When you think about exercises for abs, you’re probably associating them with these two words: sit ups. I’m actually not surprised because sit ups are one of the most, if not the most, common forms of abdominal exercises out there. I wouldn’t be taken aback if my grandmother knew what they were.

Nevertheless, you need to recognize that there are other more effective ways to get abs than just sit ups. You need to mix them up, add some variety, and do them regularly for you to get fast results.

For a thriving overall fitness plan, combine abdominal exercises with a healthy diet plan and a full body workout. If you work hard at keeping these three elements alive in your daily routine, you simply can’t go wrong.

Recent studies show that ball crunches, full body crunches, weighted sit ups, and bicycles are the 4 best exercises for a no nonsense six pack abs. I’ll tell you why:

1. Bicycles. Not only does it involve your obliques, upper abdominals, and lower abdominals, but it also develops your legs, lower back, and arms. For this exercise, you need to lie on the floor and touch your fingers to your ears. Bend at the knees and mimic a cycling movement in the air using your legs. As your right knee comes in, lift and twist so that your left elbow touches it. Simply do the same on the other side.

2. Weighted Sit Ups. These exercises for abs add resistance to your workout, giving your abs a little oomph to work with. It’s basically a sit up with an added twist and increased difficulty. All you need for this exercise are light to moderately heavy weight simulators, like a pair of 1 lb. dumbbells or a hardbound book, which you will need to hold over your chest with your hands. Proceed by lifting your torso upward, holding it there for a few seconds, and coming back down, just like with regular sit ups.

3. Full Body Crunches. As the name implies, these exercises work your arms, back, and legs, just like bicycles. To begin, simply lie down, place your hands across your chest, and bend at the knees. Lift your torso up the floor and pull in both knees at the same time. Lie back down and start again.

4. Ball Crunches. Compared to regular floor crunches, ball crunches promote balance and work your core in its entirety. It’s very simple yet challenging, and I guess that’s the beauty of it. To start off, sit on an exercise ball. Lie back slowly until your upper body and thighs are parallel to the ground. Start doing regular crunches – you’ll instantly feel the added tension since you’re performing them on an unstable surface. With the ball, you get padded support for your back and a taste of variety.

By including these in your training plan , you can now get nice abs in a month and say goodbye to excess belly fat.

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