Exercises For Losing Tummy Fat

To lose tummy fat you need to find a good balance of cardio and muscle-building exercises. The cardio activity will burn stomach fat and the muscle building exercises will help flatten and tone your tummy. The best way to do this is to perform exercises that combine both cardio and muscle conditioning in one move. Fortunately, there are a number of exercises that combine both activities to help you lose tummy fat.

Plank Row and Leg Lift

This exercise combines two movements in one in order to burn more tummy fat. According to Jillian Michaels in "Making the Cut," combo-lifting techniques elevate your heart rate and increase calories burned throughout the workout, thanks to the strain and fatigue of performing two exercises at once. Hold a five-pound dumbbell in each hand. Get on the floor in a full push-up position, with hands still grasping the dumbbells and dumbbells placed shoulder-width apart on a 12-inch step. Make sure you are in a full push-up position with your legs straight. Lift your right hand dumbbell until your elbow just passes your stomach. At the same time, raise your left leg to hip-height. Tighten your abdominal muscles throughout the movement to keep you stabilized and to build your abdominal muscles. Hold this position briefly then lower to the starting position. Repeat on the opposite side for one repetition.

Mountain Climber

The key to losing tummy fat is to find a good balance between cardio and strength training. This exercise is the best of both worlds, raising your heart rate and helping you build muscle in order to lose fat. Get into a full push-up position with your legs extended out and your arms straight down and placed about shoulder-width apart. Flex your abdominal muscles and lift your right knee to your chest. Set your right knee down on the ground, with your toes curled under you, as if you are about to start sprinting. Rapidly push it back to the beginning position and bring your left knee to your chest so you are alternating legs quickly. Perform 10 repetitions on each side, maintaining good form throughout. Keep your core and abdominals tight in order to keep your form good and maintain your balance.

Bent Knee Sit Ups

This tried-and-true exercise creates strong abdominal muscles and helps you lose tummy fat. Lie face-up on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands behind your head and position your elbows out so you don't pull on your neck. Tighten your abdominal muscles and curl your shoulders and upper back up, pulling your rib cage downward toward your pelvis. Pause while tightening your abs, inhale and uncurl, lowering your shoulders back to the floor. To increase your heart rate and burn a bit more fat use a stopwatch to time yourself, performing as many sit-ups as you can in one minute.