When you look at pictures of scantily clad people who are in great shape, do your eyes go straight to their midsection? Maybe you gaze longingly at every muscle bulging from their abdominal area wondering, “Can I get amazing abs like that?”

The answer is, yes you can. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but if you’re up for it, then it’s time to get one step closer to the six pack stomach you’ve always dreamed of.

The first thing you need to do though is reduce your overall body fat. You’re not going to see the results of all your hard work and effort if your core is covered by too much fat. So, start eating healthier if you have a few pounds to lose and let that lean tummy you’re about to create shine through.

There are some specific exercises that work your abdominal region that are extremely effective. They are:

The Plank

This is where you lie flat down on your front side and then lift your body up on your lower arms, so that you’re effectively balancing between your toes and forearms. Make sure your body remains as straight as possible so as to engage your core and not injure your back. The plank will work all of the muscles in your abdominal area.

Crunches on a Stability Ball

Crunches are meant to target strictly your lower abs, but when you do them on a stability ball you engage even more of your core muscles to keep your balance in the process. Make sure the ball is the right size for your height and do the crunches slowly both as you lift up and lower down to get the maximum results.

Side Crunches on a Stability Ball

Deal with those pesky ‘love handles’ by working your side muscles, also called your obliques. Instead of crunching straight up on your stability ball, you’ll want to perform the crunch lying on your side to work the muscles most responsible for whittling your waist. Be sure to do these side crunches for both sides so you have even muscle tone.

Do three sets of twelve repetitions of each of these exercises every other day and you’ll start to see the results in a few weeks. Who knows? Maybe the next picture you see of great abs will be yours.