Who doesn't want ripped six-pack abs? There's nothing like it; just imagine you are lying on the beach and your lover runs their hand across your firm, tight abs and sighs. This scenario is only a few short weeks away if you follow the simple three step plan outlined below.

Step 1 - Morning Cardio - The number one obstacle standing between you and washboard abs is that stubborn layer of belly fat. Regardless of the popular myths that circulate about spot reduction, the only way to remove this fat is to burn all of your excess fat off. Now before you stop reading and picture yourself spending hours on a treadmill, consider this simple fact; morning cardio on an empty stomach begins burning excess fat immediately. Not only are more fat calories burned during the workout, but your metabolism is fired up to burn more calories all day long.

This one two punch of morning cardio and an empty stomach works like this: upon rising, drink a glass of water, get dressed, and begin your cardio workout. It is easiest if you have some sort of equipment at home like a treadmill or elliptical machine but if you need to run in the neighborhood this works fine too. The important thing is to reach your target heart rate and maintain it for at least 20 minutes working your way up to one hour. After that have a healthy breakfast and head into your day. Also, you might consider a cheap heart rate monitor to keep you on track, you can pick one up on Amazon.com for about $40.

Step 2 - No Carbohydrates After Six PM - This mistake sabotages more fat loss programs than any other. Here's the typical scenario, you get home late after a long day and realize you haven't eaten in hours. You are famished and the first thing you grab is a handful of carbs. Out come the pasta and bread, maybe a glass of wine or a baked potato. It's pretty intuitive that when you go to bed you are burning less calories right? So any undigested starchy carbohydrates that are sitting in your stomach when you hit the sack won't have the opportunity to be burned off by your normal physical exertion. In plain English, this means your belly full of carbs turns into your belly fat. If you do eat after six, simply stick to non-starchy veggies like spinach, broccoli, and salads. You can also eat proteins like meat and protein shakes with low carb counts.

Step 3 - Only Train Abs One Time Per Week - Many on the quest for six-pack abs resort to training the abs every day. This is not only counter productive but could also lead to over-training and injury. If you have a moderate exercise program in place, you are already working your core and abdominal muscles in virtually every routine. Training abs along with your core one time per week for about an hour is all you really need to strengthen the abdominal muscles and provide a solid base that will begin to stand out as soon as you banish that stubborn belly fat.