March is here and that New Year’s resolution of getting toned abs is still at the back of your to-do list. In the midst of planning for spring and summer vacations you realize you’ve neglected the one thing you told yourself you were going to accomplish this year: defined abs in time for summer. Worry now begins to kick in because getting a six-pack of abs overnight is virtually impossible … or is it?

Though achieving a six-pack in one night might be a bit of a stretch, taking the week before you go on vacation to crack down on your diet and exercise is going to do your mid-section absolute wonders.

Let’s start with the most important aspect to achieving drool-worthy abs quickly: diet. And if there’s only a week before the start of your vacation, your diet needs to be extra rigorous. Try incorporating these tips:

-High protein intake

-Few grams of healthy fat per meal

-Water, water, water

-Smaller, more frequent meals

-Lots of vegetables

-No sugar

According to Men’s Fitness, you should also eliminate all possible allergens from your diet, even if you don’t think you have any.  Even a slight reaction in your body can cause you to bloat, and if this is the case, you can kiss your abs good-bye.

The second most important step to miracle abs is exercising. Making sure to do core workouts with 10 times the vigor and 20 times the sweat will vastly acceleratethe process.

In order for these ab workouts to be effective, you need to be motivated and challenged. Otherwise, you’re just going to get bored and give up like you have in the past. To stay motivated and excited, change up your ab routine daily.

For example, everyone knows how to do the basic (and boring) crunch, but not everyone is as versed at executing a reverse crunch or a vertical leg crunch. These exercises engage your abdominal muscles better than a crunch could ever dream of, plus, they’re a lot more fun.

Try incorporating some of these ab-blasting exercises as well!

-Russian Twists with weight

-Hanging Leg Raises

-Barbell Ab-Rollouts

-Side Jackknifes

-Exercise Ball Pull-ins

-Flutter Kicks

-Leg Raises

Slow and steady wins the race, and with ab exercises, there is no exception. Slow and controlled movements will maximize results, making for quicker six-pack abs.

There’s no miracle solution to getting abs overnight. It takes hard work and perseverance. If your mid section is looking more like a six-pack of soda than a six-pack of abs a week before vacation, take this as a lesson to incorporate these tips into your everyday routine. That way, next time summer vacation plans are underway, there will be no last ditch efforts for abs – you’ll already have them.