Everyday there is not shortage of TV and internet advertisements that cater to this very need. Everything from fat burning, appetite suppressing pills and potions to the latest ab exercise machine that twists and turns your body into all sorts of pretzel shapes are being sold to the six pack crazed public these days. Those fitness models and other "beautiful people" they feature in those commercials probably didn't get those bodies using whatever it they are trying to sell. They worked hard to get their bodies in shape and they continue to live a healthy lifestyle to stay that way.

No matter how many ab specific exercises you do on those machines or doing 1000s of sit-ups and crunches you will never get those hard firm abs you've been looking for without making some changes to the way you eat and exercise. You can have a 6 pack but nobody will see it if it's hidden under a layer of fat.

That's right, the best ab workout doesn't just focus on the abdominal muscles but the health and fitness level of your entire body. By focusing on living a healthy lifestyle that includes eating right and doing a variety of different exercises that work the entire body you can have the type of abs you see on those commercials.

It will take some work and dedication to achieve that washboard stomach but the steps needed are actually quite simple, if you have the desire to do them. If anything just look at those fitness model in those commercials. They look that way because they made a conscious decision to get in shape.

The best ab workout to get a set of 6-pack-abs consists of the following three things.

1. A Healthy Diet - You are what you eat. That old saying is true in so many ways. Everything you eat or drink has an effect on your body, whether it be good or bad. The human body needs and demands certain forms of nutrients so that it can run at optimum efficiency. Giving it the nutrients and calories it needs will increase metabolism and burn away excess fat.

2. Weight Training - If you weight train you will naturally strengthen not just the muscles specific to the exercise you are doing but also your abdominals and lower back because these are the muscles that stabilize the body during any form of physical activity. It will also increase lean muscle mass which require large amounts of caloric energy just to maintain.

3. Aerobic Training - Aerobic or cardio exercise is a good way to burn excess calories and strengthen the entire cardiovascular system. Get out and take a walk, go for a bike ride, or any other form of activity that you enjoy doing.

Getting a set of six pack abs will take time, how much depends on what kind of shape you are currently in and how dedicated you are to that final goal. Just remember that the best ab workout is a combination of diet and exercise. By making healthy lifestyle choices you can have the body you always dreamed about.