Let's face it, abs are sexy. The mere sight of a single abdominal muscle exemplifies the pillar of good health, strength, and raw power. A great set of six pack abs however, will turn heads like nothing on this Earth!

Who doesn't want to turn some heads? What guy or girl isn't interested in feeling like the sexiest person who ever lived? Think about it, how good would you feel if complete strangers approached you on a daily basis, prodding and poking you for your secret potion for sculpting six pack abs? Well, trust me guys, the feeling is pure euphoria. There is so much conflicting information out there regarding ab workouts though, what is the truth about six pack abs?

In order to sculpt a rock hard set of abs, it will require five critical components. The five main keys required to get sexy, six pack abs fast are patience, discipline, dedication, hard work, and a positive mindset.

Did you ever hear that old saying "Patience is a Virtue"? Well it's especially true when it comes to building a nice set of six pack abs. The midsection is a tough area to build, tone, and sculpt, primarily because the training is very painful. When I say painful, I mean pain in the "burning" sense - not the same pain experienced from a broken bone, for example.

Ab Training Requires Alot of ATP

The raw burn of a good ab workout will use up the body's energy fast because lactic acid is produced in large quantities. ATP is the energy producing powerhouse of the muscle cells and lactic acid buildup rapidly depletes ATP. Once the body becomes deficient in ATP, your workout is over whether you like it or not because you will run out of energy. For this reason, ab workouts don't last long, however they don't need to. Short, intense ab workouts are premium for building that sexy, six pack, washboard set of abs you've always dreamed of.

You Will Miss a Few Ab Workouts - Don't Fret

You must remain very patient when building and sculpting your six pack abs. Since your ab workouts will be grueling, short, and intense, you will dread training them so much that you will most likely miss a session or two. Don't beat yourself up over it though - it's normal and understandable. Bear in miind though, every session missed prolongs your ultimate goal - that washboard set of six pack abs.

Let me let you in on a little secret guys - whenever you encounter a person with a great physique, you can bet your bottom dollar that they also possess iron clad discipline. In order to achieve your fitness goals, strong will power and great discipline are imperitive. Abdominal training requires the greatest discipline of all.

Getting Six Pack Abs Is Hard Work

Hard work requires great discipline. Trust me when I tell you, abdominal training is hard work and you will need to will yourself to success with undeterred discipline.

On a positive note, ab workouts are very short and very intense - just suck it up for 10 or 15 minutes and you're done. Bear in mind though, you must concentrate on perfect form on each and every rep of every ab exercise you do because neck and back injuries can result if you don't.

Control The Weight At All Times

Always remember to control, control, control. Never use weights that are too heavy for you to fully control at all times throughout the set.

In life, things that are the most worthwhile require the greatest dedication. A set of buffed, six pack abs will carry along with it a rewarding feeling of great accomplishment and achievement. In order to reward yourself with shredded abs in the end though, you must remain determined and dedicated from the very beginning.

Dedication is more mental than physical. The immersement of onself with sincerity into a certain subject is the basic meaning of dedication. In your case, you must sincerely want a set of six pack abs, and you must have the heart to drive your sincerity to ultimate success. I assume you do, otherwise you would not have followed along with me this far.

Competition Breeds Dedication

You can easily master dedication with a bit of friendly competition. Train with a friend who would also like to build and shape their abs. Trust me, it won't be long before the two of you are fiercely competing to see who can get their six pack abs first!

If you are serious about building great abs, you better be prepared to put in alot of hard work. Do not think for one minute that you can just coast through lazy, half-baked ab workouts and your abs will magically begin to appear, as the fat melts off your midsection. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Cortisol and Stubborn Belly Fat

Abdominals are a stubborn muscle group to train and develop because belly fat is so difficult to get rid of. Cortisol is the main factor in the accumulation of stubborn belly fat. While cortisol is essential to the adrenal glands, and vital to life itself, many people overproduce this stress hormone. This in turn leads to a flabby stomach ("spare tire"). The problem is, there are so many things that can spur the overproduction of cortisol, pinpointing the cause is extremely difficult.

Short, Intense Workouts Can Lower Cortisol Levels Naturally

When training your abs, always keep your workouts under 30 minutes. Brief, intense ab workouts are best for lowering cortisol levels, and in turn shredding that stubborn belly fat.

The mind-muscle connection is absolutely imperitive to your ab sculpting success. A positive mindset is required, not only to perform well in the gym, but also to firmly adhere to your daily dietary regimen. I strongly suggest that you take part in some yoga or other form of meditation before your ab workouts. It will help you to visualize your training sessions - slow, controlled breathing.. perfect form on every repetition.. etc. - making your workout sessions much more focused and intense in the long run.

In conclusion, if you want to sculpt those sexy abs in the shortest amount of time possible, then you must strictly adhere to these five main keys:

1. Patience

Realize that it will take time to shred your midsection - stick to it though because it will be worth it in the end.

2. Discipline

Remember, anything worthwhile takes superb discipline. Would having a ripped midsection be worthwhile to you?

3. Dedication

Dedication comes from the heart. When you decide that you want to get a set of six pack abs, make the decision straight from your heart. If you do, dedication will follow automatically.

4. Hard Work

Work hard not only during your workouts, but also when following your dietary and meditation routines.

5. Positive Mindset

Keep the faith - if you put in the time, effort, and dedication, you'll be showing off those buffed abs before you know it!

Did you know, not only is it possible to sculpt a set of six-pack abs and eight-pack abs, but the human body actually has the capability of showcasing up to ten (yes, I said 10!) abdominal muscles.

Those blessed with superb genetics and impeccable discipline and work ethic are quite capable of getting... 10 pack abs!

In case you were wondering, it is very rare that you will find a person who has actually been able to accomplish this spectacular feat!