According to the Mayo Clinic, excess fat around the midsection can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even some cancers. Toning your abs and, subsequently, your stomach will help reduce the risk of these health problems as well as make you feel and look better. Additionally, core exercises don't require much time or special equipment, and they're simple to do in your own home.
Crunch
The crunch, a classic ab exercise, focuses on firming the entire rectus abdominis muscle. When the muscle flexes continually and grows stronger with repeated use, you'll see a change as your stomach and midsection begin to flatten out. CNN recommends using crunches to strengthen your core muscles and enhance your overall core stability as well.
To do a crunch, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Bending your elbows, place your hands behind your ears or near the base of your neck to support your spine. Isolating just your abdominal muscles, pull up from your core, keeping your eyes on the ceiling. Continue lifting yourself up until you feel your ab muscles working and you are several inches off the floor. Then lower back to the starting position and repeat the move. Do as many reps as you comfortably can.
Plank
The Mayo Clinic points out that exercises, such as the plank, which helps tone and strengthen abdominal muscles, work together with aerobic activity to burn belly fat and flatten the look of your tummy.
To do a plank, lie on your stomach with your hands at your sides. As you push your upper body up, position your elbows underneath your shoulders and lock your hands together so they form the peak of a triangle shape, with the other two points at your elbows. The plank pose involves pressing down on your forearms and lifting your body with your core so that you're holding yourself up in the air with just your forearms and toes. The object is to keep your body in a straight line, with your ab muscles tight and your stomach tucked in and up.
Bicycle Sit-Up
You can tone a greater variety of muscles and work toward flattening your whole midsection with moves that exercise more than just your abs. "Good Housekeeping" recommends a sitting maneuver that's similar to a bicycle crunch, called a bicycle sit-up or seated crossover.
To do the exercise, sit at the edge of a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Holding your arms at your sides, bend your elbows up at 90-degree angles, with your palms facing forward. Pulling your abs in and up, slowly lift your left knee while rotating your torso to the left. You should touch your right elbow to your left knee and return to center. Then slowly lift your right knee and rotate your torso to the right, touching your right knee to your left elbow. Finally, return to center, and repeat the move as many times as you comfortably can.
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