A flatter stomach can make you look and feel better. Abdominal fat puts people at a greater risk for health issues such as heart attack and stroke. Flattening your stomach will take a combination of a healthful diet and the right exercise. Stomach-flattening exercises don't have to be a pain. Vary your workout for best results, and find the ab workouts that work best for you.
Crunches
Do good old-fashioned crunches, at least every once in a while. Avoid tugging on your neck while doing sit-ups and crunches, and focus on contracting your abdominal muscles for best results. Lie on a mat or a thick towel or blanket for comfort while doing crunches, as a hard floor can make proper form difficult.
Oblique Crunches
Oblique crunches are a variation on traditional sit-ups and crunches. Instead of focusing on contracting the abdominal muscles, oblique crunches focus on working the muscles at your sides. "Women's Health" magazine recommends these exercises because of the position they put the body in, as a way of rounding out any abdominal workout.
Lie on your side with your legs extended. Put your hand behind your head and lift both legs off the floor to an angle of about 30 degrees. Hold it for a few seconds, then lower your legs to the ground. Do a few of these on each side. Add more repetitions as your obliques become stronger.
Leg Raises
Leg raises do not require any specialized equipment. Lie on your back with your legs stretched out. Place your hands under your lower back for cushioning, if necessary. Slowly raise your legs above your body, hold them there for a few pauses, and then lower them to the floor. Leg raises help to tone and flatten the lower abdominals, which are below the navel.
Cardiovascular Exercises
Not all stomach-flattening exercises are abdominal exercises. Abdominal exercises help to burn fat and strengthen the stomach muscles. For those who have more fat on their stomach, cardiovascular exercise comes in handy. Choose a variety of workouts that get your heart rate up. Running or walking on a treadmill, jogging, working out on an elliptical -- use different ways to exercise and mix them up to keep things interesting.
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