"Six Pack." That phrase can mean only two things - beer or muscle. In a perfect world (at least my perfect world), beer and muscle would be synonymous. As we know, having six pack abs usually means limiting the beer intake. Those of us who have a love for beer typically have, what I like to call, a "kegger" around their midsection...hey whatever makes them happy!

Six pack abs seem to be those mystical muscles that only Abercrombie models and freakish bodybuilders are able to obtain. While abs are probably the most difficult muscle in the body to get "defined", the reality is that anybody can have six pack abs with a little knowledge, discipline, and work.

One big misconception out there is that doing sit-ups, crunches, etc. will get you six pack abs. Sure, you may have a solid six pack, but unfortunately it is probably hiding under some insulation (fat!). Body fat cannot be targeted. You can't do some crunches to get rid of stomach fat and squats to get rid of thigh fat. You have to excersise your whole body for the best results in burning fat. Unfortunately, men tend to store fat in the midsection more than anywhere else while women put it in the thighs/legs.

Cardio is the most popular way to burn fat and shed the pounds. While cardio is a great way to burn calories, many people don't realize that building muscle burns calories...and not just while you're working out! The more muscle your body has, the more calories it burns even when resting! The muscles that you build by lifting weights require a certain number of calories a day to prevent them from going into atrophy (breaking down). Each additional pound of lean body mass (muscle tissue) can increase your BMR (basal metabolic rate) between 6 and 35 calories per day! That may not seem like much but if you add just a couple pounds of muscle, the number of additional calories you burn really adds up. And, of course, you are burning calories during your workout to build the muscle. You build muscle and burn fat! The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn each day!

Now, this doesn't mean you have to become a muscle bound maniac nor does it mean that you need to stop doing cardio. It means that spending some time on the weights will help burn calories. Don't worry, just because you pump some weights, doesn't mean you're gonna put on a ton of mass unless you're taking in a ton a calories and/or using illegal substances and if you're trying to lose fat you will hopefully be limiting your caloric intake.

Of course, lifting weights and cardio isn't the only key to getting toned and having six pack abs. Eating right is also important. Don't bother with those super diets or healthy, "tasty" meals delivered to you door. Fad diets may work for awhile, but their success is usually short lived. Fad diets are often unhealthy, nutritionally unbalanced and based on testimonials (vs. actual research). In addition, in many of the most popular diets such as the low-carb/high protein diets a large amount of the weight lost is water and muscle protein...not fat! Do you really want to go on a diet where you lose muscle, but not fat? Eating healthy is all about moderation and balance. Getting the right amount/ratio of fruits, veggies, meat and dairy is the important.

Did you know that if you eat right you can get all of the necessary nutrition with just about 1,300 calories per day? That's right...all the fiber, calcium, protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins you need. I encourage you to visit www.mypyramid.gov to find your recommended caloric intake. It's a great site that tailors a program for you and will tell you where your calories should come from and how much from each food group.

You may have stumbled upon my article hoping to find a quick way to build six-pack abs. Just like making money, there is no "quick and easy" way to do it. There is no magic pill! It takes a little determination and hardwork. You don't have to be an expert in fitness to burn fat and have some nice abs. Combining a healthy diet with some moderate exercise (cardio and weight training) will get you on the right track. Hopefully, the info in the article pointed you in the right direction.

There are numerous resources on the web and on paper that will assist you in achieving your goals. I have found some great resources on the web that lay out exercise and nutritional programs and go into much more depth about how to burn fat and get abs. Check 'em out!