If your flabby stomach makes you want to sleep through bikini season, it's time to make a change in your exercise routine. When your stomach is your problem area, it may be challenging to target the stubborn fat with ordinary crunches. Add intensity to your workout by incorporating exercises that are designed to flatten the belly and reduce fat around the midsection. Consult a doctor before adding new stomach exercises to your workout.
Balance Disc Figure Eight
Tone and tighten your abs, legs and butt with the balance disc figure eight exercise, recommends "Shape" magazine in the article "How to Get a Flat Stomach Fast." Stand on top of a balance disc while holding a medicine ball with both hands to the right of your head, just over your shoulder. Lift your right leg off the ground, then carefully swing the medicine ball into a figure-eight shape. Continue for eight repetitions, then switch legs and repeat, recommends "Shape."
Side-to-Side Exercise
Target your obliques with the side-to-side exercise, says Cara Kagan of "Fitness" magazine the article titled "Flatter Abs in 2 Weeks." Lie down on a yoga mat on your back, keeping both feet on the ground and your knees bent. Straighten your elbows and place your arms on the ground at your sides. As you breathe out, tense your abs and reach your left hand toward your left foot while keeping your back straight. Release, then tense your abs as you reach your right hand toward your left foot. Repeat for a total of 15 reps on each side.
Slow Ball Rollout
The slow ball rollout is a challenging abdominal exercise that helps improve balance and flatten the stomach. Place a stability ball on the ground, then lean on it with your forearms as you clasp your hands together. Walk your feet backward on the ground until your body forms a straight line. Roll the ball slowly forward over five counts with your abdominal muscles and arms engaged. Roll the ball back in toward your body as you bring your elbows closer to your stomach. Repeat for a total of 10 repetitions, recommends "Shape."
Front Plank
Flatten your stomach with the front plank exercise, says Kagan. Get down on all fours on a yoga mat. While engaging your abdominal muscles, straighten your legs out behind you and balance on your toes. Rest the weight of your upper body on your forearms. While keeping your back as straight as possible, hold the position for three full counts. Get back onto all fours, then repeat the exercise 10 times, notes Kagan.
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