How to Get 8 Pack Abs

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Getting a coveted 8 pack is all about dedication. You can set yourself up for success by committing to doing abdominal exercises 2 to 3 days per week and making sure you eat a balanced diet. Leg raises, knee-ins, and crunches are all great exercises that will help you achieve your goal of 8 pack abdominals.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Setting Yourself Up for Success

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  1. Before beginning any attempts to get 8 pack abs, you should consult a medical professional. This is especially important if you suffer from preexisting medical conditions like a heart condition or chronic back pain. Your doctor will help you figure out what types and intensities of abdominal exercises are right for you.
  2. In order to get 8 pack abs, you will need to dedicate yourself to a workout regimen. Aim for 2 abdominal strengthening sessions each week. Each session can be anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes long. Make sure you take a couple of rest days in between ab workouts so your muscles have time to recover. [1]
    • Try fitting in your ab workouts after doing 30 minutes of cardio like spinning, running, or hiking.
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  3. It is important that you are supplementing your abdominal workouts with cardio. This will help you burn calories and create a calorie deficit which will, in turn, help you burn body fat. Aim for 2-3 30 minute cardio sessions a week such as running, spinning, or Zumba. [2]
    Adam Bornstein, Award-Winning Fitness Writer

    The key to getting abs is to focus on the big picture. "That means not only working your abs, but also strengthening your entire core, eating a healthy diet, and doing regular cardio to burn fat. It's not just about doing crunches and sit-ups, but about creating a lifestyle that supports a strong, lean midsection."

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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Getting Creative with Crunches

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  1. Do traditional crunches . Crunches can firm and strengthen your abdominal muscles, and help you get an 8 pack. [3] Lie with your back on the floor, knees bent, and feet flat on the floor. Cross your arms over your chest and lift your shoulders toward the ceiling using your abdominal muscles. [4]
    • Repeat the crunch 15-20 times, and then do a second set of traditional crunches.
    • Rest for 30 seconds between sets.
    • Try to exhale slowly for 5 seconds as you're coming up and inhale slowly for 5 seconds while you're coming down. Slow, controlled crunches will be more effective. [5]
  2. Try side crunches . Prepare as though you were going to do a traditional crunch. Instead of lifting both shoulders off the ground at the same time, lift one shoulder at a time toward the opposite knee. Alternate sides until you complete the crunches. [6]
    • Do 2 sets of 15-20 crunches each.
  3. You can mix up your crunches by taking advantage of a flat bench at the gym or in your own home. Lie on the floor and put your legs up on the bench so that the backs of your knees are nearly touching the bench’s edge. With your hands behind your ears, crunch forward. [7]
    • Complete 2 sets of 15-20 bench crunches.
    • Rest for 30 seconds between sets.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 282 wikiHow readers for their favorite ab workout to target and strengthen core muscles, and only 12% of them said bird dogs. [Take Poll]
      • However, bird dogs are great for working your core when you have back pain. So if crunches are hurting your back, try switching to bird dogs.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Strengthening Your Abs with Leg Raises

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  1. You will need a flat bench to perform this exercise. Lie flat on the bench. Make sure your legs are parallel to the floor and that the ends of your legs are off the bench. [8]
    • If you do not have a bench, you can lie on a mat or towel on the floor.
  2. Next you will need to place your hands on both sides of your head. Grab the top edge of the bench with your hands. You will continue holding on to the top of the bench while you do the leg raises. [9]
    • If you are lying on the floor, keep your hands beside your hips.
  3. While keeping your legs as straight as you can, use your abdominal muscles to slowly raise your legs. Raise your legs as high as is possible, while making sure your back is completely flat on the bench. Slowly lower your legs down to the start position. [10]
    • Repeat 20 times, and then do a second set of 20 leg raises.
    • You can also do 3 sets of 10 leg raises each.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Working Your Abs with Knee-Ins

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  1. Grab an exercise mat and place it on a hard flooring surface like tile, wood, or linoleum. Alternatively, you can place a towel on a carpeted or hard floor. Make sure you will have enough room to fully extend your legs on the towel or mat. [11]
    • You can also do knee-ins while seated on the edge of a flat bench.
  2. Sit on the floor with your legs and knees extended in front of you. Your legs should be straight and your toes pointing toward the ceiling. Make sure your toes and knees are aligned in a straight line. Place your hands under your buttocks.
  3. Slowly bring your knees to your chest while keeping your legs together. Then slowly extend your legs back to your starting position. Make sure your back remains straight while you are doing the knee-ins.
    • Repeat 12 to 15 times, and then do a second set of seated knee-ins.
    • You can also do 3 sets of 10 knee-ins each.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Adopting Healthy Habits

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  1. As you build and tone muscle, it is important that you keep your body hydrated. Begin each day with 8-16 ounces (0.2-0.5 liters) of water. Throughout the day make sure you are consuming water regularly, aiming for at least 64 ounces (2 liters) each day. [12]
  2. Good nutrition is an important part of getting 8 pack abs. Make sure your diet includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
    • Try to get at least 20% of your calories from high quality protein sources like dairy products, fish, poultry, grass fed beef, organic soy, and protein-rich vegetables like beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
    • Stay away from fried foods, processed foods, and sugar.
  3. Aim for a breakfast that contains at least 250 calories but ideally no more than 500 calories. Try to eat within an hour of waking up each morning. Great breakfast options include Greek yogurt with berries and granola, scrambled eggs with fruit and whole wheat toast, or oatmeal with a scoop of whey protein. [13]
  4. Drinking alcohol can slow down your metabolic process, which can make it difficult to strip away the fat covering your 8 pack. Alcohol can also increase your appetite, which can lead to consuming more calories than you are burning. [14]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's the best technique for getting an 8 pack?
    Monica Morris
    ACE Certified Personal Trainer
    Monica Morris is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of fitness training experience, Monica started her own physical training practice and gained her ACE Certification in 2017. Her workouts emphasize proper warm-ups, cool-downs, and stretching techniques.
    Monica Morris
    ACE Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Focus more on quality of your ab exercises over quantity. Slow and controlled exercises, like crunches, will be more effective than doing a lot of fast, poorly-executed exercises.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    What is the fastest way to get an 8 pack?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    This is the way, there is no fast way. It takes time and effort and self discipline.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 30
  • Question
    If I don't have the right diet, like poultry, berries, and granola, what eating plan would you suggest?
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.
    Michele Dolan
    Certified Fitness Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Count you calories and reduce your overall intake if you want to reduce body fat. Check out the WikiHow article "Calculate How Many Calories You Need to Eat to Lose Weight."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      • Even if you are extremely fit and muscular, your 8-pack abs will not be visible unless you have very low body fat (a BMI of 20 or lower). Not having visible abs does not mean you aren’t in good shape.
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      References

      1. ↑ Monica Morris. ACE Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.
      2. ↑ https://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/the-great-abs-mistake-crunches-situps-still-no-abs.html
      3. ↑ Monica Morris. ACE Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.
      4. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/men/features/flab-to-fab-abs#2
      5. ↑ Monica Morris. ACE Certified Personal Trainer. Expert Interview. 18 November 2019.
      6. ↑ https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/3-ab-workouts-build-8-pack
      7. ↑ http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-routines/4-move-workout-shredded-8-pack
      8. ↑ http://www.shapefit.com/exercise-guides/abs-exercises-flat-bench-lying-leg-raises.html
      9. ↑ http://www.shapefit.com/exercise-guides/abs-exercises-flat-bench-lying-leg-raises.html
      1. ↑ http://www.shapefit.com/exercise-guides/abs-exercises-flat-bench-lying-leg-raises.html
      2. ↑ http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-routines/4-move-workout-shredded-8-pack
      3. ↑ http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/4-ways-to-get-abs-fast
      4. ↑ http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/4-ways-to-get-abs-fast
      5. ↑ http://www.eatthis.com/how-to-get-six-pack-abs-without-doing-crunches-or-sit-ups

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      • Terick Byse

        Oct 8, 2021

        "It was very helpful. I can have a healthy diet, I can do crunches, I can run."
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