The Thinking Man's Guide to Ripped Abs: Mapping Out an Exercise Regimen

It is the first thing people notice when you take off your shirt. Whenever this occasion comes up, whether it's at the beach, when you're out mowing the lawn or relaxing with friends at your apartment's pool area, others are going to notice your physique. If you're overweight, the less sensitive around you may chuckle to themselves or make surreptitious comments to their friends in hopes of a cheap laugh.

If you're thin, you'll probably escape much notice either way. But if you have a six pack? Ripped, flat washboard abs you could bounce a quarter off? Then, and only then, will you attract the kind of attention everyone craves. But, as anyone who has tried it knows, it's not an easy road. And as with any road, you need a map if you hope to be successful. This is that map. With hope, you have some gas in the tank and aren't afraid of a few bumps along the way.

The Single Most Important Factor

You can spend all day everyday in the gym doing every abdominal exercise known to man, and no one will ever be the wiser if your body fat percentage is too high. You may hear this and say, "Well, that's not a problem for me, I've never been called fat in my life." Wrong. When we're talking great abs, there is a world of difference between "not being fat" and having a body fat percentage low enough for a six pack.

Eight to ten percent is the goal. Anything above this and you can forget about your great abs. There are some sites online that will calculate your body fat percentage for you using a few measurements, but they do not come recommended. Instead, buy a pair of digital calipers and use those for a much more accurate reading. These can be found online, too, and do not cost much in comparison to their importance.

How To Attain That 8-10 %