Nowadays men and women of all ages dream about having a washboard stomach, a "six pack" to bare while visiting the beach. Attaining fabulous abs is really all about three things: diet, cardio-vascular exercise, and, of course, abdominal training. For those on a quest for the perfect stomach, there is a broad offering of ab workout equipment to help carry out their goal.

One effective piece of equipment that works both the upper and lower abs is the exercise ball. In addition to providing a great ab crunch, it also promotes flexibility and balance. The size of the ball is important and is related to one's height. A good rule of thumb for determining the right size is to sit on the ball and be sure that the hips are level with the knees.

Another good choice is the ab roller. Rollers are great for working on the muscles that keep stability. Their surfaces are uneven which require correct balance before performing the ab exercises. A roller not only provides for a good crunch but also for good leg lifting exercises.

At the gym you are likely to see an ab crunch machine. Such machines are also popular in home gym systems. These are pretty simple to use. You just sit in the seat with your back straight up against the backrest. These machines can be adjusted with different levels of weight resistance. One of the great things about this machine is that it makes the user keep proper form throughout the exercise.

Probably the least expensive simplest and easiest to come by is the exercise mat. Mats are very lightweight, typically made of foam with a vinyl covering. They can be rolled up for easy transport. A mat gives support and provides comfort while performing a wide array of exercises that target all the ab muscles: upper, lower and the oblique.

As stated earlier, great abs come from not only ab workouts, but regular cardiovascular exercise and good eating habits. Consistency in all three of these things will help put you on the road to your six pack abs.