Most people think that they just need to do a million situps a week to get a nice toned abdominal area. The truth is that doing situps and other ab exercises is only part of the equation. There are actually 3 things you need to do to get a ripped six pack that you can feel good about.

Part #1: The Full Body Workout

If you really want to get a cut midsection, you can't just focus on your ab muscles. You should work out your abs quite a bit, but that can't be the only thing you do. You'll want to get a full body workout routine going so you can get the rest of your body in shape as well. When you build muscle on the rest of your body, it will release hormones that help you build muscle even faster, and keep it longer.

The body works as a single unit, just with different parts. What you do with your legs will affect what happens to your upper body. In fact, one the best ways to get bigger biceps (for example) is to do squats. This seems counter-intuitive, but it's the truth. Because your legs are the biggest muscle of your body, when you strengthen them it helps you build muscle everywhere else too, including your abs.

Part #2: The Ab Focused Exercises

As part of your full body exercise routine, you should incorporate ab exercises in and do them 3-4 times per week. You shouldn't work your abs every day, but you can work them out more than your other, bigger muscles. Pull together a range of different ab workouts that you are comfortable with and that target all 3 areas of your abdominals: upper, lower, and obliques. It is essential that you work them all to get the best six pack possible.

Part #3: Good Nutrition

This is perhaps the most important, and most commonly overlooked thing you can do to reveal your six pack. A countless number of guys have a six pack in great shape, but because they don't eat right, it is hidden by fat and makes them look more squishy than ripped.

Not only will proper nutrition help you build muscle faster, it will also help you burn more fat and prevent any more from piling up on your torso. If you find that you just don't have the energy to work out, nutrition is probably your downfall. Our bodies are extremely well created machines that are meant to run off good fuel. And when we eat twinkies and burgers all day long, the body has little to choose from to fuel itself. So learn about nutrition and how you can eat healthy to maximize the fuel your body can use and reveal that ripped six pack of abs.