When most people think of abs exercises , the first thing that comes to mind is trying to do as many sit-ups or crunches as possible before you collapse. If you've ever tried to do as many sit-ups as you can, day in and day out, you also know that seeing any real results around your waistline rarely happens. It's a frustrating experience and is enough to make you abandon your ab workouts for good.

If this is you, you'll be happy to know that you can get your six-pack abs without ever doing another sit-up! Here is what you need to know about how to get ripped abs, starting today.

Use More Effective Abs Exercises

You've already read that crunches and sit-ups are essentially ineffective abdominal exercises in terms of making your abs really show themselves. For the beginner, better options include plank, side-plank and bird-dog. Intermediate and advanced trainees can employ moves like the stability ball rollout, stability ball jackknife, chin-up/knee-up, and the hanging leg raise for even faster, more effective abdominal workouts.

The reason these abs exercises are more effective than the traditional sit-up is because they act as a total core workout, while simultaneously strengthening all planes of the abdominal wall. They get results with just one or two, 1-2 minute circuits with each workout, and they protect your neck and spine from strain.

However, just abdominal exercise alone is not enough to get the flat belly you're after.

Combine Abs Exercises With Fat Loss For Better Results

No matter how many abs exercises you do, you're not going to see the results you want if you don't add fat loss tactics to your overall fitness regime. In particular, the most important fat loss strategies to employ are a change in diet and interval training.

Now, a change in diet does not mean that you have to go on a diet. What it means is that you need to change your overall nutrition habits so that they become part of a healthy lifestyle.

This is easier to do than you may think. Replace fried-foods, fast-foods, and processed sugar with fat-busting foods like cruciferous vegetables, lean proteins, and beverages such as green tea. Stay motivated by keeping a food journal and surrounding yourself with a social support team who shares your goals. Get creative and educate yourself. You can do it!

Adding interval training is a great strategy for fat loss because it boosts your metabolism, strengthens your cardiovascular system, tones your entire body, and most importantly, keeps your workouts interesting!

Commit to Making Your Abs Exercises Just One Part of Your Overall Lifestyle Fitness Plan

Long, boring cardio workouts are as ineffective as repetitious sit-ups and crunches. The most effective training is that which keeps you stimulated and motivated to keep you coming back for more. Your physical training need only be done for 45 minutes to an hour, 3 times a week. Interspersed with an hour of daily activity (whatever you want to do, so long as it gets you moving!), and smarter food choices, you'll discover the pounds dropping before you know it.

When you combine ab exercise, simple nutrition changes, interval training, and a positive attitude, you'll discover that you've equipped yourself with a powerful fitness plan which will carry you through your lifetime feeling strong and healthy – and that's the true secret to getting flat, sexy abs that are there for the long-term.