ground. That is one of the keys to this exercise. Repeat these 25 times the switch over to your other side.



Bicycles:


Bicycles are one of my favorites exercise and also one of the favorites of the American Council on Exercise. This exercise was at the top of their list and why were are including it here in our best ab workout.

Lie on your back. Place both hands behind your head and bring one hand to the opposite knee. for example, bring your left hand towards your right knee. At the same time, extend the opposite knee away from your body. Continue this motion. It should feel like you are pedalling your legs like you are on a flat bicycle. You should definitely feel the burn on this one. 50 reps, or 25 for each side should do the trick. You can do this for 3 sets.



Core Twists:


I learned this exercise when I was boxing and it's great to work your overall core. What you want to do is sit on the floor with your knees bent in front of you. Clasp your hands together and then lift your knees of the ground so you are balancing on your sit bone. Now, swing your hands from side to side, tapping the ground nea your butt. Do this for 50 reps (25 each side). You can even do this with a weight in hand if you like for extra burn.


High Knee Jumps:

High Knee Jumps can be a great addition to your exercise routine if done correctly. This is a bit of a plyometric drill and will exercise your muscles in a different way. What you want to do is jump as high as you can, while tucking your knees into your body. You really need to tuck your knees in ALL THE WAY, not just half way or it's going to mostly be a leg exercise for you. Try doing 15-20 in a row over 3 sets.

Thus concludes our best ab workout routine. short, but effective, with some essential ab exercises and moves. Remember, it is quality, not quantity that really matter n exercise.

If you are looking for a really intense workout, try out extreme 6 pack abs routine, or if you are short on time try out 15-minute core exercise routine the next time you are at the gym.

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