Must-Read: Summer Abs

Summer is here, which means it’s time for beach season. Now, the thing with that is that unless you are clearly out of shape and have no intentions to pick up the ladies while out there at the beach, you’re going to want to take off your shirt and show off for the girls. But after a long winter of beer chugging and wing devouring, your body may not be in the best shape to start off this summer season. Thankfully, there are certain exercises you can do that will help you in the most important body department of them all: The abs.

Which is why we’re heading over to Men’s Health where they have a list of tips about how to build those summer abs in time for you to whip off your shirt at the beach. Among the tips they have to get you on track:

Rocky Abs

How to do it
Lie on your back with your legs straight, arms extended behind your head, and hands grasping something that won’t move, such as a pair of heavy dumbbells. Raise your legs, butt, and lower back until they’re perpendicular to the floor. Your weight should rest on your upper back. Keeping your body as straight as possible, brace your core and take 5 to 10 seconds to lower your body. That’s 1 rep. Do 5 to 10.

Why it works
“Your muscles can handle more weight on the eccentric, or lowering, phase of a lift,” says Durkin. Slowing the pace of that phase forces your muscles to work harder, accelerating your gains.

So head on over to the link and check out the other four tips to get those abs in tip-top shape.