Abs solution

Whenever I write about abs, or getting a six-pack, or just about anything related to toning up your midsection, I always feel the need to mention fat loss. I use it as a kind of disclaimer, really; without dropping body fat, a person will never have a defined stomach. Do as many ab exercises as you want; the fact is, if you don't drop some of the blubber, you're abs will never pop.

There, I feel better. Now I feel as though I can speak freely about two lesser-known ab exercises that will help tone and firm those muscles in and around your stomach.

First up is the Barbell Roll-Out. Start by kneeling on the ground while holding a barbell out in front of you (also on the ground, not in the air). From there, roll out until your chest just about touches the floor. Next, pull yourself back using your core muscles.

Next up is an exercise known as the Air Cycle. To do it, lie on your back with your feet in the air, directly over your head. Then, lift your butt up off the ground and begin pedaling your feet as if you were riding an invisible bike. This is a very difficult exercise, so don't be discouraged if you can only hold in this position for a few seconds at first. Over time, you'll be able to perform it for much longer.

Adding these two exercises to your abdominal routine should help you along. Still, you must (redundancy in 3 - 2 - 1) focus on burning fat through cardio if you want to see those abs you're secretly building.