You can be a big fat pig and still have mammoth pecs, boulder shoulders and gargantuan arms. Hell, some guys even find that killer beer gut sexy! Yet, if you want a physique that towers above the rest, a body that represents good health and manly discipline, you’ve got to show them your abs.

Before charting out a little routine that is sure to get that sexy six pack rippling, let’s set a few ground rules. Don’t do traditional sit ups because they wear and tear on your neck and back and they don’t isolate your abs enough to really make them work and develop. Don’t bother sending for an ab device promoted on TV by some washed-up celebrity bimbo. Don’t expect to flash killer, cut abs if you’re snarfing down lard burgers and guzzling Long island Ice Teas and failing to do regular aerobic exercise.

If I have said it once, I’ve said it a million times, the best way to work abs is by doing crunches. Simply lie down with your back pressed against the bench or floor. Lift your shoulders to your knees by contracting your abdominal muscles slowly and intently.

Hundreds of crunches will strengthen, shape and sculpt that midsection. But because any one physical activity can get boring after so much repetition (well, maybe not every activity!) here are a few different  exercises to guarantee those slabs of abs.

“Good Mornings” are super for strengthening the low back as you crunch and then stretch your abdominals. Stand with your hands on hips and feet wide apart. Proceed to bend forward until the upper body is parallel to the ground. Pause, then rise to starting position. Perform 20 repetitions, then grasp a barbell on your traps for 20 more.

Body twists target the internal and external obliques, which are to the sides of your six pack. You‘ll never be lean enough to show these off, but they are integral core muscles and they’ll help shape a nice tapered waist. Sit on a bench or preferably a Swiss Ball with hands on your hips. Proceed to twist to the right, pause, then twist to the left. Perform 20 alternating repetitions to each side, then grasp a 10 or 12 pound medicine ball or dumbbell in front of you for 20 more on each side.

Combining leg pull-ups and crunches are superb, but keep good form and watch your low back. Sit at the end of a bench with your hands under your butt grasping the bench edges with legs out in front, knees slightly bent. Proceed to bend the knees and slowly pull them in toward the chest as you crunch upper body to knees, pause, then extend back to starting position. Perform 20 repetitions, then put a dumbbell between your feet for 20 more.

Train abs regularly as with any muscle group and maintain a low fat diet. Then take your shirt off at the beach, on the dance floor, or any old damn place and let that six pack ripple.