Who doesnt want to show off a flat stomach and great looking abs this summer? As bathing suit and beach time come closer more and more of us are lying in the living room floor doing crunches or working out on various machines at the gym tying to find the fastest way to get our abdominal muscles to show. But there is one big mistake most people make when it comes to developing great looking abs that can sabotage all their hard work.

What is that mistake? Not including cardio and eating well. The idea behind this is simple. Even the best-trained abdominal muscles wont show much if they are hiding behind a layer of fat. And where does our body tend to store fat? You guessed itin the abdominal area or the belly.

So, what can we do about this little layer of extra fat thats hiding all our hard work when it comes to great looking abs? Eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grain rice and bread and lean protein such as fish and chicken will provide your body with the necessary fuel and nutrients without adding to the fat layer.

In addition to the healthy diet, you should also do some sort of cardio exercises every day to start burning the existing fat off. Ride an exercise bike for 45 to 60 minutes, go for a run or swim for a while. Any type of cardio exercise will do. Other ideas are going for a hike or a mountain bike tour.

As you burn more calories than you consume in the food you eat, your body will use the energy stored in your body fat to keep you going, thus melting this little layer of fat thats hiding your abs away.

Before you know it youll be able to show off some great looking abs and feel great as a result of eating healthy and doing cardio workouts that not only burn fat, but also improve circulation and strengthen your heart.