Traditional Belly Fat Exercises

Traditional belly fat exercises include such classics as pelvic lifts and crunches. While this type of exercise can firm and tone your abs, you also need to include cardio activities in your fitness routine if you want to lose belly fat. In addition to burning more calories and improving your cardiovascular health, such activities will help you keep the fat off once you lose it.

Cardio Exercises

Moderate physical activity performed on a daily basis is the best way to reduce belly fat, according to MayoClinic.com. You gain weight if you consume more calories than you burn, and you lose weight if the opposite is true. Going for a brisk walk, hike or jog is a traditional way to meet the daily cardio recommendation. More modern forms of cardio include indoor cycling classes, the use of high-tech cardio machines and following regimented interval training guidelines. For a simple solution to a simple problem, just lace up your athletic shoes and get moving.

Pelvic Lifts

Pelvic lifts and other variations of this lower body abdominal exercise are simple and traditional ways of targeting the lower part of your belly. To perform the pelvic lift, lie on your back with your arms at your sides. Bend your knees and raise them toward your chest. Squeeze your abs and imagine pulling your belly button all the way to your spine. Raise your pelvis and legs toward the ceiling until your buttocks lift a few inches off the floor. Touch your buttocks back to the floor to complete one repetition of this abdominal exercise.

Sit-ups and Crunches

Sit-ups and crunches are about as traditional a belly exercise as you can get. Whether you crunch up halfway or sit all the way up, such exercises target your abdominal muscles. Stronger, tighter abs will result in a smaller belly. To perform the standard bent-knee crunch, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your palms on the back of your head with your elbows pulled back and pointing out to the sides. Engage your abs before you move by squeezing them tight and pushing your lower back to the floor. Tilt your chin and curl your back one vertebra at a time toward the ceiling. For a crunch, lift your shoulders until they're at a 30-degree angle with the floor. If you wish to do a full sit-up, continue raising your shoulders until your chest touches, or nearly touches, your knees. Lie back down with control.