If you want six-pack abs or a slim, trim midsection, there's no easy way to get them. You'll have to work to tone those muscles, and a few reps of crunches and sit-ups every day isn't going to cut it. To get the most dramatic results, try intense stomach exercises that will truly challenge your fitness level and push you to build your strength further.
Benefits
According to the Mayo Clinic, stomach exercises present greater benefits than simply smoothing over your abdominal area. They also improve your posture, balance and stability, and they're more inexpensive than gym workouts since they rarely require special equipment. If done properly, an intense routine of ab and core exercises can also reduce your risk of injury and make more vigorous exercises easier to complete.
Plank Jacks
Plank jacks are part of plyometrics, meaning they involve an element of jump training and explosive movement. They're also effective at raising your heart rate and keeping it elevated for the duration of the activity. According to Exercise TV personal trainer Lisa Austin, plank jacks work stabilizing muscles as well as abdominals and obliques. To do them, get in a plank position with your hands on the ground below your shoulders and a straight line from your shoulders to your heels. Jump your feet out and then quickly jump back in, repeating the move as many times as you can in either 30- or 60-second periods.
Burpees
The burpee is effective because it's a full-body exercise that targets many more muscle groups than just the abdominals. It's also one of the most aerobic abdominal exercises, which is necessary for weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, you won't get rid of belly fat through toning exercises only. Begin a burpee in a standing position. Bend at the waist, positioning your hands right in front of your feet, and jump your feet back so that you're in a plank position. From there, you can do a push-up or simply jump your feet back up to your hands and stand again. To make the move harder, jump after standing.
Spider Push-ups
Push-ups are challenging enough on their own, but one variation called the spider push-up really pushes abdominal and oblique muscles to tighten and stabilize the entire body. To do the move, start in a plank position. Lower your body as for a regular push-up, but instead of keeping both legs straight, bend your left knee upward and try to touch the knee to your left armpit. Straighten the leg again as you come back up. Repeat the movement on the right side.
Bicycle Crunches
According to the American Council on Exercise, bicycle crunches challenge obliques and the deep transverse abdominis as well as the rectus abdominis. Begin on your back with hands behind your ears and knees bent at 90 degrees. Move your left knee in toward your chest, crunching upward and turning to the left as you do. Touch your right elbow to your left knee, return to start and repeat on the other side.
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