For a long time now, the six pack has been the universal symbol of fitness due to how difficult it is to achieve this form. It seems like only an exclusive few have the determination to reach this body figure, but getting a strong core is something that anybody can do, and here's how.
1. A Six Pack is Made in the Kitchen
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Building abs is one thing, but having them actually visible on your body is a whole other ballgame. The key to having abs that show is to get your body fat percentage low enough (generally below 12%) to where your belly fat cannot hide the muscle that is underneath. The percentage you need to hit is going to vary based on your body type and how your body distributes its fat based on your genetics, but lowering your body fat is a goal that anyone can reach. This is also what's responsible for the "skinny packs" that are common nowadays. Some very skinny people may look like they have a six pack simply because they have an exceptionally low body fat percentage and not because they have strong core muscles.
2. You Can't Crunch Your Way to a Six Pack
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This one has been said a hundred times, and it couldn't be truer. Crunches and sit ups work the upper part of your core but leave the rest of it (meaning the majority of it) untouched. In order to build all of your core muscles, working your whole core is a necessity. This can be achieved by designing your own circuit of ab workouts that work different parts of your core (planks, reverse crunches, Russian twists, incline push-ups, etc.). Hitting each part of your core equally will result in your abs developing as a unit and not as separate parts.
3. Get an Ab Roller
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This is by far the most effective piece of equipment on the market when it comes to working your core. When used correctly, the burn that the ab roller creates in your core is far beyond that of any bodyweight ab exercise. I cannot finish a set with this thing without a serious amount of grunting and strained looks on my face.
4. Work Your Core Often
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Your abs are not like the other muscles in your body. Almost every physical activity from walking to reaching for something engages some amount of core muscles, so they are being constantly used. Having a "core day" like you would a "back and biceps day" or a "leg day" is not going to be as effective as integrating core exercises into your workout each time you hit the gym (depending on how sore those muscles are).
5. Body Weight is Not Enough
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As much as it may feel like you are working your core to its limits by completing a set of 100 crunches, this just isn't the case. When you perform any other exercise in the gym you are constantly adding more weight to your lift, why shouldn't it be the same way with your core? Performing decline sit ups with 25 to 45 pound weights or placing the same weights on your back when you perform planks are just a couple of ways to add difficulty to your core workout, ultimately working the muscles harder.
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