How to Diet for Six Pack Abs (7 Steps)

Late-night infomercials may lead you to believe you can have a six-pack set of abs in a few short weeks if you purchase the machine the actors are peddling. The truth is, no matter how much exercise you do or how much you spend on machines, you'll never achieve that chiseled look without the proper diet to go along with your workouts.

Tips

1. Eat small meals about six times per day rather than three large meals. Make your meals a combination of good carbs, protein and good fats. The small, frequent meals can raise your metabolism and help you build lean muscle mass.

2. Take in lean protein, such as tuna; scrambled or boiled egg whites; and baked, broiled or boiled chicken. Don't use sauces or high-fat condiments.

3. Limit your fat intake, but don't cut it out of your diet completely. Eat good fats in moderation, such as olive oil and salmon.

4. Eat some carbohydrates, but make sure they are good carbs, such as brown rice, sweet potatoes, fruits and vegetables.

5. Stay away from breads, pastas and high-sugar foods. Satisfy your sweet cravings by eating fruits.

6. Drink lots of water, about half a gallon per day will ensure you won't get dehydrated. Dehydration will cause you to retain fluid.

7. Combine this diet along with exercises, such as crunches, hanging leg raises and leg lifts, and you'll be on your way to having the chiseled abs you want without the expense of those pricey machines.

Tone Your Abs And Butt With Just One Move

Oh hey, do you like when your workout moves work overtime at helping you get stronger and fitter? Yeah, me too. That’s why I absolutely love this move, shown above — it’s called a Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat Twist, FYI, and it’s an incredibly effective way to torch multiple body parts all at once. Specifically, this exercise is great for targeting your abs, butt, and legs. Thank you, lunging action! My butt hates you, and I love you for it. As you can see from the GIF above, all you need is a chair and some willpower. And off you go.

Here’s how to do it: Stand two to three feet in front of that chair and place the top of your left foot on the chair seat behind you and place your hands behind your head. Bend your right knee and twist yours shoulders over your right leg. Keep your weight in the front heel, and your right knee stays directly over your right ankle. Stand and return to start. That’s 1 rep. Do as many reps as you can for 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat for 30 seconds.

Make it easier, if you’d like: Perform the exercise with your back foot on the ground, rather than on a chair seat. Gotta start somewhere!

Or you can make it harder: After bending your front leg, pause and hold at the bottom for three seconds before returning to standing. Ouch, burns so good.