Do you want to achieve a six-pack abs look? Perhaps this is what you’re missing. Check out 5 ab exercises with fat burning elements imbued into them.
While ab exercises play a crucial role in building and strengthening the muscles of your core, achieving a six-pack goes beyond mere crunches and leg lifts. First and foremost, it’s essential to address the layer of fat that often conceals the abdominal muscles. No matter how sculpted your abs are, they won’t be visible if there’s excess fat covering them. This underscores the significance of a well-rounded fitness approach that includes cardiovascular exercises and a calorie-controlled diet to burn that extra fat.
Moreover, solely focusing on ab exercises can lead to muscle imbalances and neglect other essential muscle groups. A comprehensive fitness routine should encompass full-body workouts, targeting various muscle groups to promote overall strength and balance. Neglecting other areas of your body may hinder your progress and limit the effectiveness of your ab training.

Lastly, genetics and individual body composition also play a role in the visibility of your abs. Some people naturally store more fat in the abdominal region, making it challenging to achieve a defined six-pack solely through targeted exercises. Understanding your body’s unique composition and adopting a holistic fitness approach will set you on the right path towards achieving those coveted six-pack abs.
And we are focusing exactly on the most important part of being able to see your abs – body fat percentage. These ab exercises have some sort of fat burning element to them, which will increase your heart rate and make your body burn more calories as you move along.
Jordan Yeoh is a YouTube fitness influencer with more than 3.6 million subscribers on his channel. He usually shares tips on workouts, exercises and all about getting fitter. He is the mind behind the list you are about to see of the fat-burning ab exercises.
Let’s dive into this comprehensive ab workout that will leave you feeling the burn and craving more.
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5 Ab Exercises with Fat Burning Elements
- Reverse Leg Lift Crunch Combo:
First up is a killer combination of reverse leg lifts and crunches. This exercise isn’t just about isolating your abs; it’s a symphony of movements that engages both the lower and upper regions. Make sure you are squeezing and contracting those abdominal muscles while moving your leg up and lifting your torso as well.

- High Knee Run:
Now, without catching your breath, we transition seamlessly into the high knee run—a dynamic cardio workout that’s more than just a calorie burner. Yeoh’s likes to do two variations, each with its unique benefits. Whether you opt for the standard version or level up with the elbow flares, the focus remains on maintaining that tight core and achieving 30 reps on each side. Get ready for a cardio session that’s as intense as it is effective.
- Hollow Jack:
The momentum keeps building with the hollow jack, a high plank exercise that targets your serratus and abdominals. You should understand the nuances of protraction and the crucial role it plays in enhancing core stability. As you alternate between a rounded back and a straight back, you’ll feel the burn intensify, laying the foundation for a stronger, more defined core.
- Hi Low Tuck (Tuck Jump)
Hold on tight because the next move is the most explosive of them all—the hi low tuck, also known as the tuck jump. Emphasis on the need for speed and precision. This exercise demands not just strength but also finesse to ensure a controlled descent that safeguards your wrists. Brace yourself for 10 reps that will leave your heart racing and your entire body engaged.
- Curl Up
As we approach the grand finale, we delve into Yeoh’s favourite— the curl-up. This challenging exercise requires a unique blend of momentum and power to stand up from a crunch position. Make sure you land softly to protect your tailbone. It’s a dynamic movement that targets your entire core, delivering the perfect finishing touch to this intense giant set.
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With each exercise, we’re not just focusing on immediate results; we’re building a foundation for a sustainable and effective ab workout routine. Consistency is the name of the game. Train hard, eat right, and you’ll see the results you’ve been working towards. Remember, your diet contributes significantly to body fat control and muscle development. Stay consistent, stay dedicated, and you’ll achieve the six-pack abs you’ve always wanted.
To fully understand how to perform each of these 5 ab exercises with fat burning elements, watch Jordan Yeoh demonstrate them in the video below.
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Why You Cannot Outrun a Bad Diet?
The phrase “you cannot outrun a bad diet” reflects the notion that no amount of exercise can compensate for a poor or unhealthy dietary pattern. In essence, it highlights the critical role that nutrition plays in overall health, weight management, and fitness outcomes. Here’s why this concept holds true:
- Calories In vs. Calories Out: Weight management largely revolves around the principle of energy balance, where the calories consumed (calories in) should match the calories expended (calories out). If you consume more calories than you burn, you’ll gain weight, regardless of how much you exercise. A bad diet that includes excessive calories, especially from unhealthy sources, can lead to weight gain even if you’re active.
- Nutrient Quality: Nutrient-dense foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that support overall health and proper bodily functions. A poor diet lacking in these nutrients can lead to deficiencies, impaired immune function, and a host of health issues, regardless of your exercise routine.
- Metabolism: The quality of your diet can influence your metabolism. Highly processed, sugary, and fatty foods can negatively affect metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, and even hormone regulation. This can contribute to weight gain and other health problems over time.
- Exercise Alone Can’t Compensate: While exercise is essential for cardiovascular health, muscle development, and overall well-being, it’s not as effective at creating a caloric deficit as dietary changes. For instance, it’s much easier to consume excess calories through unhealthy foods than it is to burn those calories off through exercise.
- Long-Term Sustainability: Unsustainable diets, particularly crash diets or extreme calorie restriction, can lead to rebound weight gain once the diet ends. A balanced and healthy diet is more likely to be sustainable over the long term and can contribute to lasting weight management and health benefits.
- Body Composition: Nutrition significantly impacts body composition—how much lean muscle mass versus fat you have. Consuming inadequate protein or nutrients needed for muscle growth can hinder your fitness progress and goals.
In summary, the phrase “you cannot outrun a bad diet” underscores the importance of prioritizing a balanced and nutritious diet alongside regular exercise. While exercise provides numerous health benefits, it’s the combination of a healthy diet and physical activity that leads to optimal results in terms of weight management, fitness, and overall well-being.
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image sources
- Sit-Ups-WODs-Athletes: Photos Courtesy of CrossFit Inc