Working your abdominal muscles can build strength in your core, according to the Mayo Clinic. But to lose weight and flatten your stomach, you'll have to combine a healthy eating plan with cardiovascular exercise and movements to strengthening your stomach muscles. Doing sit-ups alone won't do much to flatten your stomach. You'll need to develop an overall diet and fitness routine to get a toned abdomen.
Types of Exercises
In addition to cardiovascular exercise such as jogging or swimming, "Fitness" magazine suggests performing a few exercises designed to build abdominal muscles to get a flat stomach. Crunches and sit-ups are the most common abdominal-building exercises, but adding leg lifts and squats to your routine can also build your stomach muscles. Be sure to keep your abdominal muscles tight throughout your entire exercise routine to keep your core engaged and target your stomach muscles during your workout.
Time Frame
The Mayo Clinic recommends moderate daily exercise as the best way to lose belly fat and get a flat stomach. Try to fit moderate cardiovascular and resistance exercises into your daily routine, to work your core and get toned abdominal muscles. When performing exercises designed to target your abdominal muscles, try to hold each position for five to 10 seconds and work your way up to 10 to 20 repetitions per day. Give yourself six weeks before you evaluate your progress. It can take several weeks of daily exercise to see results.
Benefits
By eating a healthy diet and getting daily exercise, you will lose fat from your belly and other areas of your body, the Mayo Clinic explains. Adding in weight-resistance training can help you build strength, developing the muscles not only on your stomach, but throughout your body. A healthy workout routine and eating plan is the best way to lose fat and build muscle.
Considerations
Always talk to your doctor before starting a new fitness routine. Your doctor can determine what level of activity your body can handle, the Mayo Clinic advises. Consider working with a personal trainer to develop a workout plan that suits your body and can focus your efforts on flattening your stomach.
Expert Insight
Change your workout routine regularly to keep yourself from getting bored, the Mayo Clinic suggests. Try writing down your daily schedule to keep track of the different exercises you perform each day and log your process. Start off slowly and build the intensity of your workout as you go. Don't hesitate to take a break if you need it. Listen to your body to enhance your results.
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