The Best Exercises To Do To Lose Inches In The Stomach

Although it's common to believe that people will lose all of their belly fat if they do hundreds of crunches and sit-ups, the fact is that "spot toning" is a myth and can't happen without full-body exercises. To lose inches in the waist, stomach and midsection, it's necessary to participate in cardio exercise as well as core activities.

Benefits

Working out your core muscles has benefits beyond improving physical appearance. According to CNN and MayoClinic.com, core moves such as the plank and the crunch improve posture, reduce risks of injury, improve stability and strengthen the back. Aerobic exercises, which also benefit the core body, have other benefits. They can elevate mood and energy levels as well as reduce the risk of diseases including osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer.

Jogging

Jogging is one of the most effective aerobic exercises because it keeps the heart rate consistently elevated, burns calories on a steady basis and works well at a slow or fast pace. Although it's not directly related to the stomach muscles, jogging helps take inches off the midsection by burning more calories than core work and trimming down the entire body. According to MayoClinic.com, moderate-intensity daily exercise, such as jogging, is the single best way to get rid of excess belly fat.

Plank

"The Daily Mail" website states that the plank is one of the best stomach and abdominal exercises because it tightens and tones deep core muscles in addition to strengthening abdominal, oblique and back muscles. To do this exercise, begin on all fours. Place your forearms on the floor, joining your hands to create a triangle shape, with your elbows directly under shoulders. Straighten and extend your legs and push your torso up, holding your body in a straight line between your forearms and your toes. Hold the pose for as long as possible, even if it's just a few seconds, and gradually build up to holding for longer sessions.

Crunches

Even though spot toning and reducing isn't possible with crunches, they do work very effectively to strengthen core muscles and make other exercises more effective. In addition to traditional crunches, try side crunches, circle crunches, double crunches and reverse crunches to work more muscles and tone as much of the midsection as possible.

Considerations

Exercise is only part of the process of improving health and reducing weight. To shed inches around the stomach and get in better shape, MayoClinic.com also recommends cutting daily calories and replacing the normal foods you eat with more nutritious, lower-calorie alternatives such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Finally, remember that proper form is important for all exercises, so work with a fitness professional or physical therapist if necessary to correct your own form and reduce injury risks.