Waistline Reduction

Many people who strive to get trimmer midsections are at a loss as to what they can do to jump-start the process. Surgery isn't always a healthy option and is often financially prohibitive. Diet pills and supplements are rarely good for the body and don't always produce lasting results. It's common knowledge that regular exercise and a healthy diet are the most reliable choices, but learning more about each component can help accelerate the slimming process.

Aerobics

According to the Mayo Clinic, daily aerobic exercise is the most effective way to reduce belly fat. People who follow a strict regimen of crunches and other core exercises will end up with strong, tight abdominal and core muscles, but they won't necessarily lose extra weight. Aerobic activity generally burns more calories than spot exercises, even at a moderate intensity, so it reduces fat all over the body.

Spot Exercise

Even though spot exercises burn fewer calories than aerobics, they're still an important part of waistline reduction. Core exercises such as the quadruped, plank, and crunch variations, as CNN and the Mayo Clinic recommend, tighten and tone muscles and result in a leaner-looking body. Muscle is more compact than fat, so adding strength-building exercises to a fitness regime could result in a slimmer, thinner waist even without corresponding weight loss.

Diet

Accelerate the slimming process by following a healthy diet. Try foods recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's pyramid, which features five main groups: vegetables, fruits, nonfat and low-fat dairy products, lean proteins and grains, particularly whole grains. Rein in total consumption of calories, fat, sodium, sugar and cholesterol. Choose whole, unprocessed and fresh foods as opposed to their prepared, processed counterparts.

Tips

To burn off the most calories with aerobic exercise, choose intense activities. The Mayo Clinic notes that tae kwon do, jogging, basketball and high-impact aerobics all burn more than 500 calories per hour for a 160-pound person. Save a few more calories that might otherwise show up on the midsection by substituting high-fat or high-calorie foods with healthier items. HelpGuide.org suggests replacing doughnuts with fresh fruit and flavored coffee drinks with plain coffee or tea.

Results

Checking on scale readings is one way to gauge whether your midsection is getting slimmer, but it's not the only method. Try snapping a "before" photo that shows how you look before you begin a targeted exercise and healthy eating plan. After each subsequent month of following the plan, take a new photo and compare. Taking your waist measurement is another idea; women should strive for measurements under 35 inches and men for measurements under 40 inches.