Exercises for tummy fat are more involved than standard abdominal crunches and leg raises. Not only do you need to tone your muscles, but you have to get your body moving more than ever. This is because weight is not lost in one area only. Exercises that get rid of tummy fat focus on the abs, as well as the rest of the body.
Cardio
The most important exercise for tummy fat loss is cardio. All forms of cardio are effective as long as you do them at a high enough intensity. To ensure you do this, try interval training. After doing a warm-up, alternate your intensity back and forth. Take running for example. Run hard for 30 seconds, jog for 60 seconds and continue this pattern for 30 minutes. If you do not like running, perform any type of cardio.
Strength Training
Strength training involves lifting weights with the intent to gain muscle. By lifting weights and gaining muscle you will burn more calories every day according to the University of Michigan Health System. This is because muscle is metabolically active and you burn more calories when you are not moving. This increased caloric expenditure will reduce weight throughout your whole body, including your stomach. Chest presses, shoulder presses, back rows, triceps extensions, biceps curls and leg presses are examples of strength training exercises.
Calisthenics
Calisthenic exercises involve nothing but the weight of the body. Several of these exercises require you to tighten your abs forcefully and they are also high intensity which causes you to burn significant calories when you do them. Star jumps and burpees are two examples. To do star jumps, stand with your feet together, lower yourself into a deep squat then jump in the air as high as possible. Spread your arms and legs out in an "X" shape, land with your feet together and repeat.
Burpees incorporate multiple joints and movements of the body. While standing with your feet hip-width apart, bend down and place your hands on the floor. Kick your legs behind you, do a push-up and hop your feet back to the starting point. Quickly jump in the air as you extend your arms up. As soon as you land, repeat.
Pilates Exercises
Pilates exercises strengthen the core muscles, which include the abs, glutes and lower back. All of these exercises help create a long, lean torso as you burn away the fat with cardio. A saw is an example of a Pilates exercise. To do this, sit on the floor with your legs spread into a "V" shape, back straight and arms out to your sides. Slowly rotate your torso to your right as you bend down and touch your left hand to your right toes. Rise back up, repeat to your other side and alternate back and forth in a steady motion. If you cannot reach your toes, go as far as you can.
Yoga Poses
Yoga exercises like planks and the full boat pose are similar to Pilates exercises, except they are done without motion. To do a plank, simply come into a push-up position and hold until you become fatigued. Keep your back and arms straight throughout. The full boat pose is performed from an upright position. While balancing on your butt, lift your legs in the air and lean backward so your body forms a "V" shape. Extend your arms straight out to the sides of your legs and parallel to the floor and hold.
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