Jack and Jill walked on a hill - both of them with toned abs. How? Well, they knew the exercises they needed to do - see below.

Have you ever wondered how to tone your stomach? Well, wonder no more. While getting a flat stomach and 6 pack abs may seem hard, it doesn't have to be. Here's how to do it using a few special techniques.

The first thing you're going to have to know is that hard 6 pack abs come about via muscle contraction over time, and low body fat percentage. Here's how to accomplish both of these:

Toning exercises for your stomach:

There are 3 main exercises you need to do if you want to know how to tone your stomach. They are:

The plank.
The side plank.
The lower ab leg lift.
Here's how to accomplish each one:

The plank:

Here's how to do the plank properly:

Lie on your stomach.
Lift yourself on your elbows and toes
Keep your back straight
Hold for 30 seconds to 2 and a half minutes
The side plank:

Here's how to do the side plank:

Lie on your side.
Lift yourself using your feet and elbows.
Hold for 30 seconds to 2 and a half minutes.
Alternatively:

Lie on your side
Lift yourself using your feet and elbows.
Hold for 30 seconds to 2 and a half minutes, while moving your side abs back and forth to further stimulate your abs.
The leg lift for lower abs:

Here's how to do the leg lift for lower abs:

Lie on your back.
Lift your legs up straight slowly up about 1 foot.
Lower down, don't touch the floor.
Repeat.
Another factor in how to tone your stomach is your diet:

If you want to tone your stomach, you'll also need to get a low body fat percentage. The simplest way to do this is by caloric reduction. Find out how many calories you're eating now to maintain your weight and eat 500 less a day to lose 1 pound of fat a week.

Interestingly, it's not only these facts that will help you tone your stomach. Another thing that is important is the MENTAL PICTURE. Look in the mirror and visualize yourself with a 6 pack, or toned stomach - or however you want to look. Then say to yourself - THIS IS HOW I WILL LOOK. The second you do that, you are one step closer to getting into the shape you want.

In fact, when you mentally decide on looking a way and will yourself that that will happen, it is the most important part in reaching your goals.

Furthermore, think of the motivation behind why you want to get abs. Is it to be more attractive to the opposite sex - for self confidence - health, etc. Think hard on what's motivating you, and keep that in mind. Also, even if it's only to stick through to it and prove you can stick to the goal - that in itself is a worthy goal.

Lastly, if you can have find a friend to do make the goal together with, that's helpful. Even if you can't always workout together, you can be competitive with each other and try to beat the other one and it might very well help you continue working out.

Many people who are trying to stick to a goal enjoy the competitive nature. If you're not competitive, just having someone to train with is nice as well. In the end, you know yourself better than anyone.

So in summary, let's go over a few things:

1. Ab exercises like leg lifts and planks are excellent for toning your stomach.

BONUS: Just flexing your abs as hard as you can once a day will help define them.

And remember - to show really defined abs - you need a low body fat percentage which is affected by your diet.