Six Pack Abs Workouts

Are you looking for effective six pack abs workouts? Or maybe you are just tired of your current routine or not achieving the results that you had hoped for.

There seems to be a regular pattern with some people who train regularly for a few months and then get tired of the same old weight training and cardio routines. They start skipping workouts and then become discouraged because of lack of results. Sometimes it is more difficult to stick to your workouts if they become boring or stale but there is no reason for this to happen.

There are many different training styles and techniques out there and it is just a matter of mixing some of these in to your routine to keep your workouts fresh and your motivation high.

All of these exercises can be added in to your six pack abs workouts but some are targeted for fat loss and achieving an overall lean, muscular body which are basic components of any six pack abs program.

Here are 5 non-traditional training techniques:

1. Staircase Training - This one is easy because there are stairs everywhere. You can go to your local football field and climb the stadium stairs. You can also use any building that has stairs like a hotel, apartment building or hi-rise office building. If stair climbs are done with a high enough intensity, these workouts will help to create changes to your entire body due to the muscle building and fat burning benefits of working the largest muscles (legs) in your body. Remember, all of those crunches, hanging leg raises and jackknifes will not create a visible set of six pack abs if your mid-section is covered with a layer of fat!

2. Wind Sprints and Hill Sprints – Here is another great fat burning exercise that will make your six pack really start to show. Just find any open field at a park or athletic field and run some all-out wind sprints. Start with 20 yards and then increase in 20 yard increments up to 100 yards. Rest long enough (usually 1-2 minutes) after each sprint to catch your breath and then run the next one. Start slow with 4-5 sprints per workout and try to work your way up to 20 sprints.

A variation of this is hill sprints. Just find a nearby hill and sprint up the hill as fast as you can. The walk back down the hill will be your rest period. Start slow and try to work up to a 20-30 minute session. These exercises have the same effect as the stair workouts and can have an amazing effect on your abs and the rest of your body.

Look at your typical short distance sprinter compared to the average marathoner. The sprinters have very low body fat but well defined muscles and a great set of six pack abs. Marathoners generally have very low body fat but not much in the way of muscle development.

3. Bodyweight Workouts – Change up your routine a little by adding one or two bodyweight only workouts a week at home. You can perform a high intensity workout in only 15-30 minutes without leaving the house on days that you are short on time. Try alternating floor abs exercises with bodyweight squats, lunges, pushups and planks. Perform these continuously for 15-30 minutes with short rest periods to build up the intensity since your workout will be short.

4. Swimming – Although it is often overlooked, swimming provides a full body workout that works the muscles and joints much differently than most resistance training. Adding swimming workouts once or twice a week into your normal routines can really help to build your physique. Sprint style swimming helps in building muscle more than endurance or long distance swimming. For best results, swim as hard as you can for a distance of 25 to 50-meters and then rest enough to catch your breath between sprints (about 20-40 seconds). Sprint swimming provides a great muscle pump without any soreness the next day as is typical with weight training. Keep in mind that even though swimming works your muscles and is a nice alternative workout to mix in once or twice a week, it does not strengthen your bones. You still need to do regular weight training to do that.

5. Rope Skipping – Jumping rope is a great full body exercise. It can be done as a warm-up for weight training sessions or worked into the middle of your routine. The goal with rope skipping is speed. Try alternating regular jumps, one-legged jumps, crossovers, double jumps (rope passes under feet twice for each jump) to keep it interesting and build intensity. You can also try alternating 15-20 second high intensity bursts where you jump as fast as you possibly can, followed by 15-20 second recovery intervals where you jump slowly to get ready for your next burst.

There you have five alternate exercise routines that you can add to your six pack abs workouts. Be sure to keep the intensity level high for best results. Remember that maintaining a lean physique is an important part of having a great set of six pack abs. Good luck with your workouts!

Are you ready to get started on your way to a leaner body and a set of six pack abs? Learn more about great abs exercises at Six Pack Abs Workouts.